How much does a custom boat design cost?

[Whitelighter]

Lets say you can't find what you want on the market, what would someone like Bill Dixon charge to do the design work on your ultimate tub?

 

[Navatech]

Lets say you can't find what you want on the market, what would someone like Bill Dixon charge to do the design work on your ultimate tub?

How much does a piece of string cost? It depends on the length, thickness material etc. Same with yacht designers. You will get what you pay for in terms of experience, creativity etc.

The problem with one off custom designs is that you're not benefitting from accumulated experience. Let's face it, within a given type and length there can be only so much design innovation. I would suggest going with an existing, proven hull design and modify it to your needs & wants. That service wouldn't be too costly and would result, IMHO, in the best possible result.

 

[westernman]

Why not ask him?

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I'd guess £500-£1,000 a day but I've no idea how long it would take to design say a 60' sailing catamaran. I would think that if starting from scratch you're talking about an awful lot of days as they will be involved during the build and commissioning as well? I would imagine it's the interior and the details that really take the time. Interesting question.

 

[Blueboatman]

Dear Bill/Bob/Eddie.. . I want an ultimate tub . Could you take an AWB, seal up the openings and pump some more air into it ? Ah you've done that twice already with that model....Ok can you make it a raised salon? Ah, done that too. What about underwater appendages and lights? What, all standard kit? Really ...er do you do multihulls or retro Fifes too?

Obv I have no idea but it will relate to the size and the engineering and any hydro work. Then theres the one off construction method.. or the hope to build two more to pay for the first..?but for example Nigel Irens has produced one or two beautiful modern gaffers whose owners seem delighted so absolutely ' worth it'..

 

[prv]

Well, as a ballpark figure, Tom Macnaughton in the US apparently charges 5% of the estimated build cost: http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/custom.htm

Pete

 

[Lakesailor]

This was cheap as chips

 

[Tranona]

Really depends on how much you want. The 5% of build cost is one way of doing it - although that often ends up with arguments as costs unrelated to design work escalate!

Can be a fixed fee for a set of lines, more for related construction drawings, more again to supervise the building and some design houses deliver the whole project, design, production drawings, moulds complete.

Clearly some designers can command higher prices for their work than others, so guess there is no simple answer short of getting a quote for what you want.

 

[JesseLoynes]

It's similar to asking an architect to design a house for you... but even more complicated. How big is the boat, how many systems, what performance/use, and probably most importantly, how competent is the builder/project manager. Simon Rodgers did me a superb design, and it was very simple, I think we ended up with about 8 drawings. Having worked with him before, he knew I could deal with a lot of the details myself, or develop them with him as we went along. A previous boat, not much more than twice the length of mine, had over 140 drawings.

I'd say 5% is a damn good deal for the owner/builder. I'd guess £500-1000/ft is probably what you would spend. The cost of hull design won't go up spectacularly between 30' and 60', but the internals and the systems will take a lot more work.

But the easiest way to find out is to go ask some designers.

Plus, I'm not sure I have ever uttered a better sentence than this:

"What am I up to today? Not much, just popping down to Lymington to have a chat with my yacht designer."

Has a certain ring to it...