What happened to the diy boatbuilders

[AndrewL]

What happened to the guy on here that had bought a 30 year old unfinished and unlaunched hull? He had many optimistic plans for it all. It must have been about 4 years ago now.

 

[wombat88]

Hanging from my garage roof is a 9ft sailing pram homebuilt to plans published in Yachting Monthly in the 1930s. A fine bit of DIY.

The builder used the Ashcroft method that involves two layers of diagonal planking with all the planks running diagonally in the same direction on each side.

The result is a pleasing rounded shape and a very light boat.

I might get round to it next winter depending on the results of my forthcoming PPA (Project Priority Assessment)

 

[Blueboatman]

My father built a silhouette in 4 weeks start to finish back in 1958. In those days loads of people were building small boats such as the Caprice & even the Debutante. The top (3rd floor ) of the London Boat show was all about Boating on a Budget & was always crowded.
I Stripped my second Stella to a bare hull which was in a sorry state. It was fastening sick & some of the planks were either rotten or sprung. I then rebuilt the entire boat. It took 2.5 years, but I was building my second house at the same time & working.
I always wanted to build a bigger wooden boat from scratch, but did not have time & anyway I had a Stella. I do not see anything in wooden boat construction that would phase me. It is not actually so difficult as some try to make out if one has the facilities

I see that my uncles old No26 Stella is being offered as a well underway, undercover project to complete, in the class association.
( February 2022 Update | Stella Class Association)
As ever , it’s the commitment and future proof time availability with these things
Whilst life gets in the way!

 

[Blueboatman]

Here is an unlaunched 33ft 1979 boat, Unused Bukh engine and sails and rig .. ( all from that date !)
for offers on £6k
One owner, one back garden, from new..

In some ways that is an absolute gift
Tufglass 33 For Sale, 10.00m, 1979

 

[Tranona]

Desirable boat in its day, but difficult to imagine who would put in the effort required to complete it.

 

[Stemar]

Tufglass 33 For Sale, 10.00m, 1979

I'd have loved to take that on 30 or 40 years ago. I've far more sense (and creaky joints) now

 

[Neeves]

I'd have loved to take that on 30 or 40 years ago. I've far more sense (and creaky joints) now

I think you are too harsh on yourself.

30-40 years ago you had different commitments or responsibilities to today, you also had different ambitions and expectations. It has nothing to do with 'sense'. However I am sure your joints are a bit more creaky (unfortunately you got part of it right!). Most of the people here are no different.

40 years ago it never crossed my consciousness that I would be living in Australia - pre Covid, or 2 years ago Oz was a standard part of the itinerary of any 20 something from the UK. 40 years ago we slummed in small tents and only slightly bigger yachts, I once hitch hiked round Corsica and climbed its two highest peaks - today kids pick fruit in New Zealand and/or visit Angkor Wat (I'd never heard of it 40 years ago).

40 years ago the idea I'd have creaking joints was something else that did not cross my consciousness - blinded by the idea of immortality (or mortality did not cross my consciousness either).

We change, times change

Jonathan

 

[dunedin]

Hanging from my garage roof is a 9ft sailing pram homebuilt to plans published in Yachting Monthly in the 1930s. A fine bit of DIY.

The builder used the Ashcroft method that involves two layers of diagonal planking with all the planks running diagonally in the same direction on each side.

The result is a pleasing rounded shape and a very light boat.

I might get round to it next winter depending on the results of my forthcoming PPA (Project Priority Assessment)

How many votes do you get in this prioritisation versus the votes of your partner ?

 

[dgadee]

Here is an unlaunched 33ft 1979 boat, Unused Bukh engine and sails and rig .. ( all from that date !)
for offers on £6k
One owner, one back garden, from new..

In some ways that is an absolute gift
Tufglass 33 For Sale, 10.00m, 1979

Neighbours might be pleased to see it go.

 

[dgadee]

A lifeboat conversion was my dad's first cruiser.

Lifeboats last longer these days. I have a book at home by someone who built from one in Glasgow in the 30s in the depression. Got an advance from a publisher to pay for it and write the book. He went aground and toffs would not pull him off.

Edit : Have it here! Cruising in Scotland by Lennox Kerr. 1938.

 

[BobnLesley]

We saw quite a few and generally very nice ferro-cement yachts in NZ. My suspicion was that the import duties and shipping costs were and indeed still are high if you want to get a complete yacht to NZ, so the savings on building in ferro, or indeed timber - there were more of those than we're used to seeing too - are probably higher for the Kiwis than in Europe.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

We saw quite a few and generally very nice ferro-cement yachts in NZ. My suspicion was that the import duties and shipping costs were and indeed still are high if you want to get a complete yacht to NZ, so the savings on building in ferro, or indeed timber - there were more of those than we're used to seeing too - are probably higher for the Kiwis than in Europe.

Yes. The NZ Hartley's are very popular. I used to sail extensively on one in the UK. Sailed really well, 46' ketch rigged, 23 ton in weight. As mentioned earlier, the cost of the hull is only around 20% of total max price of the boat. The owner, in hindsight, wished he had fabricated the hull in steel plate. It took him 19 years to build it, and in the end, felt he was too old to start world girdling. He had trouble getting crew but happily sailed it single handed locally for day sails and the occasional overnight.

 

[dutyhog]

I collected a Corribee kit from Bridport during Easter 1974 (towed it back to Scotland with a borrowed Landrover) and built it up enough to sail from Clyde to Mull in August. I did nothing else but build all my non working hours. Being in the optical industry I had daft ideas about tolerances and made things fit to mms rather than what I later saw on factory fitted boats. It was great fun and I learned so much. Back then it saved spending what I didn’t have spare. All that was good for confidence with owning bigger vessels later, but I never wanted to devote so much effort to that again. I still find I love a fresh big project, but always a different kind.

 

[R.Ems]

Lifeboat conversions. Another type you don't see anymore.

Have you seen Stødig? She's an old GRP lifeboat which two young architects and their retriever, Shackleton, converted for Arctic exploration, no sails but a great project.
I think they have made it to Svalbord so far, they have lots of photos etc online. I met them in Newhaven as I bought one of her old fuel tanks, they have a very positive attitude.

 

[R.Ems]

It used to be popular to convert old Danish and Scottish fishing boats to gaff ketches or cutters, using pine spars and galvanised steel deck fittings. There was even a 'how to' book in my local lending library in the 70's.
Due to changes in the fishing industry, and despite the tragic compulsory destruction of many wooden fishing boats for political reasons, you can still find them, I found this one, lying Rye, on the fascinating "Find a Fishing Boat" website in less than a minute.
Oak on oak, no rot, Scania main engine, £20,000. I wish I was younger!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

View attachment 135152
It used to be popular to convert old Danish and Scottish fishing boats to gaff ketches or cutters, using pine spars and galvanised steel deck fittings. There was even a 'how to' book in my local lending library in the 70's.
Due to changes in the fishing industry, and despite the tragic compulsory destruction of many wooden fishing boats for political reasons, you can still find them, I found this one, lying Rye, on the fascinating "Find a Fishing Boat" website in less than a minute.
Oak on oak, no rot, Scania main engine, £20,000. I wish I was younger!

My father often hankered after the idea of converting an MFV, and we looked round quite a few. It would never have worked out; Dad was self-employed and would never have had the time. I think he realized that, but he kept the dream alive!

 

[Blueboatman]

View attachment 135152
It used to be popular to convert old Danish and Scottish fishing boats to gaff ketches or cutters, using pine spars and galvanised steel deck fittings. There was even a 'how to' book in my local lending library in the 70's.
Due to changes in the fishing industry, and despite the tragic compulsory destruction of many wooden fishing boats for political reasons, you can still find them, I found this one, lying Rye, on the fascinating "Find a Fishing Boat" website in less than a minute.
Oak on oak, no rot, Scania main engine, £20,000. I wish I was younger!

I’ve had the tour of that one . It is rather good

 

[cherod]

Windboats of Wroxham used to exhibit their ferro-cement yachts at the Earl's Court Boat Show. The finish on the exterior of the hulls was very good.

But until a few years ago no boatyard was complete without one or two decrepit amateur-built ferro hulls (hulks!) sitting unloved and unwanted in a corner!

We had one , one of the finest boats i ever saw or sailed on ( would still be around if had not been taken over by complete toss pot ?)

 

[cherod]

Whathappened to buyinga bare hull and fitting it out?

Build a boat ? Most people now adays cant even change a spare wheel on their over sized car ?

 

[Blueboatman]

Build a boat ? Most people now adays cant even change a spare wheel on their over sized car ?

Aye , and there’s the nub of it