Good morning!

Cyberjag · #1 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

I'm new here, and new to sailing as well. My experience lies mainly with sunfish, but I've been on larger boats and have always enjoyed myself.

Over the past decade an obsession has been building inside that's probably a little goofy, but it's mine so I'll do what I want with it.

Basically I want to build a sailboat and go up and down the ICW to the keys (I live in North Carolina). To me the adventure will be the build process, but sailing should be a lot of fun as well.

I have no idea when I'll start this, and I'm still assembling my questions to help get the plan in place. I've read many old posts here, and promise not to be annoying or argumentative if you would please answer the questions that come to mind. I hope you'll also excuse the "have to build it" attitude I have, I'm fixated on it and prepared to make this a five year project (that will probably be just in the planning stages for the next couple of years). I'm not worried about the budget too much (within some limits of course), and I have a good grasp of my capabilities and will include them in my questions of course.

Anyway, I look forward to reading and learning a lot from all of you, and have high hopes that by the time I get started I'll be looking forward to the sailing as much as I am the building.

Thanks for reading!

Cruisingdad · #2 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Cyber,

Welcome aboard. Good luck with the plans.

- CD

cockeyedbob · #3 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Cyberjag,

Fine, but you better love the building process. 'tain't easy, 'tain't cheap, 'tain't a lot of fun.
You can spend your build time working, save a LOT of money and buy a hell of a good used boat at the end of five years.
Just do your thing ...

sailortjk1 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

There are plans avalable to those who desire to Build their own.
Have you done an internet seach?
I quickly (In about two minutes) found this site.
steel sailboat plans, sailboat kits, sailboat building, steel boat kits, boat kits

The link suggest they are all steel, but there are also wood plans on this site.

Your going to want something fairly substantial, in the cruiser catagory and not just a day sailor. Good luck.

Cyberjag · #5 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Thanks all. I've been looking for plans a little, just enough to know they're out there. Bob, I understand what you're saying. I once rebuilt a valance for my car and ended up spending as much money in materials and tools as a new one would cost, but did it anyway. It's about the building with me, I want to put my hands on it and know I did it.

I know it's not cheap, if it was easy it wouldn't be nearly as rewarding, and I suppose I have an interesting idea of what's fun.

Cruisingdad · #6 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Agree with Cockeyed: You may very well end up spending MORE money (and do it yourself) than if you just found a boat and got after it. If you think you want a challenge... get one that needs some work down below... it will keep you busy, but the hull will be good. Upon the right foundation, you can build anything! (Ohh that was poetic).

Cyberjag · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

Agree with Cockeyed: You may very well end up spending MORE money (and do it yourself) than if you just found a boat and got after it. If you think you want a challenge... get one that needs some work down below... it will keep you busy, but the hull will be good. Upon the right foundation, you can build anything! (Ohh that was poetic).

Oh, I agree with him as well. I will probably spend more money this way, and I know it. It's not about the money and it's not about the finished product, it's about the project right now. I've really wanted to do this for most of my adult life. As I mentioned, I hope that a byproduct of being on the forums will make me as excited about sailing it as I am about building it.

Cruisingdad · #8 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

Interesting because I have always wanted to do it too (not a large boat, a day sailor). THey make a kit for a Herschoff design that looked like it would be fun. There are actually several kits in the back of the sailing mags (that I have seen over the years). It would be fun if you have the time... which I never have.

Hey, go for it!!!! As long as you realize the implications and cost aspects, make it happen!

- CD

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

I would highly recommend that you form a company to build the boat, then you can buy a lot of things wholesale rather than retail, and that will save you a good deal of cash. The fiberglass/epoxy over foam construction techniques used in building many home-built boats can yield a very strong and light boat. Trimarans and catamarans are fairly commonly built, and have the advantage of being shallower draft and not requiring a large chunk of metal be cast for your boat.

If you have questions on multihulls, let me know.

There's a lot to be said for building your own boat. You then know intimately well what went into the boat, and how it was put together. That can count for a lot when you're in the middle of nowhere and need to make a repair with limited resources.

cockeyedbob · #10 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

There's a lot to be said for building your own boat. You then know intimately well what went into the boat, and how it was put together. That can count for a lot when you're in the middle of nowhere and need to make a repair with limited resources.

Aye dog, ya nailed that one!

Cyber, Bob's best advice is get rid of the tv.
You CAN save by building but ya gotta be clever ... there's more than one way to skin a cat without gettin' hair in yer teeth.