Hello Everyone, I have a few question about the Blade F16. I'm considering building one, but want to get the full story. I have also emailed Phill but haven't had a response yet, and the www.bladecatamarans.com seems to be down.

Firstly, does anybody have any projected cost break downs on what it costs to build a boat vs buying a boat “off the shelf”.

I’d be especially interested in the price for a mast (alloy), foils, sails, cross beams/tramp, and rigging/fittings.

Also what do the plan’s include? I’m assuming they have building instruction, do they also have paper templates for cutting out the ply panels?

Finally I've heard that the blade is more suitable for carrying heavier weight, what would be the ideal weight range? I weigh 100kg, and would be sailing solo, as well as with a crew (most like my partner) who weighs around 65kg.

I look forward to hearing from you all, I’m located in Victoria (Australia).

Chris.

Keep looking down the list, or on the next pages, there was quite a detailed thread about building one of wood a month ago, lots of good pictures too, I just can't remember the title of the thread. Wouter?

Phill is having a little bit of water trouble. As in being surrounded by it and having lost power and all related communications to the outside world. There has been some very heavy rain fall in NSW lately.

It will be a few days before Phill can actually read the e-mail that has been send to him and reply.

About the homebuilder link :

This is the one about valtteri, a homebuilder in Finland.

http://www.rahkonen.fi/blog/

And there is another one over there as well :

http://www.gust.ax/gallery/sydvast_maritime/

The latter guy has just completed his daysailing monohull, for more info and pics go to

http://www.gust.ax/gallery/

The students at the Sydväst Maritime school are applying 160 gram glass cloth the whole hull ! That boat is going to have one dependable set of hulls ! 4 mm ply and then a layer of class over it. For the pics go to :

http://www.gust.ax/gallery/sydvast_maritime/2007-05-09/

Wouter

Chris
Its not only the costs that you must consider it s the time and the space.Do you have an understanding partner??
the costs will depend on whet you can do yourself ie rigging (stays trapwires)Would you have to pay somebody to paint it? Can you build your own tramp?
Do you need a trailer?
I think these would be questions to ask your self also
I would think you would need about $7000 to$8000 to complete
If you would like a rough break down im finshing off a taipan at the moment
I have the mast section (blank)to finish rigging it $1200
thats doing my own swaging
tramp $500 with help from a mate
painting $300 doing myself
Anew main end of the season $1500 i think i have that im using now
I have a trailer i can use but it needs about $300 to get it going
I have rudders Centreboards beams hulls
but if you needed to buy them/build them you might be looking at another $4000?
Sorry to rain on your parade butgo in with eyes open
richard

Richard is spot on there, the hulls may take the longest time to build but the material cost for them is roughly 1/4 - 1/3 of the total cost. The other stuff is difficult for a home-builder to construct without the correct tools and experience.

Other than that, give it a go, it can be frustrating at times but is very rewarding in the end.

How much was the taipan blank mast section? Not sure if you mean the section was $1200 or to finish it is $1200.

PS. Fairing sucks!

Nick
i have the mast section,and yesby the time you add all the fittings,mast base,rotation spanner,downhaul,ropes,hounds,spreaders,all wires,etc and i have probably forgotten some gear, it all adds up
that's why its a good idea to price it up.
So at least the sponser(aka wife/partner/better half/etc)doesn't have to much of a panic attack (been there it's not worth the grief)
richard

OH bugger YES forgot to add fairing does suck

Thanks everyone, I was expecting the rig sails, and foils to cost the most. It's a little scary when you add it all up.

If I decide to build, does anyone in Australia have a deck jig they've finished using?

To complicate things further I only have a single car garage, i've built a 13ft monohull in there, so I might have to do one hull at a time. At least until the stage it can be stored undercover outside.

Regards, Chris.

chris
yes it does cost when you add it up,
the deck jig are normally built for the job and buy the time they have two hulls built in them they are normally buggered (or close to it)
the deck jigs are only a small part of the cost as well you should be able to built it for about $150.00
if you decide to build, build the two hulls at once ,it's really hard to build the 2nd once the first one is finished.
Good luck with your choice,as nick said it can be frustrating but rewarding
richard