The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

Chapter 6 – Before You Build 47
are part of every boatbuilding endeavor. Family cooperation
may even result in the boat being built more quickly.
Boatbuilding requires patience and perseverance. <strong>The</strong>
joys can be great, but so can the tedium and frustration.
No one likes to sand, but it must be done if your boat is
to be finished properly. You must be prepared to devote
long hours to hard and repetitive work.
If you plan to build your own boat, you must be willing
to accept the risk that accompanies any large personal
commitment. At some point in the future, due to factors
beyond your control, you may be forced to abandon
your project. This may cause some financial hardship: it
is extremely difficult to sell a half-finished hull. Worse,
though, are the psychological results of giving up something
on which you have lavished time and effort.
If you have never built a boat before, try a small project
first. Practice on a dinghy will give you experience with
the materials and methods described in this book.
Mistakes on a small boat take less time to correct than
mistakes on a large one, and the exercise will help you
decide if you have the skill, time and dedication
required for a larger enterprise.
Choosing the Right Boat
Once you have decided to build your own boat, choose
the specific design carefully. Ask yourself some questions.
How will you use your boat? What can you afford?
Failure to carefully consider these factors can lead to
the selection of a boat that will not meet your needs.
With whom will you be sailing? Will you be taking day
or weekend cruises or do you plan longer trips? Take a
long-range view and balance it against the length of
time you will own your boat. Young families tend to
increase in size, but if your children are older, you may
soon need less space. While every boat has an absolute
load limit, this is not the number of people who will
actually be comfortable on board. As a rule, more
passengers can be taken for short outings, fewer for
overnights, and fewer still on weekend cruises.
Boats with long-term, live-aboard accommodations with
large fuel and water tanks are expensive to build and
maintain. Before investing in them, think about where
you will be cruising and how the boat should be fitted
out. Live-aboard amenities for shorter periods necessitate
more frequent port calls, but are much less costly.
Where will you be operating your boat? Look over a
chart of your cruising area and take prevailing water
and wind conditions into account. <strong>The</strong>se should have
significant impact on your choice of design. If you will
be in shallow waters, think twice about a boat with
deep draft. Some boats perform better in light air than
others. You will need fewer instruments and a simpler
boat if you sail in sheltered waters within visual range
of navigational aids than if you go to open areas. Your
boat’s interior requirements will vary according to
whether you plan trips to places where provisions are
readily available.
Will you race your boat? If so, investigate racing in
your area. Many different rating rules are used to
fairly equate different types of sailing craft. <strong>The</strong>se
rules usually favor certain designs, so if you want a
competitive edge, check local rules carefully.
Do you plan to put your boat on a trailer? Trailering
is often a lot of work and sometimes requires waiting
in line at launch ramps, but it cuts expenses and
expands cruising range. Consider transporting your
boat overland as you pick your design, remembering
that long, heavy boats are particularly difficult to haul
and launch.
How much can you afford to spend each year on the
cost of owning and operating your boat? Items such
as dockage, launch, and haul-out are hard to predict
because they vary from region to region. Maintenance,
insurance, repair, and equipment replacement expenses
will depend on the workmanship, quality of accessories,
and general condition of the boat. <strong>The</strong> combined costs
of owning a boat annually amount to from 3% to 5%
of the vessel’s showroom cost, plus engine fuel. If you
budget for 5% plus fuel, you will be able to build up
a reserve for major repairs.
Boat Plans
Once you have clear ideas of the kind of boat you want
and how much money you have available, begin looking
at specific designs. We recommend that you seek out
reputable naval architects and boat designers. <strong>The</strong>se
professionals understand the various loads that will be
placed on a vessel and know how to make sure that the
boat will withstand them. You can save some money by
designing your boat yourself, but we advise against this.