Annie Hill wrote:
I can't do this at all accurately, but the figure in my mind is $NZ45,000. $25,000 for Fantail, and $20,000 that I've managed to save I'm not quite sure how, as an alternative to insurance. I am trying to save money every month from my small income, so the longer it takes the more I'll have! If I decided to go ahead with the project, I'd start seriously scavenging for second-hand and bargain deals well in advance of building. Of course, the cost would have to take into account the rent on a building site.
However, it is a meaningless figure outside this country. Eight years ago, $45,000 would have translated to GBP13,500; a year ago GBP 23,850; today GBP21,600. Maybe I could build this same boat for considerably less in the USA if I were prepared to use local plywood. It would possibly cost less in the UK, but I'd have to pay more for a building space, perhaps. Who really knows? Overall, I believe it makes the most sense to challenge my designers to keep all the costs to a minimum where compatible with longevity: it's not like anyone is under the illusion that I'm independently wealthy!
Annie
Thank you for that.
In 'Voyaging on a Small Income' you were fully open about your finances. Indeed that was the intention reflected in the title.
Might you have a third book in the offing: 'Boat Building on a Small Income'?
I would guess that your total of GBP 20k approx would cover materials and parts.
I would guess, however, that it might need to be nearly all self help or free labour.
I don't have my copy to hand because it is on our boat, but I seem to remember from Voyaging on a Small Income that your first build of Badger cost approximately GBP 6k. I suspect that, adjusted for inflation, that would be well above GBP 20k nowadays. However, based on a significantly smaller boat with a single mast rig, you might have a healthy margin.
And you have somewhat less than half of your total projected capital available at the outset. And I seem to remember reading about self building that there is a rule of thumb that the cost of the hull and deck is often about a third of the final cost of the boat. (Measured in either currency or manhours.)
So, if you went ahead you might presumably be able to build a hull and deck to live-aboard standard from your savings. And then you could have a floating home to move into to allow you to sell Fantail.
I seem to remember that David Tyler had the hull of Tystie built by a boatyard. But that is a much bigger and more complex hull. However, hundreds of people built Maurice Griffiths Eventide 24s and 26s, from marine ply as self builds, often single handed. (Indeed I used to own a MG 26 Athaena design, built very beautifully by one man in his spare time - but he was a cabinet maker.)
As you say, at the appropriate stage, you and/or your designer will therefore do the requisite costing of at least the materials for at least the hull and deck to make sure that it is compatible with your finances.
I, and I am sure many others, will continue to watch with great interest, and encourage from the sidelines!
Cheers
Jonathan