Thread: Building a boat

Originally Posted by silentscope

that is a brilliant little boat, im hoping to acheive something long those lines maybe slightly longer

I would be seriously looking at getting a kit or at the very least plans....There is a few options in the 4.2m sort of size.
I only scratch designed and built mine because it was for a specialised use.

If you got a kit all CNC cut it would save a huge amount of time.... Cut and folded even more time but more dollars.

Time is the hard bit to find.....I took annual leave and went to work every day to work on it, its the only way I would ever have got it done.

Very satisfying to do tho and yes it will save a lot of dollars if you dont count your time.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by berg243

building your own boat apart from the satisfaction is more it is what you want. have been looking at a new boat to get more of what i want but have found that either the boat builders are not interested if its not cookie cutter built or just wont get back to you.emailed senator with a few queries several times no reply frewza arent that interested i doing what i want and now i am dealing with a new outfit amp down here trying to get it sorted , if not i will look at building my own.

What kind of specs are you looking for?

My son built his first and only boat in 2017 a 7.5m Boden sport fisher. From the ally on site untill the sea trial 7 months of building after work and weekends.A 2004 250 hp on the back.He is returning to live back in NZ in December it was shipped from Mackay and arrived in Auckland last week and I towed it to my place.Not sure of the costs but worth it for him.

Me and a mate built 2 boats, but only because it was so hard to find what we wanted and what did suit was real expensive. They are flat bottom punts and they work awesome for us and have taken a beating shooting ducks and geese, and floundering. The cost was thousands cheaper than to buy 1 to suit us but we are both engineers/ mechanics and have our own tig and alloy mig and tools so our time welding in weekends cost nothing, just alloy and consumables and beer were only cost. We just built ours to suit standard alloy sheet, just drw up a plan on paper and got stuck into it, and got a few folds done at mate s work. Satisfaction of it was 110%, and we thinking of building a bigger model soon, but for a v hull boat, I’d just buy 1, so many models and research has most perfected and lots good deals out there. Looking at my v hull boat it’d be a big job I reckon, easier to buy than build if you add your time building into an hourly rate.

Hull marine have some good kits that come cnc cut and folded for you, there will be a few around that do them tho, it’s fun building your own, sounds like you’ll have no problems with all the gear

I'm going ahead with the build. priced the material. Been mocking up some pontoon shapes and thinking how the hull will go together and how everything will fit in. Let the fun begin

Originally Posted by silentscope

I'm going ahead with the build. priced the material. Been mocking up some pontoon shapes and thinking how the hull will go together and how everything will fit in. Let the fun begin
Attachment 153341

I have only just seen this thread,there were a number of companies doing 'Flat Pack' boat building kits & detailed DIY plans/designs in OZ during the mining boom, years ago as the normal boat manufacturers could not keep up with demand.I do not know if you have researched over there or whether those companies are still going but may be worth a look for ideas & methods of easing construction .

A number l know of up in the top of WA were basically what you are looking at ,they have to do beach launches so they were 5-7 mtr pontoon boats designed to be beached to unload etc .

Good luck with the build & make sure you take plenty of Pics & post keep us updated ,l love it when blokes have a crack at things like this

I would be doing plenty of homework on pontoon shape vs hull pounding and effects of chines if you get it wrong you could end up with a hull that pounds badly.....

Originally Posted by berg243

take plenty of photos and keep us informed of the build. be interested to see how you get on folding pontoons thats the bit stopping me from making my own.

Decent press operator will have no trouble folding the above designs
Still lose lots of space with pontoon

I built a Pelin Cortez a few years ago, 6.5mtr. Awesome hull and good to build but you have to put the time into getting everything perfect. I like building stuff so enjoyed doing it. Followed the plans but still cracked some ribs and had to strengthen it..only sold it cause the misses gets sea sick so didn't use it enough and west coast is shit weather. Cost wasn't bad but motor steering and electronics are what costs. Plus a trailer

Very very basisicly and over simplifying.
You need a decent chine in the rear 1/2-2/3rds hull lenght...the bottom of your pontoon is your chine in a pontoon boat, it is generally a reverse chine to varying degrees rather than flat to give cornering hold and spray turn down.
Big exposed chine at the stearn and less at the bow to reduce the slam of water hitting that big flat chine forward.

Quick look at a few boat shops will show what I am on about tho Id say if you're already committed you have a plan to suit your use already.

Playing with this idea of the rear end. Trying to follow how other boats of the same size have.

doesn't leave a lot of space between the pontoons, very cosy for 2 people dealing with fish.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

doesn't leave a lot of space between the pontoons, very cosy for 2 people dealing with fish.

Yes I realised after drawing out on the floor I have adjusted the inside width to 1500. Will still cosey but most of the time itl be just me so I'm ok with that.