All journeys have a starting point and I guess this is where we start. It's not as if I have any doubt that I can build a boat. After all, I built Rattle and Hum
Click here to read that story http://buildingasearunner37.blogspot.com/
Mind you, it took 8 years of part time effort to complete and I sure don't have another 8 years to put into this project.
And just what is this new project? I am building a 38 foot catamaran, a gaf rigged schooner, out of plywood and fiberglass and epoxy.
Approximate building time for a boat of this complexity will be about 4000 hours. I think that estimate is for a professional builder with proper equipment and a crew of dedicated workers. I have neither so I will probably take longer. Think about it, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year and 4000 hours is about 2 whole years of full time effort.
Rattle and Hum was supposed to take 4000 hours to build but it had a very high level of finish so it took a lot longer to do. That was one of the reasons I was unhappy with the result....too fine a boat, far beyond what I needed. When I started Rattle and Hum, I wanted a backpacker kind of boat, something to bump up against a dock or drop something on the deck and I would not be too upset about it. Unfortunately, I did a far too great a job and the boat was far from a backpacker kind of thing. It was a yacht, smooth and beautiful. So beautiful, I was afraid of using it for fear of scratching the paint, getting it dirty, whatever. Boy was I unhappy. This time, I swear I will not make the same mistake again. I will paint FarPoint with a roller and use porch and floor enamel.
FarPoint is a Dudley Dix design and none have been built yet.
