Any Boatbuilders?

[Menehune Man]

Just wondering if anyone has built a boat? Small or large, fishing or sail. Wood, fiberglass, steel. If you have please tell us your experience at it.

[1stwahine]

Just wondering if anyone has built a boat? Small or large, fishing or sail. Wood, fiberglass, steel. If you have please tell us your experience at it.

I built a boat once than after...with the same paper, I built an airplane! I tink I wuz in Kindergarten.

Oh, oops. Wood, fiberglass, steel! Ya neva say paper! Nah, thought we could use a laugh or two. It's 11:11 pm. and nothing to do than checking if any new topics here. I betta go sleep and talk to my Angels.

[Richfuel]

I have never built a boat but man am I tempted to build this one:

Ulua 18' sailing Canoe (http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/garyd/ulua.html)

I've really studied it and I think I could do it. Just a dream right now but making a passage in a boat that I built is one of the "Things-to-do-before-I-die" items on my list.

Aloha,

Slick

[Menehune Man]

I have the building plans for this sailboat MICRO (www.common-sense-boats.com/micro.htm) and hope to make it happen someday.

[DMM]

I have the building plans for this sailboat MICRO (www.common-sense-boats.com/micro.htm) and hope to make it happen someday.
There's another Phil Bolger-designed boat much like that one that sails in Kaneohe Bay regularly.

[LikaNui]

There's another Phil Bolger-designed boat much like that one that sails in Kaneohe Bay regularly. Belongs to my next-door neighbor. Uses it for fishing, mostly. And as for "sailing" it, well... they paddle upwind and sail downwind.
(Tried to put a Big Grin smiley here but the buttons on the Smilies panel aren't working!)

[Menehune Man]

The best job I ever had was as First Mate aboard "Captain Bob's" tourist sail out of He'eia Kea Boat Harbor. Sailing daily out to the sandbar to play volleyball with bikini clad ladies. Photo is of Afa,
Ka'ai'ai, Capt. Parnel and myself. I saw quite a few homebuilt boats plying the bay and that's when I got the idea to try and build one.

[Menehune Man]

This looks like a fairly simple small sailboat to build. It's called a San Francisco Pelican. Originally 12' but now there's 16' & 18' models. Only a centerboard so no messing with building a mold and melting lead to add ballast to a keel. I know that they're pretty stout little boats because there's a race across San Francisco Bay every year in the 12' models. I just want a plaything to get me out to the Kaneohe sandbar on days off. Here's a PHOTO (www.well.com/user/pk/waterfront/photo-of-the-week/Photo041004.html)

There's nothing so much fun as just messing about in boats! :D

[kimo55]

(Tried to put a Big Grin smiley here but the buttons on the Smilies panel aren't working!)





then here's whatcha put fer dat:

(SFSF)

[MadAzza]

then here's whatcha put fer dat:

(SFSF)

Hey, you stole that from my Harley newsgroup!

grrr!

FYI: Stoopid Freakin' Smiley Face

[Menehune Man]

FYI: Stoopid Freakin' Smiley Face


Thanks MadAzza. I didn't know what it meant and thought it may have had something to do with the previous post... San Francisco(SF) was written twice. :p

[LikaNui]

This looks like a fairly simple small sailboat to build. It's called a San Francisco Pelican. What a sweet looking little boat! Interesting that the rig is actually stayed. Nice rig & sailplan for running and reaching, but it probably won't go to windward too well. And I like the deep cockpit. Hope you build it. Already got the plans, or still in the dreaming stage?

I know that they're pretty stout little boats because there's a race across San Francisco Bay every year in the 12' models. Not a problem. I sailed a 7-footer across 32 miles of open ocean between islands.
Once.
;)

There's nothing so much fun as just messing about in boats! :D Or as I like to say, "God does not deduct from our lifespans the time spent out on the ocean."

[timkona]

Have not actually built a boat from scratch, but been involved in at least 30 drydocks on various vessels here on Big Island. My advice to you is to go to work in a drydock for a while before attempting to build a boat. If you have carpentry skills, then you need to "un-learn" them. Throw away the level and the square. Sailing Rules !! So go for it.

"A boat is like a hole in the water that you fill with money."

"A boat is like a child, except a boat never goes to sleep, and never goes to school"

"Owning a sailboat is like standing in an ice cold shower, with a rain jacket on, tearing up $100 bills."

"The happiest days in a man's life are the day he buys his first boat, and the day he sells the damn thing."

"I got a brand new boat for my wife for Christmas. I'm sure gonna miss her."


"Sailing is the second best thing you can do with your clothes off."

Aloha

Capt. Tim

[Menehune Man]

Thanks Capt. Tim! Funny stuff. I've never built a boat either, though worked at Keehi Marine Center for 2 years and South Sails for 6 months way back when. I've built cabinetry into my boats and yes nothing is truly "square" along with every other project a boat owner has to deal with. I lived almost 10 years aboard my own vessels, mostly sail, but my daughter's first home was a 27' cabin cruiser. Anchoring out in Keehi Lagoon back when it was free! Those were the days my friend... I've been boatless for many years now, having raised 2 kids into pretty cool adults. I would never get my wife to live on a boat but am starting to dry up myself so really need a project and then a plaything. Think it's called a "Mid-life Crisis". :eek:

[LikaNui]

The word "boat" can be broken down to Break Out Another Thou$and.
:p

[Menehune Man]

What a sweet Hope you build it. Already got the plans, or still in the dreaming stage?
Previously I was "Buddy2" so I have the plans for Phil Bolger's Micro, but not for this boat.

Not a problem. I sailed a 7-footer across 32 miles of open ocean between islands.Once. ;)
WOW! Where from and to and when? So cool. I've sailed to Lanai, Maui and The Big Island. Inside of Vancouver Island and down the coast of California. Of course I cheated and did it on bigger boats than that one.

Or as I like to say, "God does not deduct from our lifespans the time spent out on the ocean."
I think you're right. Sure makes life seem more worthwhile anyway.

Thanks LikaNui !

[timkona]

I sailed a 25' Santana from Keauhou, Hawaii to Lahaina, Maui....like a Nantucket Sleighride in the channel makin 8+ knots on the GPS with a wide open broad reach on a quartering sea....on a couple of those down hill parts I swear we made lift-off.

Comin home from Manele Bay on Lanai was a different story....giant head seas with wind....no way to sail....9 hp Evinrude puttering away gettin drenched on every fluffy wave top....we are wearin face masks cuz of the spray.....terrible bad for 16 hours .... ..... ..... ..... then a dead calm off the coast of Mahaiula....we outta gas....sails are flappin in the stillness....but the current is running to the south slowly...and Keahole Pt is within sight....by sunset we used the last cup of gas to motor into Honokohou....we must have looked a sight, cuz a good friend of ours, out of pure sympathy, gave us his freshly purchased 6 pack of Anchor Steam....we motored home to Keauhou, safe and sound....phew!

[Menehune Man]

Right on! Here's my Pearson 26' named "Blue" that I did most of my interisland sailing in. The photo is from the first week I owned her, or did she own me? Hmmm. Frank Rice of the boatyard gave me a livaboard slip for $100/month, Ha! I got no peace so only kept it for a month and went back out on my own anchors. One time anchored off of Kamaole 1 (Maui) for a couple of weeks, I met a lady who took me back to Catalina Island with her a month later, oh but I digress. From there to Honokohau took twelve hours of choice surfing! As the waves (8'ers) would try to cause Blue to round up I just surfed her along. What a Blast! :D :D :D :D

[Menehune Man]

Trying for photo again...

[LikaNui]

I sailed a 25' Santana from Keauhou, Hawaii to Lahaina, Maui....like a Nantucket Sleighride in the channel makin 8+ knots on the GPS with a wide open broad reach on a quartering sea....on a couple of those down hill parts I swear we made lift-off. Great fun!
If you get a chance, try a downwind run in the Moloka`i Channel on a blustery day, on an ultralight 70-footer. We did 16 knots... on the back of the waves... and surfed to 29 knots on the faces of the waves.
"Fun" doesn't even begin to describe it!
Take this big ol' grin here ----> :D and multiply it a few hundred times.

For even more fun, try it at night. With no moon.

[Menehune Man]

Hey! Let's start a new thread in Mixed Plate called Sailin' Stories. It's good to remember and share those times and the ones to come! :D

[kimo55]

great idea!......

[Menehune Man]

great idea!......

I did it, Kimo! Please share yours.

[kimo55]

ok, tomorrow aftah java



sailin stories. missed opportunities. great sailin story books. people. magz.
(latts and atts..)
whootah.

[Menehune Man]

Lattitudes and Attitudes is the best! :D

Hey Kimo. Do I get Green Gum for this idea? :o

[Menehune Man]

I went out sailing with my buddy this morning. After a while we motored through the Keehi Lagoon anchorage and I discovered this cute little 20 footer. She had a for sale sign on her and I called the owner. I'll meet up with him tomarrow and if all goes well...
I'll be a boat owner again!!! It's a 1971 Bell Boy Marine Sailboat.
Wish me luck! Named JAVA at the moment though after I put some love (and money) into it, I'll rename "Menehune Man" of course. :D

[Menehune Man]

As with most things... "Buyer Beware", especially boats.

Met the owner and I went out to the boat.
WHAT A MESS! Couldn't believe it.
Most of the interior has been cut out, including major structural items to make more room?! Could be rebuilt, but sheesh.

I asked yesterday about what type of keel and was told it's a fixed keel (solid), but discovered that it was a swing keel that all the mechanics of moving it had been removed and now is through bolted in the down position. I never have liked those anyways.

All the standing rigging (what holds the mast up, wires and turnbuckles) needs replacing. The mast step is corroded / broken along with the chain plates.

So, this is a boat that I wouldn't want to take on even if given to me.
Oh well. There's more fish in the sea. HaHa!

[Menehune Man]

My friend Don bought a Alberg 30 sailboat hull and cabin.
It had been gutted by previous owners so the good part is that he has added hull stiffeners and has also started on the interior. Don has many of the necessary large ticket items already, diesel engine, stove, head(toilet), etc.
Luckily he works in the marine industry in Idaho so gets everything at super wholesale prices. The boat will be extra stout in every aspect. He has sailed to Hawaii 3 times along with many other stops across the Pacific. He and I have sailed inter-island here and around Vancouver island together. And been friends over 20 years. Should be ready to go by the end of this year and I'm invited! Mrs. Menehune has always said I can go if I get the chance!!!
Here's a link to a blog on his boat restoration. More has been completed since.
http://alberg30.blogspot.com/

Here's an email I just received.
"Ya man!

Whats the best time to sail from the coast: difficult question.
The best time to avoid the hurricanes sweeping up from Mexico is to leave after November,......
having said that, the north Pacific storms start in September and by October one does not want to be off of the north Pacific. Sooooooooooo, the compromise is to get the vessel to a southerly jump off point by road after November and before March (December - January would be ideal).
Gary says he can truck us to San Fransisco, take a couple long days driving with stops at night.
To go to San Diego is twice the driving distance and not what he wants to do.
San Fran is an ok jump zone, there is a potentially rough zone called the "potato patch" as you leave San Fran but it shouldn't be anything the vessel would be concerned about,.....just a little rough on the crew if anything at all,.....could be calm also. Lots of options from there; go down the coast with a stop in Mexico, or head straight to Hi etc. All depends how much time the crew has (you) and what they want to do.
Crew is you, me, and Jesse, a fit young man (18 or 19) who is a Starbucks barista and races mountain bikes in the summer and ski's in the winter. He has given me his phone # and wants to come and work on the boat anytime and really wants to go. I'll have him over to see the boat and see if he knows what he's getting into and still wants to go.
I'm targeting December 2008 January 2009 as the launch date. I'll know by September if I'm gonna make it. All the structural work would need to be completed by then to make it work.

Anywayz,....gotta get back to work.

Love ya!

[salmoned]

If Jesse backs out, Can I apply? ;)

[LikaNui]

Very cool, MM!
Did he cut a hole in the hull to change engines? Looked like it in one photo on his blog. Yikes!
The run down to Mexico would be good for you and Don to see if Jesse can handle being at sea. If he can't, easy to tuck back in somewhere and drop him off, as opposed to heading straight for here and suffering a couple of weeks of misery.
On the other hand, it looks like there's an awful lot of work to do if he wants to leave end of the year. You know how schedules end up. :p Especially with sea trials to work out the bugs. How about planning for a July '09 departure from Los Angeles, and leave a week or 10 days before the TransPac start? That would give you lots of help mid-ocean if you needed it.
Hope it all works out for ya!

[Menehune Man]

Very cool, MM!
1)Did he cut a hole in the hull to change engines? Looked like it in one photo on his blog. Yikes!
2)The run down to Mexico would be good for you and Don to see if Jesse can handle being at sea. If he can't, easy to tuck back in somewhere and drop him off, as opposed to heading straight for here and suffering a couple of weeks of misery.
3)On the other hand, it looks like there's an awful lot of work to do if he wants to leave end of the year. You know how schedules end up. :p Especially with sea trials to work out the bugs.
4)How about planning for a July '09 departure from Los Angeles, and leave a week or 10 days before the TransPac start? That would give you lots of help mid-ocean if you needed it.
5)Hope it all works out for ya!

1) HaHa! That was a 27' Oday sailboat that the marine shop he works for picked up as salvage for $500 bucks.
And he got the diesel engine.

2) Latest news is that the boat will be trucked to San Diego for our jump off spot. And heading south for a bit is a good idea too!

3) Yeah, he's got alot to do. I've seen him complete miracles previously when he sets his mind to something. We'll see. Three of the bulkheads are installed already and much of the interior is ready or at least laid up now. All brand new standing and running rigging on site. He runs a marine repair shop there so has access to all he needs. His boss Gary is a Great guy too! I met him when I was up there last year.

4) That may be what happens?

5) Thanks Buddy!

[Menehune Man]

If Jesse backs out, Can I apply? ;)

Hiya salmoned!
Only the Captain can choose the crew, but I've been aboard an inter-island sail with you as Captain and had a great time.
I still have fond memories of that day buddy!

[Menehune Man]

Check the "progress" update!
http://alberg30.blogspot.com/

Even has a countdown timer added.

[LikaNui]

Jesse sounds like a good guy and has the possibiolity of being good crew.
Love the countdown timer too. Maybe he ought to start a pool. :p
Or, he could buy this sailboat (http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=5942), with its own website at this link (symaltesefalcon.com), already completed, tested, and ready to go again for a bargain-basement price of just...

$180 million. :eek:

[Menehune Man]

Don't think this really counts as "Boat Building" but,
These guys built a raft outta 15,000 plastic bottles, some piping and a Cessna airplane fuselage. They're sailing from Long beach, CA to Hawaii and have launched the journey already?! I wish them luck. Here's a link...
http://junkraft.blogspot.com/

[Menehune Man]

My friend Denis owns/lives aboard a Columbia 28 in Keehi.
His woodworking skills are incredible! A real perfectionist.
The first shot of "Miha" is outdated. A lot of work has been done since then.
The interior shots... EVERY piece of wood you see is new, along with the sink & stove. WOW!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2583881616_eae652c9e8_m.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2583044561_6570e5a46c_m.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2583044565_265f19d873_m.jpg

Told you he was good. And a good friend too!

[matapule]

I ran the Pleasurecraft Division for a Southern California boat builder once upon a time. Company was a pioneer in fiberglass construction starting back in the late '50's. Built fiberglass sailboats and power boats from 30 ft to 120 ft. One of our 36 ft power boats was the first commercial powerboat to cross from California to Hawai'i. That was back in the early '70's. I know a couple of our powerboats are docked in Ala Wai right now.

BTW, I have spent some time in a Pelican. A fun family boat but not a racer. Sort of like an El Toro on steroids.

Ofa 'atu
Mui Houma

[Menehune Man]

My friend Don bought a Alberg 30 sailboat hull and cabin. Here's a link to a blog on his boat restoration. More has been completed since.
http://alberg30.blogspot.com/

Here's an email I just received. 7/14/08

"This was a very good week-end on the boat!
I felt like I reached a mile-stone; Got the hull stiffeners finished! (YAY) Tyler mixed resin batches while I rolled it out on day one and Kim mixed on day two.
Got the last four bulkheads templated, cut out, fit, resin coated, and sanded! (YAY) now they are ready to be tabbed in place.
Got the hull ground to fresh glass and vacuumed and 100 % ready where the bulkheads go. (YAY)

Tonight I'm tabbing all four in place (two at the front of the cockpit and two at the back).
Tomorrow night they all get glassed in solid.

That just leaves the aft bilge to glass and the aft floor partitions which I'll get done this week also.

I had the twin to my little diesel come into the shop, we pulled it apart and its no good for the fellow.
After seeing how funky it was inside I decided to sell him mine as a direct replacement.
It can not be made fresh water cooled so in salt its days would be numbered anywayz.
Parts are no longer available and its good for him as he'd keep his old motor for parts.

I'm "noodlin' around alternatives,.....gotta plan "B",.....need to do more research to see if its feasible."

Pretty cool! He's charging ahead.

[LikaNui]

Charging ahead, indeed! Did he send photos?

[Menehune Man]

No photos this time. :(
But he'll update the blog eventually. :D

[Menehune Man]

UPDATE:
Don's moved the boat into the shop for winter and will go "Gung Ho!" now.
http://alberg30.blogspot.com/

Possibly next summer casting off from the West Coast to Hawai'i!

[LikaNui]

It looks like he's doing an extremely thorough job, MM. But unless he can work on it full time, and has help too, it's hard to imagine it being ready for a bluewater passage by next summer since it's still basically a bare shell. But I'll sure keep my fingers crossed for him! (And you. If I recall correctly, you're planning on making the trip with him, yeah?)