How long did it take to build your boat

[Don6558]

I'm fairly new to this forum. I posted "Your Opinion Please" and received fantastic responses.

What I want to know now is:

1. How long did it take to build your boat and how big is it.
2. What was your boat built out of? ie. Plywood, veneer ply, planked, stripped, plywood/Solid wood frames or Laminated frames, etc. or some other method.
3. What was/is your boat building time disipline? (Hrs per week/month)
4. Is/was this time disipline consistent or would you take periods of time off?
5. What did you find was/is the most difficult part of the project?
6. Why do you think it takes longer to build a larger boat. (I would expect it to be some multiple of time, based on how much larger the "big boat" is but apperantly it's not)

Thanks

[johnw]

I built my boat in five months, mostly weekends but a few evenings. It's a 17' 9" sharpie of my own design, open boat with enough deck to sit comfortably, with a Snipe rig that I already owned. I suspect complexity is the reason it takes longer to build a larger boat; mine's dead simple and designed for easy construction.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/21456843/B...pie-Black-Swan

[WX]

I'm fairly new to this forum. I posted "Your Opinion Please" and received fantastic responses.

What I want to know now is:

1. How long did it take to build your boat and how big is it.
2. What was your boat built out of? ie. Plywood, veneer ply, planked, stripped, plywood/Solid wood frames or Laminated frames, etc. or some other method.
3. What was/is your boat building time disipline? (Hrs per week/month)
4. Is/was this time disipline consistent or would you take periods of time off?
5. What did you find was/is the most difficult part of the project?
6. Why do you think it takes longer to build a larger boat. (I would expect it to be some multiple of time, based on how much larger the "big boat" is but apperantly it's not)

Thanks

I started building my 24' 6" plywood on timber frame yacht in 1986 and expected to take 4 years doing it. There are many things that can slow you down, lack of money, lack of time, skill level, non sympathetic partners/relationship breakdown, family priorities, illness etc etc.
My boat reached lockup stage and then went under a tarp for 15 years and when the tarp came off it took one and half years just to repair the damage and get it back to the point pre tarp.
I think it all comes down to time and money and how obsessed you can afford be.

[Breakaway]

12 foot sharpie skiff. Ply on frame.

Hours ( to finish and paint): 102

Years:1.7

Kevin

[slidercat]

Slider took me 19 months from start to finish. That's a lot for a 16 foot open boat built to workboat esthetic standards, but a cat is almost twice as complicated to build as a monohull, and I was designing as I went along, so much of the time I was just sitting around scratching my head, wondering how to do the next thing. Slider is conventional ply on frame and stringer construction.

[Wavewacker]

I can't say because I have not built one! But I can tell from experience with other projects a few things that will make any project go slower.

To ask someone how long it takes to build a boat could be like asking a doctor how long does it take to deliver a baby.
Each mother is different and so are the doctors and complications of the process.

Ray is probably good enough at what he does to draft some sketches and start cutting wood. If you're a first time builder, there will be a basic learning curve even if you have very good wood working skills, IMO.

Logistics is another aspect, do you really have everything you need when you are ready to work? If you have limited time and you plan on working on your boat, say Sunday afternoon, you go out and find that your hardener spilled and you can't go get another can, that it takes three days if you could order on Sunday, your time table just got messed up.

Work space is another aspect of any large project. Is it organized and ready to work in? Do you need to move the bicycles every time you want to get to the other side of your project?

Family, are they with you as far as giving you time in the shop without interuptions or are you also watching the kids?

What if you break you leg? You'll need to sand that paint line where you left of three months ago to start back where you were
.
I could go on, but you get the idea.


Getting a rough idea on build time with a certain type of boat might be a good idea, but I don't see how we can compare a 20' catamaran with a 12' sharpie or with a 16' canoe. There is no way I can build a 4,000 sq ft home in the same time I can build a 1,200 sq ft home or a an 800 sq ft. garage.

I can probably build a house faster than other people with similar skills but who have never built a house before.

I think you have some interesting questions to be addressed, but I don't think that in the end you'll get much useful information since Kevin and Ray have different skills on different boats. It's not the size so much but the complexity of the build and design, the degree of finish, the availabilty of equipment and tools, assets and skills. How could we factor in different experiences, skills and abilities to obtain a matrix that could answer your questions where they would be statistically significant? I don't think we can.

I'd like to know just what the problems would be that I would face as a first time builder to build a Bolger Tenn, how long it will take me and what it will cost, but I doubt anyone can do that.....but if there is someone who can, I'd like to know.....LOL!

[StevenBauer]

My first build was a John Gardner 14' Sail and Row Skiff. started in April. And launched on Labor Day. Ply on frame. Second build was a Harry Bryan Thistle. Traditional construction cedar on Black Locust. Started April launched in beginning of July. Third boat I built with my son. We started when he was in eighth grad and finished when he was a HS senior. Glued lap Oughtred designed Elf Faering. Fourth boat I built wih my oldest daughter. Joel White 9'6" Nutshell pram. Started in April launched in July. Fifth boat was an Oughtred HumbleBee Pram. Started in March, launched in June. Next up is a KDI double ender with daughter #2. Who l knows....

[Willin']

Shellback Dinghy by plans, not kit, epoxy/ ply glued lap, sailing version. Estimated time to complete, 200 hrs, nights, mornings and weekends over one year. I didn't mind the slow progress at the time as it kept me out of the bars.

Time to complete per WB 'how to' series...100 hours for a moderately talented carpenter, per conversation with Eric Dow when set up for production, 120 hours.

The construction time could have been shortened considerably had I never tried varnish on the transom. Once that happened, well, a sequential vortex of brightwork ensued... thwarts, centerboard bedlogs, inwhales and rubstrakes and other small trim bits. I understand now why builders offer better pricing for 'you paint it' boats.

[Wavewacker]

Wow, after reading mine it really sounded like I was trying to rain on your parade, I sure didn't mean it that way if it was taken that way. Just thought I'd mention aspects that might effect different responses...etc. Sorry if it sounds smat-a$$y.


Beautiful boats guys!

[Willin']

Not smart alecky, but expecting us to comment on how your family will impact your build is just asking for confusion. I set up a shop in the garage of a rental house I knew I would be in for less than 2 years and felt successful that I finished the boat before being forced to move. Everyone's story is different. Best advice...get started. When you finish you'll love the results.

[jsjpd1]

Sparrow, 19'6" Caledonia Yawl glued lap plywood, it took to summers to finish working on weekends and spare evenings. It was built outside by the house. I had to quit about the end of September the first year because it got too cold for the epoxy to kick off. I started again about the end of April the following year and launched in mid July.



Then it was couple of skin on frame boats. It took about 150 hours for each boat spread out over a couple months for each project.





Jim

[jsjpd1]

Best advice...get started. When you finish you'll love the results.

Absolutely!

Jim

[orbb]

I am 18 months into a Woodenboat Lumberyard Skiff (14.5 feet, flat bottomed skiff). It is currently a boat (i.e., it will float) but I have a lot of finishing to do.

I set a deadline of labor day (now 9 days away) as my launch day, but that will pass, because I want it to be right. I am enjoying the process as much as the end result. I think the end of September is realistic.

And, I have the lumber for the next boat in the garage, ready to go.

[TerryLL]

Doesn't matter how long it takes. I'm 75 hours into a Caledonia Yawl, spread over 9 months. I work on it when I can, and dream about it the rest of the time. When it's done I'll just have to find another boat to build.

[AlanL]

How long did it take to build your boat and how big is it.

9 months, 28'

What was/is your boat building time disipline? (Hrs per week/month)

Full time, up to four people working each weekend until it was done.

Is/was this time disipline consistent or would you take periods of time off?

No time off taken during the build but delays due to specialist tradees.

What did you find was/is the most difficult part of the project?

Getting the lines right for the cabin.

Why do you think it takes longer to build a larger boat. (I would expect it to be some multiple of time, based on how much larger the "big boat" is but apperantly it's not)

They are more complex. There are more components in a larger boat than a small one. The components may not be larger, but there are more of them and all require careful work. Some components are also larger and require more than one pair of hands to install. There is a lot more preparation work for painting, e.g. sanding, sanding, sanding.

[Pomor]

Kind health. I built month and five days, from a beginning and before descent(release) to water. For 6-8 hours per day. Length 5.7м, width 1.8, height of a board 0.6м. in middle of length of a boat. The fastening of a mast demountable, and on a kind not reliable, on a case of a sharp impulse of a wind, drops a mast, does not overturn a boat. The sail is used not all time, generally lays in a boat. As reserve the engine, on a case of breakage of the motor.

[johnw]

Kind health. I built month and five days, from a beginning and before descent(release) to water. For 6-8 hours per day. Length 5.7м, width 1.8, height of a board 0.6м. in middle of length of a boat. The fastening of a mast demountable, and on a kind not reliable, on a case of a sharp impulse of a wind, drops a mast, does not overturn a boat. The sail is used not all time, generally lays in a boat. As reserve the engine, on a case of breakage of the motor.

That's a beauty! Can you tell us more about the design?

[Pomor]

That's a beauty! Can you tell us more about the design?

Прежеде всего спасибо за оценку. I at all do not know as you to answer. The plan, drawings as such is not present, there are rules, which are necessary for observing. All depends on length of a planned boat, width of 1/3 lengths, выстоа of a board of 1/3 width. This rule works up to length 5-10м. The contours are set by the first belt(zone) from Kiel, further board will lie down itself, and the small updating скосом кромки will be possible(probable) only. And that, only in the party of hold. Show on a photo under the order work I can.
The forms of a boat are fulfilled by time, in view of ability of a board to a bend. At me is constructed from plywood, and so precisely same it is easily possible to construct of a board. More correctly board will be bent on these contours. Wanted to tell, to show a Photo from a beginning of construction and before descent(release) to water

[johnw]

So the first plank by the keel would be the garboard plank? Do you define the shape of the midship frame, or does that grow out of the way the planks attach?

Of course, the Rus were from the Scandinavian area, that shows in the heritage of the boat.

[Pomor]

So the first plank by the keel would be the garboard plank? Do you define the shape of the midship frame, or does that grow out of the way the planks attach?

Of course, the Rus were from the Scandinavian area, that shows in the heritage of the boat.

How to put first набой, corner, depends on the purposes of a boat, if a cargo to carry much, almost in parallel, but thus already hardly it will be wider. Probably it is easier зделать a pattern and on it(him) ложить. I ложил approximately (I from childhood with boats), but pattern, that was equal nevertheless did(made) small.

[johnw]

That's really interesting. You might think of starting a thread about this build. Is the keel flat like a Saxon boat, or T sectioned like a Scandinavian boat?

[Pomor]

That's really interesting. You might think of starting a thread about this build. Is the keel flat like a Saxon boat, or T sectioned like a Scandinavian boat?

Kiel T a Structure of a shelf is adjusted.

[Hunky Dory]

I started a Redmond Flapjack skiff in March, The outside of the hull is ready for final sanding and paint, inner and outer rails and spacers sanded and ready of finish. The first seat is cut and fitted and the end is in sight ,but still need to make mast, sprit pole,rudder,oars mast partner. I work on the boat a couple evenings a week and weekends that are not boating days. If you have a boat and a wife that likes boating you don't get much work done on weekends in the summer. I am trying to see how nice a job I can do, not how fast I can build it and am happy with results and timeline so far.

[JoshuaIII]

What I want to know now is:

1. How long did it take to build your boat and how big is it.

The 26ft 116a design of Paul Gartiside.

1. What was your boat built out of? ie. Plywood, veneer ply, planked, stripped, plywood/Solid wood frames or Laminated frames, etc. or some other method.

1" VG BC Fir Carvel planked with White oak sawn frames.

1. What was/is your boat building time disipline? (Hrs per week/month)

Between 40 to 60 hours a week, but I am quite a perfectionist.

1. Is/was this time disipline consistent or would you take periods of time off?

I have taken 3 years off for it, 2 years done already

1. What did you find was/is the most difficult part of the project?

Get motivated you have a day where everything go wrong.

1. Why do you think it takes longer to build a larger boat. (I would expect it to be some multiple of time, based on how much larger the "big boat" is but apperantly it's not)

It is not really the larger boat but the way of building it. A plywood boat with epoxy is a lot easier and faster then a cold molded one or a carvel planked boat.

[carlg]

'Built a 16' electric-powered sharpie from start to launch in ten days. There were two of us working about six hours per day.

[johnw]

Kiel T a Structure of a shelf is adjusted.

That would be in keeping with the theory that the boat has a Scandinavian ancestry. What is this type of boat called?

[wizbang 13]

12 weeks, lofting floor to whiskey plank. 15 months to sailin . 34, ' 12ton ketch. Paul Johnson designed "Venus 4"
Strip planked Alaska Cedar and Doug Fir with sys 3 epoxy.
I worked alone, in my yard, 70 hours a week for the hull, 20 hours a week for the year to finish her. I made the masts, sails, blocks, rigging, tanks, installed the engine. I had help (welding) with the rudder fittings.
The most difficult part was being dirt poor and having to go back to work after the hull was finished.Borrowing $1000 to launch her.
This was in 1983 when I was 29 years old.
, a bigger boat is easier than a small boat,proportionately.
I have sailed her 60,000 miles

[biglad]

I built my first boat, a Highlander 11 sailing dinghy designed by Paul Fisher. Paul gave me lots of help and I'll definitely build another of his designs someday.I had zero boat building experience and it took me 6 months at 10 hrs a week from ordering the plans to going sailing. I adapted the rig of another boat to fit which save time. I have to say though, my finish is workboat at best. I don't spend hours sweating over every last detail. My current build is Iain Oughtred's Caledonia Yawl. I haveso far put c.140 hrs in 2/3 hr blocks and I have completed the hull, rolled her over, and the bulkheads are in. Loads to do but she'll be done by next spring hopefully.

[Pomor]

That would be in keeping with the theory that the boat has a Scandinavian ancestry. What is this type of boat called?

I do not know precisely whose roots in our tradition of construction of boats, the optimum design for these conditions is faster found. Especially we the neighbours. And our great-grandfathers ran through Barents Sea in Norway.
The grandfather told, that it(he) still has found boats сшиты not on nails, and on rods with wedges, the apertures were drilled and the rod, invention расклинивался was passed. Almost as ниткой the tailor sews.
We had some kinds of a boat. Length up to 5м refers to as поездник. 5-7м карбас, 7-10м ёла, more 10м коч (koches). It is possible to familiarize with Pomors.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomor

[JimConlin]

My first boat was a 35' glass sloop, bought when it was 13 years old. Over 25 years of ownership, I renovated/customized much of its interior and systems, gradually 'making it my own'. In that time I probably averaged 75-100 hours/year of maintenance effort. We sailed a lot and did not lose much sailing time to 'projects'. I eventually sold it for 30% more than I'd paid for it.

For my second boat, I had some specific requirements which were not met by anything on the market, so I had to build it. It's a 29' composite trimaran built mostly of other materials. It took seven years of about twenty hours/week. During that period, I had a few time-outs for other projects and some health issues, but I did not sail much at all. It was painful. The boat has a very simple interior, a small outboard motor for propulsion and minimal electric and plumbing systems. Even though I had plans of sorts, the most difficult part was planning details and building methods. I spent a lot of time scratching my head. I figure that my productivity was about a quarter of what it would have been were I building the boat in a manufacturing setting. It only made sense for me because nobody has manufactured the boat I wanted. I am not even close to being ready to sell it, but when I do, it might be difficult. Many owner-built boats barely recover the cost of their materials.

Unless you want a boat that offers very high performance, go-anywhere robustness, sybaritic comfort or stunning aesthetics (and the design you mentioned doesn't offer any of those), it's far easier and even cheaper to buy an existing boat. There are many boats on the market priced at well under their cost to build.

[AlanL]

It is possible to familiarize with Pomors.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomor

Thank you. Very interesting read.

[mcdenny]

The Gougeon's book says they estimate 15 minutes / pound. My 24' runabout took just a little more than that. Of course it has a 1000# engine which didn't take anything like 250 hours to install.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could build a nice little skiff hull in fewer hours than it would take to paint it with a little brightwork.

My strip planked 25' electric launch took 2300 hours. The hull was painted and turned over around 4-500 hrs. Lots of fiddly bits on the interior.

[David G]

My personal boats:

#1 a Goat Island Skiff. 15' - 5" open, plywood, very simple, skiff with balanced lug rig. The building crew was myself, my two teenaged sons, and an old friend (accountant, no woodworker at all). It took us 8 months, working 1 evening per week. Working alone, I'd have finished it in about 1/4 the time (but I wouldn't trade the experience we had together for the world).

#2 a Puddle Duck Racer - the most basic of boats. Five long days took me from zero to launching just in time for the World Championship Race (as in - still screwing on fittings and lacing on the sail during the Commodore's pre-race briefing).

[cprinos]

This 16.5' Mill Creek was from a CLC kit. Stitch 'n glue. I had the hull 3D within a week, and it took about 80 hours total spread out over 1 year to complete. I didn't do anything with it November-March since I was using an unheated space to build. Varnish & paint was about 20-25 hours of that (I am not really great with either varnish or paint, that's the hardest part for me, I always seem to find unique ways to ruin a newly applied coat).

[JimConlin]

The Gougeon's book says they estimate 15 minutes / pound. My 24' runabout took just a little more than that. Of course it has a 1000# engine which didn't take anything like 250 hours to install.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could build a nice little skiff hull in fewer hours than it would take to paint it with a little brightwork.

My strip planked 25' electric launch took 2300 hours. The hull was painted and turned over around 4-500 hrs. Lots of fiddly bits on the interior.

And add to that labor for the rig and other systems.
Getting rough estimates of the cost of engines, spars, sails, electronics and canvas work would be a good idea, too.

[earling2]

Bolger Defender 11'

http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u...3DIMG_0024.jpg

Took me about 130 hours, 6 to 8 hours/day, not including paint or rig.

made out of 9mm Okume and WEST epoxy

worked steadily 5 days or less a week until it was done

(paint went fast; rig took longer because I built birdsmouth spars and invented it all as I went along. Building to plans is MUCH faster than improv)

Most difficult part of the process, notching the transom for planks lands

Bigger boats take longer because they begin to have "systems"--like decks and cabins and shrouds, rigging that has to have serious mechanical advantage, the pieces are bigger, heavier, have much more surface area to sand/plane/shape, you spend a lot more time organizing shop space and maintaining tools and cleaning up sawdust, you use up a lot more energy just moving stuff around and orchestrating, timing of stages is more important, yadda yadda, more stuff has to be outsourced and once that process starts, you can't even begin to keep track of the time wasted.

[Borneogoat]

I've been building a Storm 15 since mid April 2010. About three nights a week and usually 4-5hrs on the weekend. As it was my first boat, I greatly over estimated my available free time. At first I got 20hrs a week in .... now realistically 10hrs. Things like vacations, day jobs, buying a house, family stuff, all eats into boat building time. As does actually sailing! I also under estimated how much extra work is created by sloppy epoxy work. Do it clean and nice the first time!

I reckon two more months, but this boy has cried that wolf a few times....

Photos at the end show the 1st primer coat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3211002...7623966519721/

[johnw]

I do not know precisely whose roots in our tradition of construction of boats, the optimum design for these conditions is faster found. Especially we the neighbours. And our great-grandfathers ran through Barents Sea in Norway.
The grandfather told, that it(he) still has found boats сшиты not on nails, and on rods with wedges, the apertures were drilled and the rod, invention расклинивался was passed. Almost as ниткой the tailor sews.
We had some kinds of a boat. Length up to 5м refers to as поездник. 5-7м карбас, 7-10м ёла, more 10м коч (koches). It is possible to familiarize with Pomors.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomor

Thanks, very interesting!

[BarnacleGrim]

Interesting indeed! I've been to both Solovki and Arkhangelsk (and seen the Malye Korely), but I haven't had a chance to study the local boat building tradition in much detail. Pomor, I'd love for you to start another thread and tell us more. Though I can read Cyrillic script, you're losing me on the Russian terminology.

[John How]

About 8 months to finish my Pooduck Skiff. It was my second boat build.

[Pomor]

Thank you. Very interesting read.

Thank on goods a word.

Thanks, very interesting!

Thank on goods a word.

Interesting indeed! I've been to both Solovki and Arkhangelsk (and seen the Malye Korely), but I haven't had a chance to study the local boat building tradition in much detail. Pomor, I'd love for you to start another thread and tell us more. Though I can read Cyrillic script, you're losing me on the Russian terminology.

Thank on goods a word. (Спасибо за отзыв) Time you were by the White sea, Arkhangelsk, Соловецкие of an island, from a part are familiar with our boats and life.I correctly understand you, that it is better to open a new subject, and in it(her) to tell all under the order. (Раз вы были на Белом море, Архангельск, Соловецкие острова, то от части знакомы с нашими лодками и бытом.Я вас правильно понимаю, что лучше открыть новую тему, и в ней рассказать все по порядку.)

[Pomor]

And still I want to tell, the good works are submitted in this subject, always I treat yours faithfully the people who does(makes) things by the hands. And it is not important, whether it be canoe, or ocean yacht.

I ask to excuse if not in a subject.

[johnw]

And still I want to tell, the good works are submitted in this subject, always I treat yours faithfully the people who does(makes) things by the hands. And it is not important, whether it be canoe, or ocean yacht.

I ask to excuse if not in a subject.

I think we're all okay with this particular thread drift.

[Andy Mcconkey]

My first build, a Tumlaren, cold molded cedar hull, took seven and a half years building with my dad. I have no clue how many hours.
I've built four stitch and glue kayaks, all from scratch and the building times ranged from 50 to 100 hours.
A sailing Beach Pea that I built with my kids took around eight elapsed months and in the neighborhood of 200 hours.
The Joel White Shearwater that I built last winter took around 200 hours for the rowing only option with added floatation compartments.
I've never built a transom.

[Andy Mcconkey]

My first build, a Tumlaren, cold molded cedar hull, took seven and a half years building with my dad. I have no clue how many hours.<BR>I've built four stitch and glue kayaks, all from scratch and the building times ranged from 50 to 100 hours.<BR>A sailing Beach Pea that I built with my kids took around eight elapsed months and in the neighborhood of 200 hours.<BR>The Joel White Shearwater that I built last winter took around 200 hours for the rowing only option with added floatation compartments.<BR>I've never built a transom.

[Dick Wynne]

The 25ft clinker-built Constance took builder Fabian Bush 3 years total elapsed time, he slipped in the yard and broke his leg in 3 places half way through. But I thought she was worth a broken leg of anyone's money, and I think he agreed.

[BrianR]

I once asked this question before I embarked on my Melonseed. A wise old timer told me, "If you're worried about it taking too long, you're missing the point. Enjoy every minute of it." Not saying you're missing the point, but I'll never forget that advice.

[Jamie Orr]

I built my twenty foot Chebacco over five years, including cutting and sewing the sails. It was built outside under a tarp lean-to, so not much happened in the winter months, and I lost a big piece of two summers to house renos etc. Other than that, I didn't work very hard but did some work most weekends and a lot of evenings.

This was the sheet ply version, not lapstrake, using the tack and tape method from Payson's "Build the New Instant Boats". There wasn't a most difficult part, I enjoyed the whole thing and figured that even if I didn't like sailing it, the building experience was worth the money I spent on materials. But the sailing is great too.

Jamie

[Rational Root]

6 years for a 14' sloop.

But
I did have a full time job,
did a maths & stats degree part time,
built out doors,
and my wife and I now have 3 children, we had none when I started.

(I usually watch less than 30 minutes of TV a week)

[wizbang 13]

This one took 7 weeks(catboat) wizbang took 60 hours