DIY boat... anyone?

[SAfish]

Sorry to highjack PH when were you at Tuks?

From 1970 to 1975 and again 1981 to 1984

The year I took my first breath. 
There is an old concrete hull boat here in the lagoon and I saw that they beached it near the angling club. It looks like they are busy restoring it.

[PH]

The year I took my first breath. 
There is an old concrete hull boat here in the lagoon and I saw that they beached it near the angling club. It looks like they are busy restoring it.

Interesting!. Is it a yacht hull? Fairly big.
 
I hope they can. The rust must have eaten reinforcing to dust.

[Half-Pint]

What can I say Tuks engineering students are a strange bunch

[AndriesH]

One day when I'm big and have some saved up time available, I'd like to build a boat too.
Looked at Dudley Dix's designs some years ago and still have one of their plans posted on my garage wall.

http://dixdesign.com/?gclid=CIGEhcXG56sCFQULfAodJn5XKw

Here's a nice 5 year build sailing cat:
http://dixdesign.com/43cat.htm

[PH]

What happened to Dudley?
Moved to America? He does not reply to my e-mails anymore

[AndriesH]

@ PH - when I got distracted, it was the last of my boat building ideas.
The price of marine ply at that time also gave me a jolt back to reality.
I should have done it, those prices have trebled.

Haven't communicated with them in probably more than 5 years.

[PH]

Some guys are using commercial ply these day because the the glue they now use for commercial ply is the same as marine ply.
BUT it is the density of the layers of wood in marine ply that still makes it superior for structural uses , like in boats.

[AndriesH]

Yes, I thought of that too, but there is a material difference when 12mm ply that has 8 or 9 layers or just 4.

It isn't worth risking life and limb by going cheap on materials.
I'd rather spend another three weeks trying to source better prices, especially if you plan to go further than 10m offshore.

[PH]

Yes, I thought of that too, but there is a material difference when 12mm ply that has 8 or 9 layers or just 4.

It isn't worth risking life and limb by going cheap on materials.
I'd rather spend another three weeks trying to source better prices, especially if you plan to go further than 10m offshore.

[Naruto]

You can also ask Fanie for some assitance....
http://www.faze.co.za/Little%20Tri/Little%20Tri.html

[PH]

You can also ask Fanie for some assitance....
http://www.faze.co.za/Little%20Tri/Little%20Tri.html

Fanie knows nothing about strip kayak building.
 
Tried to critisize my efforts but he came 2nd

[SAfish]

PH, it is not a sailing yacht, it is a tug look alike. It has been on the water for ages and broke its moorings a couple of years ago in a storm. They managed to get it off the bank and towed it back out. It has been a bird roosting place ever since. It is very bulky and solid and I think it will take a battleship to sink it.

[John F]

Found this blog about a guy in the US building himself a 44 ft steel boat (trawler) in his barn!!!!

Quite a detailed blog... very interesting!

http://www.conallsboatbuild.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-first-blog.html

[John F]

Just a heads up.... Conall's 44 ft trawler is complete!!!! Check his blog for an exciting build!

[shagnrelease]

Its definately no mean feet!!
My Dad and I built a 38ft roberts out of steel, we finished the hull and started the interior after 10 years 
We sold her like that she is now moored in richards bay after the owner finished her.
a labour of love for sure.

[FishStyx]

I've got a real urge to build Marissa http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/ec018.htm. I know full well how little practical or financial sense it makes but that's not what boats are about. Boats are flings that sometimes turn into love affairs and occasionally, lifetime partners.


As a kid, I helped my dad build a Mirror sailing boat. We sailed her a lot at Loch Vaal and down at our place in the E-Cape. I have a scandalously well equipped workshop and I've been a wood botherer all my working life, so it shouldn't be impossible... Eish!!! Time is the only real hurdle.


I could see Marissa becoming a lifetime partner.