Long term boat project and family life, What (not) to do?

I suppose it isn't strictly along can-do Practical Boat Owner principles, that so many contributors advise backing away from a big, entirely practical task (such as might have occupied many pages of the magazine sixty years ago and inspired other readers to embark on similar work).

I guess what is deemed "practical" has changed, and the idea of altering the height of factory-built glassfibre superstructure would be as thankless and risk-heavy as it would be ruinous to the vessel's resale value.

For glassfibre boats, think Prudently Impracticable Boat Owner - whose readers know there are so many better boats for their purposes, already designed, built and currently for sale secondhand, that to make significant changes to their own vessel, borders madness.

Taking into account Sven's admirable (though nowadays rarely envied) approach to substantially converting a non-plastic boat for his particular preferences or dimensions, I'm certain we definitely do all wish him the best of luck...

...but that doesn't make anybody any more positive about the onerousness of a long programme of work which:
  • involves long commuting on non-work days;
  • is wholly unpaid (in fact, costs hugely to do);
  • is almost certain to exceed estimated requirements of time and cost, by factors that defy the optimist's belief; and
  • shrinks time spent with family unless they can be dissuaded from the prevalent view that boats are for floating on, not working on.
I suppose Sven knew all of that before asking; but given how practical, rational and capable he sounds, I slightly wonder why he asked. If in fact, he is in two minds, I believe reluctance to encourage him will remain widespread.
 
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Boy, a lot of stuff to react to, thanks for all your thoughts!

I have no problem with people trying to discourage me. I opened myself up to criticism by posting this topic.

I think @justanothersailboat caught the essence very, very well.
I've owned 3 (all plywood) boats since 2001, the current one (the project to be) since 2007. I've never not finished a project.
My wife and I had our first conversation on this boat, our daughter came with us at 5 weeks old, and she cried at some point when I was discussing selling the boat. I would like a bigger interior but the exterior is absolutely right, and it is an awesome sailer and a modern classic by a renowned designer, the only one in cold moulded ply where the rest is lapstrake ply.

And she is not a piece of plastic. You get the idea ? ; )

The only real reason I do not see myself getting old with this boat is head height. All other practical discomforts have been removed by now.
As far as time goes, I expect to not be able to finish this in one winter. And I prefer not to have it last longer than two winters plus the summer in between, with I think should be possible.

But I do know that leaving the family more or less one day every weekend takes effort for all of us, and I am looking for things that would make it easier.
Maybe getting a second car for the period makes a difference... Stuff like that, had not thought of it before.
 
SvenH said:
Thanks for all the replies (including PM's) guys, much appreciated.

I do not consider myself to be an average home diy person, far from it. As such, I am confident in being able to do the work. I also have a friend to fall back on for advice, he is building a classic mahogany boat from scratch in his back yard.
The primary candidates are 1 hours+ away with skilled and pleasant people and good opening hours, and one 45 minutes where I do not trust the people to lift out the boat without me present... But there are a lot of diy-ers here.

I am also very much aware of the strain it puts on someone if the boat is not close by. The current boat (cold molded plywood-epoxy to be project) was about 2 hours one way away when I bought her, going there on saturday and then my other boat on sunday, 45 minutes one way.

Laying the new cork deck took 10 months of weekend work, doing about 14 hours per "3 day weekend" for the last few months.
I am also quite used to dragging tools back and forth and rarely miss something.

I'll read and read again your comments over then next days ; )
Click to expand...
Last September we bought a 45 year old Dutch boat, a Placom 750, the boat is on the water at Kerkhoven in Belgium and about 11km from our house, I have been on the boat working most days from February, trying to balance family life and working on the boat has been some what frustrating at times, I am lucky in that my wife is also hands on and has a thing for painting.

We are both pensioned and all the kids except for our youngest have left home and have families, and that's where the friction came from, their demands for oma en opa to baby sit or do something for them while we were under a bit of a time crunch to get the boat ready for the first cruise of the season.

We are now having a couple of days off and then it is back to the rest of the things that need doing, at least the gas leiding is in and has no leaks, next is to sort out the wiring, and later to get the boat out the water wither to strip and replace the antifoul or to get a professional company to do it, we are awaiting a quote on that, however the boat will fit comfortably in the back garden if we have to do it ourselves.

Cost wise, yeah double and triple your first thought and do the same with the time, even though the boat is not that far away it takes time to get there and back again.
 
I bought a 60 foot wide beam canal boat that had sunk during covid . Nd I’m only nearing the end now. It engulfed my life. I didn’t mind but the wife prefers watching eastenders after a hard day at work nd probably didn’t realise the graft involved. I think it’s a rewarding past time. Where is she has hated it after the first 3 months .
 
captaindan said:
I bought a 60 foot wide beam canal boat that had sunk during covid . Nd I’m only nearing the end now. It engulfed my life. I didn’t mind but the wife prefers watching eastenders after a hard day at work nd probably didn’t realise the graft involved. I think it’s a rewarding past time. Where is she has hated it after the first 3 months .
Click to expand...
What’s it looking like now ? Do have any photos or a thread ?
 
As must be obvious form above comments. Don't start major changes. I am sure any boat will take your time and effort just to keep it tidy. You probably already know it is difficult to get to those jobs.Surely the boat is usable as is without major surgery. Just appreciate family and remember a divorce is very expensive. ol'will
 
"Usable" to me very often has a different meaning.

The bed in the front of the boat was usable but uncomfortable. With help from the designer I moved the bulkhead 30 cm forward.
It was intense work due to the position I had to work in, but the results are immense. The impact it made on our comfort is tremendous.

My wife is really supportive of this kind of work as she knows doing it is part of my happiness and she enjoys the results too.
And it is not just that I am away from my daughter when working on the boat, I also show her how you can change the world around you and that you sometimes need persistence. And throughout the week I spend more time at home than most fathers do... I match my work schedule to be able to.

If this is the right way, only time will tell.
 
You clearly know what you're letting yourself in for and have the skills to do it, so after trying and failing to discourage you, I'll say best of luck, and wish you every success.

Just one question, just in case you haven't considered it: Will the changes you propose affect the classic status or class rules, and hence, the value of the boat?
 
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