I'd like to add some comments to the discussion on
amateur boat buiding that has taken place over the
last few weeks as some of the discussion may not
fully present the advantages and disadvantages of
amateur boatbuilding.
I am writing this as the builder of two yachts, a
32' Hartley Ferro and a 21.5' Van der Stadt plywood.

These boats were built when I was time rich and cash
poor, and I think that that would be the position of
most amateur builders.
While the boats did not present as well as moulded
fibreglass products they were both built following
the designers plans and with the designers advice.
The point that I am comming to is that both boats
gave me a great deal of pleasure, sailing in the
area near where I built them. Buying a commercial
product was not an option.
The building and sailing also kept me, as a young
man, out of a great deal of trouble, and gave me
skills that have served me well over more years than
I care to admit.
Now as I look at having another boat I am planning
to build another.
The advantages of building my own:

1. Much cheaper. While the resale value of an
   amateur boat is not much more than the cost of the
   materials, to consider this the only measure
   presents an incorrect picture. Other savings
   include:
   a.Not having large amount of capital tied up or
   borrowed.
   b.No depreciation.
   c.Very low maintenance costs. (If I built or
   installed it then I can fix or replace it)
   d.Lower operating costs.
   e.The ability to pay for the building out of current
   income.
2. A boat that is built for the conditions that it
   will encounter, and for the people who will live on
   it, rather than an adapted commercial product. This
   is a major advantage. When I looked at buying a boat
   most of the ones I saw would have required major
   changes to make them suitable for cruising. In many
   cases the changes would have been as expensive and
   time consuming as building my own boat.
3. A boat made of new materials and with equipment
   that is either new or in excellent condition.
   My one problem is that the building of a large boat
   is so time consuming that it will have to be done in
   an environment with low labour costs.
   Having said that I will admit that there is nothing
   I would like more than to step onto a well made
   boat, pay the money and sail off. I just can't
   afford it.

--

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I'd like to add some comments to the discussion on
amateur boat buiding that has taken place over the
last few weeks as some of the discussion may not
fully present the advantages and disadvantages of
amateur boatbuilding.
I am writing this as the builder of two yachts, a
32' Hartley Ferro and a 21.5' Van der Stadt plywood.

These boats were built when I was time rich and cash
poor, and I think that that would be the position of
most amateur builders.
While the boats did not present as well as moulded
fibreglass products they were both built following
the designers plans and with the designers advice.
The point that I am comming to is that both boats
gave me a great deal of pleasure, sailing in the
area near where I built them. Buying a commercial
product was not an option.
The building and sailing also kept me, as a young
man, out of a great deal of trouble, and gave me
skills that have served me well over more years than
I care to admit.
Now as I look at having another boat I am planning
to build another.
The advantages of building my own:

1. Much cheaper. While the resale value of an
   amateur boat is not much more than the cost of the
   materials, to consider this the only measure
   presents an incorrect picture. Other savings
   include:
   a.Not having large amount of capital tied up or
   borrowed.
   b.No depreciation.
   c.Very low maintenance costs. (If I built or
   installed it then I can fix or replace it)
   d.Lower operating costs.
   e.The ability to pay for the building out of current
   income.
2. A boat that is built for the conditions that it
   will encounter, and for the people who will live on
   it, rather than an adapted commercial product. This
   is a major advantage. When I looked at buying a boat
   most of the ones I saw would have required major
   changes to make them suitable for cruising. In many
   cases the changes would have been as expensive and
   time consuming as building my own boat.
3. A boat made of new materials and with equipment
   that is either new or in excellent condition.
   My one problem is that the building of a large boat
   is so time consuming that it will have to be done in
   an environment with low labour costs.
   Having said that I will admit that there is nothing
   I would like more than to step onto a well made
   boat, pay the money and sail off. I just can't
   afford it.

--

Search for businesses by name, location, or phone
number.  -Lycos Yellow Pages

Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List