Annie wrote:
Scott wrote:
I like FanShi's companionway.
I like the companionway, too, and with an extra foot of height, there should be no difficulty getting in and out. The folded perspex not only makes a good table, but an excellent wind-proof, water resistant spot for chart or cruising guide and a safe place for spectacles and binoculars. The upper surface provides a nice, horizontal shelf for drinks or snacks. And when closed, it doesn't block out the light, making everything gloomy. Wind and rain can come from astern, as well as from ahead!
Actually, at NZD52,000 in the water, I'm not sure how much money you are going to be able to save. This is the cost of the materials, consumables hardware and keel. It doesn't include rent or tools.
It's true that with a bifold washboard (of which only the upper part really needs to be clear, for light and a view astern), I could get a companionway vertical height of up to 120 cm without eating into the deck; but then a clear dome and/or pramhood would have to be added for sheltered watchkeeping, which adds back in some complexity and expense. KISS. With the arrangement I've drawn, the headroom is more like 125cm, and I wouldn't want less than that if I were 6ft/183cm tall. Anyway, "different folks, different strokes", as somebody once said.
The second point is certainly valid. There are two reasons to build this boat, I think: 1) to take on the challenge of creating something satisfying and beautiful out of a pile of raw materials, and 2) because only this boat, and no other, will tick all the items on one's wishlist. If one simply requires a good JR boat, without getting too fussy about the details, then it's always going to cost less to convert and renovate an old production GRP boat than to build from scratch.