Ahoy all
I joined this group about a week ago and it took me a while to read
all of the messages.I have to admit that I did not mind it at all
since it is very interesting and also encouraging to know there is so
much support and help out there.
Now,I have been dreaming about sailing, cruising and living aboard for
a long time, also I did bit of looking around and come to a conclusion
that BCC is the best of the best in it’s category and will probably
suit my needs. I like wooden boats and I am planning to build one
myself together with my sweetheart and than sail in to the sunset.
Right,but first I need some help. I wonder if anyone knows where to
get building plans for wooden BCC, also I am looking at the size of
26’rather than 28’which seams to me as a lot of boat.Thought,I do not
know if there is 26’ BCC out there, if not than the size of Seraffyn
would do too. My second question is, if there is a way to estimate the
building cost and time. Thank you for any help or information.
Hello --If you are serious about building a BCC and want a good reference
source I would recomend purchasing the book by Lynn and Larry Pardey werein
they describe the building of Taleisan in great detail. I am not sure the
name of the book–but it is loaded with information and step by step photos
of the entire build process.
Good luck
Mark
SVI Itchen # 73
----- Original Message -----
From: <siola@earthlink.net >
To: <bcc@yahoogroups.com >
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 8:45 PM
Subject: [bcc] Hi.
Ahoy all
I joined this group about a week ago and it took me a while to read
all of the messages.I have to admit that I did not mind it at all
since it is very interesting and also encouraging to know there is so
much support and help out there.
Now,I have been dreaming about sailing, cruising and living aboard for
a long time, also I did bit of looking around and come to a conclusion
that BCC is the best of the best in it’s category and will probably
suit my needs. I like wooden boats and I am planning to build one
myself together with my sweetheart and than sail in to the sunset.
Right,but first I need some help. I wonder if anyone knows where to
get building plans for wooden BCC, also I am looking at the size of
26’rather than 28’which seams to me as a lot of boat.Thought,I do not
know if there is 26’ BCC out there, if not than the size of Seraffyn
would do too. My second question is, if there is a way to estimate the
building cost and time. Thank you for any help or information.
Good Morning Alois, at least it is morning where I am, with coffee in hand…
I am not sure but I believe Lyle Hess’s family no longer sells plans but it
is worth a try to call them. I do not have the number but if you call Sumio
Oya at Sam L. Morse Co. He will give it to you. In fact…Sumio…if you
are reading this email the phone number…thanks…
Lyle did design a 26 footer. It was produced in fiberglass at a boatyard in
North Carolina. As the previous owner of the Sam L. Morse Company I wanted
to build the 26 as a fill between the 22 and 28 so I negotiated with this
builder but it didn’t go anywhere. I don’t know how to contact him anymore.
He has a boatyard of his own but I can’t even remeber what city. Perhaps
someone in the group can help. I do not think he has exclusive rights to
the 26 and would probably sell the plans… You are taking on a big, long
project…good luck. The end reward will make it worth while.
Ahoy all
I joined this group about a week ago and it took me a while to read
all of the messages.I have to admit that I did not mind it at all
since it is very interesting and also encouraging to know there is so
much support and help out there.
Now,I have been dreaming about sailing, cruising and living aboard for
a long time, also I did bit of looking around and come to a conclusion
that BCC is the best of the best in it’s category and will probably
suit my needs. I like wooden boats and I am planning to build one
myself together with my sweetheart and than sail in to the sunset.
Right,but first I need some help. I wonder if anyone knows where to
get building plans for wooden BCC, also I am looking at the size of
26’rather than 28’which seams to me as a lot of boat.Thought,I do not
know if there is 26’ BCC out there, if not than the size of Seraffyn
would do too. My second question is, if there is a way to estimate the
building cost and time. Thank you for any help or information.
plans are available thru lyle’s daughter. you can get the address
thru sam morse co. if you are thinking of the 26’, there is a guy
down in morehead city, nc who had been making them some years back.
he gave it up as unprofitable, but as of last spring, the mold was
still sitting in the yard along with an unfinished hull/deck. i do
not know if it was for sale or if he might be persuaded to lay up
another hull. i can try to dig up his name if you are interested. i
did speak with the owner of a 26 footer named POLARIS, who said she
was dramatically smaller than the bcc. i have been aboard serrafyn
and she is really tiny. i do not know if i could have lived aboard
even as an impoverished bachelor, but some people live on catalina
22’s.
this may be a stupid question, but why wood? despite the advantages
touted by the pardey’s, most boats “out there” are fg or metal for
good reasons. some exception of course, but most of the wood boats
are beaters whose owners cannot afford better.
i might recommend doing a serious examination of what you really want
to do-build a boat or go sailing. both are great pursuits but if
your intent is to go cruising, buy a used boat and go. there are
some great deals, like an alberg 30 in the carribean (sans engine,
but with dink/15 hp outboard)for $8000. just a hop to florida for a
refit.
next consideration would be to finish a bare hull. there are some
around; one was just on the website recently. a honest heart to
heart talk with the seller about his experiences and why he abandoned
the project might be very educational. admittedly some boats are
owner finished to high standard (mine was) but many are not and some
lay around for years untouched. in a yard near me there is a
westsail 32 hull and deck begging for finishing.
building is a very long term project especially from scratch. larry
and lin took several years and he is an experienced guy and works
efficiently and has connections for all the supplies and goodies
needed. doubling his times is not unrealistic. having spent a year
and a half building my first dinghy, i know how things can get put
aside, priorities change, etc. your needs and interests and
relationships can change over the period of building. i once spent
several years building a 19 foot weekender (in 3 different states)
only to find that it wasn’t the boat i wanted when i got done. the
memory of my disappointment is still vivid and i would not wish it on
anyone.
i would strongly recommend reading a book called “sensible cruising,
the thoreau approach” by i think don casey. it suggests setting
realistic initial goals and going cruising for short periods in an
easily obtainable boat rather than the big ocean goer.
john churchill
From Pardey's book, Cost Conscious Cruiser, he estimates the material costs for a professional in 1998 to build a 40' boat displacing 17,000 lb. is between $35,700 and $68,000 or between $2.1 and $4.0 per pound of displacement. Estimate man-hours was 7,200. I believe these number maybe low, even for 1998.
Let's assume material costs, rental space, tools, etc. are $6 to $8 per pound for the amateur builder, then at 14,000 lb. displacement for the BCC, material costs will be between $84,000 and $112,000. Based on my conversations with amateur builders, most self-built boats require at least 5 years to build, some take up to 12 years to complete, depending on money and time available.
From our experience rebuilding a custom built Nor'star aft cabin Flicka (http://home.att.net/~africanmoon/ ) one has two purposes in life - earn money and work on DAS BOAT. Was the experience worth it? Yes and No. From a sense of accomplishment, fun, boatyard social life, experience and knowledge - absolutely YES. From a money and time point of view - Perhaps. If you are married, the relationship factor must be added to the equation. Unless both partners share the same interest and enthusiasm, the project may strain the relationship to the point of termination.
Some people go into self-building a boat with the idea, once the hull and deck are finished, the boat is almost finished. The hull and deck represent about 20% of the cost of a boat but require at least one to two years to complete for the self-builder. Building a boat can be a very rewarding experience but in my opinion, most self-builders would do better purchasing a hull and deck then finishing the boat. If you ask a self-builder, "Would you do it again?" The answer in most cases is, "NO!"
Ahoy all ............... Right,but first I need some help. I wonder if anyone knows where to get building plans for wooden BCC, also I am looking at the size of 26'rather than 28'which seams to me as a lot of boat.Thought,I do not know if there is 26' BCC out there, if not than the size of Seraffyn would do too. My second question is, if there is a way to estimate the building cost and time. Thank you for any help or information.
It just occurred to me that you may want to get in touch with
the Tilletts. They own Seraffyn. I have a set of plans for Seraffyn
and I’d guess that they do also. They are near you, in NYC. I
can give you their email address if you contact me directly at MRGEARHA@yahoo.com .
Actually, the Tilletts just sold Seraffyn and are heading back to
Virginia by the land route. But you still may be able to catch them
in your area.
Mark Gearhart
S/V Godspeed
— In bcc@y…, siola@e… wrote:
Ahoy all
I joined this group about a week ago and it took me a while to read
all of the messages.I have to admit that I did not mind it at all
since it is very interesting and also encouraging to know there is
so
much support and help out there.
Now,I have been dreaming about sailing, cruising and living aboard
for
a long time, also I did bit of looking around and come to a
conclusion
that BCC is the best of the best in it’s category and will probably
suit my needs. I like wooden boats and I am planning to build one
myself together with my sweetheart and than sail in to the
sunset.
Right,but first I need some help. I wonder if anyone knows where
to
get building plans for wooden BCC, also I am looking at the size
of
26’rather than 28’which seams to me as a lot of boat.Thought,I do
not
know if there is 26’ BCC out there, if not than the size of Seraffyn
would do too. My second question is, if there is a way to estimate
the
building cost and time. Thank you for any help or information.
