Self Building

[lastminuteandy]

Hi everyone,

I am a competent engineer and builder of 'things' and am looking to build my own boat. I have already built planes (up to half scale!), cars and 2 houses....all with my own hands and from scratch. I think I could probably manage any type of materials for boat construction and have lots of experience with metal/welding, glass/epoxy and woods.

I have been scouring the internet looking for plans that I could use to build a large cat for my family to cruise Europe and then later on cross over to the USA. Despite seraching I have only really found Wharram boats. So here are my quetsions that I could do with some help on:

- What plans are available and from where?

- Has anyone built the Wharram type boat, but made the centre section higher/bigger/better, more like the modern cats?

- Are there plans for self-build like a Lagoon style?

Any help would be appreaciated.

Cheers, Andy

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by lastminuteandy

Hi everyone,

I am a competent engineer and builder of 'things' and am looking to build my own boat. I have already built planes (up to half scale!), cars and 2 houses....all with my own hands and from scratch. I think I could probably manage any type of materials for boat construction and have lots of experience with metal/welding, glass/epoxy and woods.

I have been scouring the internet looking for plans that I could use to build a large cat for my family to cruise Europe and then later on cross over to the USA. Despite seraching I have only really found Wharram boats. So here are my quetsions that I could do with some help on:

- What plans are available and from where?

- Has anyone built the Wharram type boat, but made the centre section higher/bigger/better, more like the modern cats?

- Are there plans for self-build like a Lagoon style?

Any help would be appreaciated.

Cheers, Andy

Welcome Andy,

Few Questions before Answers :-

Do you not already have a Wharram Pahi63?

Do you have a building in which you could build a 'large' catamaran?

Once built how would you move it from that building to the sea?

What experience do you have in sailing a large catamaran?

Answers:

Correct Wharram do have plans for their range of catamarans, see

http://www.wharram.com/gaia.html

Many modifications have bee made to the bridge deck of Wharram designs,

some improvements, but many mistakes :- http://wharram.com/site/forum

Plans - here is a source for plans to build a Multihull :-

http://www.google.com/custom?domains...D%3A1%3B&hl=en

[spiritcat]

There are a number of designers out there. Have a look at the web site called www.multihull-maven.com, it has a list of designers.

Peter

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by spiritcat

There are a number of designers out there. Have a look at the web site called www.multihull-maven.com, it has a list of designers.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Bingo, It's also in the previous post.

BTW do you have a Cat, the model being a Spirit? Seen in Moolooba?

[lastminuteandy]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Welcome Andy,

Few Questions before Answers :-

Do you not already have a Wharram Pahi63?

Do you have a building in which you could build a 'large' catamaran?

Once built how would you move it from that building to the sea?

What experience do you have in sailing a large catamaran?

Answers:

Correct Wharram do have plans for their range of catamarans, see

http://www.wharram.com/gaia.html

Many modifications have bee made to the bridge deck of Wharram designs,

some improvements, but many mistakes :- http://wharram.com/site/forum

Plans - here is a source for plans to build a Multihull :-

http://www.google.co...ID%3A1%3B&hl=en

Thank you for the help.

I do not have a boat yet. I am researching ready to get started. I like the Pahi 63 because we want big and space. However it does not meet our need for luxury, headroom, galley up etc.

I am moving to Cyprus and am buying a property with lots of land on which either a temporary building will be built or hopefully I can find an old farm building ready made.

I have looked at Wharram because it looks easilly moveable to the sea. How moveable are the 'one piece' designs....do they need to be built next to the sea?

I have not sailed large cats and am currently looking for suitable training school to get some qualifications - I have no blue sea / ocean experience. The only problem I find with most of the sailing schools I have looked at is that you have to do all the aspects of sailing such as crewing - being disabled I will only be skipper and cant do too much else!..... I am reasoinably able but have a desease that causes degeneration of the discs in my back, essentially like arthritis. If needed (say in an emergency) I can do pretty much anything, it will just hurt and cause more hurt in the following days! I grew up sailing GP14's and then did various holidays aboard bigger things. Also sailed round the Greek islands on a small yacht (30 something foot).

Cheers, Andy

[spiritcat]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Hi Peter,

Bingo, It's also in the previous post.

BTW do you have a Cat, the model being a Spirit? Seen in Moolooba?

Yes, I have a Spirited 380 which I built and launched last December, not Mooloolaba, but Hervey Bay.

Peter

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by spiritcat

Yes, I have a Spirited 380 which I built and launched last December, not Mooloolaba, but Hervey Bay.

Peter

How long did it take to build ?

[spiritcat]

How long did it take to build ?

[/quote]

To be exact, 3 years, 3 months and six days from the day we started glueing panels togther to the launch. I worked part time as I had a day job as well although did employ a guy to help with the fairing and had a lot of support from friends and family. Some photos attached. We undertook an open ocen trip to New Caledonia in June and 'Ta Heke' perfomed well even though we had little wind or wind on the nose most of the way.

Peter

[attach][/attach]

[lastminuteandy]

Originally Posted by spiritcat

Attachment 1744

To be exact, 3 years, 3 months and six days from the day we started glueing panels togther to the launch. I worked part time as I had a day job as well although did employ a guy to help with the fairing and had a lot of support from friends and family. Some photos attached. We undertook an open ocen trip to New Caledonia in June and 'Ta Heke' perfomed well even though we had little wind or wind on the nose most of the way.

Peter

[attach][/attach]

Very nice boat. In fact so nice I have just been looking through the study plans for this and the 480!

Well done.

[Mick@itc]

I'm building a DH550, have a look at Dixdesigns.com