Conference vicki::boats

    	This is a really huge project, and the savings usually turn out to
    be minimal if any at all.  For a 25 ft boat from scratch you are
    looking at anywhere from 1 - 3 thousand hours of work.  Not to mention
    the expense of tools, a dedicated space to work.  Unless you have a
    heated of semi heated shop you will not be able to work several months
    out of every year.  Finally check the Sailing notes file one of the
    participants has been build his own sailboat for several years now, he
    can give you a good idea of how much work is involved.

    	Next you should get some books on wooden boat building.  Many
    exist one to start with is:

    		The Gougeon Brothers on Wooden Boat Building 

    	Unless you have a background in Yacht/Ship design you should pick
    up material on this subject.  Take the Westlawn (sp???) course on boat
    design.   A better bet would be to find a hull design you like and work
    customize it.  

    Forrest

    Don,
    	Why not try a compomise? Buy an unfinished boat and complete it
    yourself. Here in Maine most boat builders will deliver a boat to any
    level of completion you want. You can get a bare hull or a finished
    boat or anything in between. They will also assist you in completing
    the boat via advise, plans etc.
	If you want to try it let me know and I'll get you a list of boat
    builders.
    Regards, 
    Paul
    P.S. I'll be on vacation next week so it may be a while before I reply
    again.

Paul had a great idea in reply .2.  Check the back of Offshore magazine, 
there are lots of ads from fiberglass boat builders in Maine and Cape Cod.
Many of them will sell boats in any state of finish.  Starting with a bare 
fiberglass hull should more than satisfy any desire you have to "Build" 
your own boat!

Another point is that big wooden boats have a very limited resale market
and value.  Unless you plan to keep the one you build forever, you'll only
recover a fraction of your expense when you sell.  And nothing for all your
time.  Fiberglass will be a much better investment of your time and money.

Just one more suggestion - look around for a neglected fiberglass boat with
a hull design you like, and completely RE-build it.  You can strip it right
down to the bare hull and start over, rebuilding deck structures etc.  I've
rebuilt two 'glass boats on a much smaller scale (14' and 15') with great 
results, and come out ahead financially on both too.

Rick

Rick,

The idea of a partially completed boat sounds good. Do
these guys provide any literature and/or basic design 
specs? If so, how would I go about getting them?

I think I'd like to go along the lines of a Cobia or a
Grady, but more stern hull depth, and probably twin
Merc I/O's at about 140 hp each. (I have a 120 on my
Chaparral, and it's the best little engine going.)

Any suggestions?

Don

Don, 
I don't have any specific info on any of the boat builders which
sell partially completed boats.  The ones that do generally are 
so small any advertising and brochures are minimal.  Since I've
never really considered building my own boat, I haven't bothered
to collect any literature on it.

But a good place to start would be the old standby - the NYNEX
Boater's Directory.  I'm not at my own office right now so don't
have my copy handy, but can get it by tomorrow if you're interested.
If you have a copy, for starters try looking under "Boat Builders" 
and "fiberglass".

RE: 
>> I think I'd like to go along the lines of a Cobia or a Grady,

My *impression* is that Cobia and Grady White are two completely
*different* types of boats.  Cobias are mostly a family type of
boat with lots of carpeting, upholstery, etc. and are designed for
inshore waters.  Gradys are lacking in creature comforts but are
solid as a rock and are designed for heavy duty offshore use.  Am 
I off base here?  Most of the builders in Maine or on the Cape will
be providing you with a hull that more resembles a Grady White than 
a Cobia.

Rick

    Don, your located in NY so this info won't directly help you but there
    is a small fiberglass boat builder in Nashua, NH., who custom builds to
    the buyer's specifications.  They will build to any level of completion
    the buyer wishes.  I'm sure that if you ask around the local marina
    there they could probably tell you of a similar small boat builder near
    you who would be willing to work with you.  Large companies may be less
    willing to talk.  I myself would buy something used and cheap maybe in
    need of repowering and use it as a base for the project.  That way you
    start with a name brand, proven hull design that you can ask others
    their opinion of.
    Good luck whatever you do.  Sounds like fun!
    Wayne

    Creature comforts is a relative thing, my grady w/ enclosed head,
    stove, fresh water...has many more creature comforts than many more
    comercial style boats but certainly less plush than a crusier inc,
    trojan....Anyway more to the point, the boats builders in new england
    tend to build downeast style boats that are used mostly for
    comercial fishing of some sort. Names like JC, Harris come to mind.
    
    Bruce

    Bruce, it was JC boats that I was talking about being in Nashua.  I was
    looking at about a 25 footer they had for sale.  It was basically a
    bare hull waiting for an owner to specify how they wanted it set up.
    Nothing fancy but it sure looked bullet proof.  Maybe just the thing
    the original noter should start with.
    Wayne

    I think JC boats is out of business. The associated Marine Supply
    store is gone. They might still be building boats out of the 
    operation on old rt 101 (in Candia I think).
    
    Bill
    

    Cadcraft (Marine supply store) closed up but JC boats is still there in
    Nashua.  I talked to them yesterday.
    Wayne

    Hi I'm Back,
    	As a few of the other replies stated, I think you'll find mostly
    downeast style boats to work with. One that comes to mind is General
    Marine, I think they are in Biddeford Maine. They only make one model,
    a 26 foot downeast style. It can be fitted out as a cruiser but is more
    often used as a tuna boat or a sport fisherman...nice boat, and
    reasonable.
    	
    Paul 

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Note 1020.0                 Fiberglass Boat Building                     1 reply
BTOVT::BELL "Infinity gets tedious before its over"  15 lines  21-SEP-1992 09:34
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    	Looking for a pointer to a book / manual teaching fiberglass
    	boat building.
    
    	I'm working on a tiny low speed, one person hull design and want 
    	to learn what I'm getting into.  Even if I decide to have someone 
    	else make the mold for me and then have them make the hull, I want 
    	to understand whats happening.
    
    	Anybody know of any GOOD books ?  
    
    	I have some repair manuals, but it's not quite the same.
    
    					- Ed
    	

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Note 1020.1                 Fiberglass Boat Building                      1 of 1
POWDML::SPENCER_J "Commuter from the Other Cape"      9 lines  21-SEP-1992 10:43
                             -< call Gougeon Bros >-
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    Call Gougeon Brothers in Bay City, Michigan.  They are manufacturers of
    boat-building systems (resin, fillers, dispensers, etc) and many very
    successful projects--their own and customers'--to their credit.  I'm
    sure they have many manuals which might be of interest, or can point
    you to those they like most.  While they cater to the glass boat trade,
    their hearts lie in cold-molded construction.  Still, I'd call there
    first.
    
    J.