Self-build advice please

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Warren

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Hi all,

I'm planning a self-build project for my "semi retirement". From the web the Bruce Roberts Trawler Yacht looks favourite, probably the TY43. Does anyone have any experience of these boats? Does anyone know of similar designs available in kit form? All advice gratefully received.
 
Hardly retirement. More of a full-time job!
I worked on the principle that you wind down when you let go the reigns. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
within a mile of my home.. there are 9 large yachts in the owners gardens.. in various stages of build or restoration.
There is prob 1 or 2 more that i dont know about
One of them has been totaly untouched for 10 years
at least 5 of them have been untouched for several years.
Only one of them has had any progress made in the last 12 months.

It is a huge task to undertake.
Approx 100 people think about it.
10 people start building.
1 launches a viable boat.

However... the rewards should you succeed can be beyond price.
Words cannot discribe my feelings the first day I sailed Victorious.

Your call.
 
For a boat of that size, expect to spend 3000-7000 man-hours, depending on the standard you build to. That's 2-4 years full time, double that part time. Are you prepared to spend that long at it?

You need to get a lot of satisfaction from doing the job as well as having the boat afterwards. If you like big projects, good on you. (I speak as one who has built & sailed two 40 footers).
 
As others have suggested, do think very carefully. This is a major project by any standards and will require not just the necessary skills, but far more importantly, a huge degree of constant commitment.

Unlike others on here, the biggest boat I've built from scratch was only 22 feet long, and that took the best part of two years (full time working while doing it) most evenings and every weekend.

Fabulous feeling when she was launched and an even better feeling every time we sailed her into a Brittany or Channel islands port. But oh Lord, the willpower required to get out there on a cold evening after a hard day at work, and crack on with it, took a hell of an effort.

If you do go ahead, the very best of luck to you and I hope it turns out a huge success.
 
Thanks guys - yes I do realise that it will be a monster project. I don't intend to start until I retire from my current job (probably 8 years plus from now). I've started a "study project" to try to prevent as many surprises as possible when I do start (and it's something tangible to seek approval from the long haired admiral with). I do have some project management and hands on engineering experience. This forum looks great for asking all those random questions that pop up (like what's the roll period of a TY43?), so I thought I'd start with the big one - can anyone recommend Bruce Roberts' kits (especially the TY43) and/or are there other similar kits I should be considering?
Thanks again for all the warnings - I will be that 1%!
 
A good project and amazingly based on the 8 x 4 ply sheet is the Waterwitch .... a Barge Yacht of about 36ft.
They have been built in ply, carvel, steel, and ferro ... as hard chine ...

They are great sea-boats and have very good reputation ...

I would assume that being based on hard chine and the ply sheet - it may be easier to build. Full plans / details and history of the design available via the Eventide Assoc. I think.
 
Why start building half a boat, go for a catamaran. You get more space in a shorter overall length. Richard Woods has some great easy to build designs.
 
Have a look at Victorious' recent post (a movie, but does it work) on Classic boat Forum. This took an experienced guy eight years to achieve. Then ask yourself the question......
 
Bruce Roberts ...

I don't knock them at all ... as you say plenty around ..... and fine boats ...

I was just thinking that "Warren" asking the question might like to know of others .... It's a huge undertaking and one that many fail at or abandon ..... The Waterwitch is actually simplified because of its foundation on the standard 8x4 ply sheet.

I have to admit that I do admire the waterwitch and especially anyone who builds one ... I always remember sadly one that was abandoned at Havant Quay many years ago ... the owner refused to discuss selling or allowing anyone to save her .... she sat and rotted with all sails etc. still inside her ... I was told that he took credit to buy her themn marraige failed ... finances ran out and he gave up. In the latter stages with all the mould and filth in her - she was literally a health risk to approach ... she was later plastic bagged on outside of hull to move to be broken up .... sad end ...

If I had the time and patience - the Waterwitch would be my project ....
 
Unless you want to spend your retirement building and not enjoying your time on the water don't do it.Go buy a project that has stalled get it cheap and then finish it to your standards.this will give you the satifaction of building and then some use before the big man calls.JOHN
 
Don't be put off by the doom and gloom merchants who have probably never built anything. I built my 12 metre DeGroot cruiser over a four year period. She is still in top condition 23 years later. Original cost on launching was £16,000. Have spent about the same again over the intervening period, upgrading and improving the standard of equipment.
The most vital part of the job is protection. Get a pre blasted and primed kit and touch up the welds every day as you assemble it. Finally give it an approved epoxy finsh inside and out and it will see you out! It will also be unique as you apply slight differences to the final finished job.
 
Doom and Gloom ...

I don't bthink anyone is really trying to put Warren off the idea ... maybe just make sure that he's sure he wants to dedicate himself to such an undertaking.
I am sure that you would be first to agree that building a boat is not like building a shed ... it's a real commitment.

Fantastic when completed and regardless of what anyone else may think - to the builder - It's HIS !

It is a serious undertaking and one that many have fallen by the wayside with ... maybe the reason that many have built via the Hunter system ... to get around the real work of hull etc.

Someone quoted Victorious ... and his presentation on the forum ... now that is something else - but of course he was building to replace / renovate a boat that was in a sorry state - probably a much harder exercise .. as each piece must replicate / replace a former bit etc.
 
It will be a huge project, but don't let doomsayers put you off if that is what you really want to do. You have to be as keen on the build as you are on getting to the actual sailing, otherwise it can become a chore. My own project experience is with building a miniature passenger hauling steam locomotive, and enjoyment of the build process was essential to success.
Next issue is to choose the right boat to build. To be sure that you are choosing correctly I suggest you try to find someone with a completed boat, and blag a sail in it, before you commit yourself to a particular design. There could be little worse than spending years building a boat, only to find you don't like the way it sails, or that it does not really suit your sailing plans. On a practical issue, try to plan so that you can put a temporary shelter over the boat so that you can work in all weathers as it will speed the build and make it more comfortable.
Good luck, and keep us posted with your plans & progress.
 
Re: Doom and Gloom ...

Hi Warren,

I was lookingat many designs, roberts included, but could not find what I was looking for. I designed my own gaff schooner and built it in about 6 years, with paid helpers, but did all engineering and welding myself. I have now a boat with a proper workshop including lathe/mill/drill, a cargo hold for drums 8 x 200 liter drums even, propshaft running in oil bath and many other things not found on any other boat. She is 70' LOA and I would do it again, at the age I was when I started, now at my age I would not do it again.

One thing you could consider, move to a country where the waether is better, and paid help comes for about GBP3 (three only) per day. You wil build a lot faster.

I have done it, learned a lot and would not put anybody off.

Ongolo
 
Re: Doom and Gloom ...

Ongolo, you are right about not doing it again. But having done it once, you then have the equity in the boat not to have to do it again. Assuming cost was one of the motivating factors. i.e. £100,000 boat for £20,000 plus labour!
 
Sorry PCUK ...... ????

But why does it matter £'s against labour of love ?????

As already shown here - I like Waterwitch .... and find the prices of 10- 15K + = ludicrous against the building and love that goes into them ............ OK - if I was to buy one already built etc. I am not going to offer more than market ...
 
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