Really how long how hard is it to build a boat

[babyhauler]

Hi I hear about people taking years to build boats.

Then I read that sharpie sailboats are the easiest boats to build. I have searched all over the internet and can't find the answer to this question- how much time and effort should I budget to build my own big sharpie sailboat?

Like this 46' Reuel Parker design: https://parker-marine.com/product/sharpie-46-new-haven/

I'm trying to size up the cost:

Assuming I worked at it alone 8 hours a day, how long would it take a reasonably skilled person to build it?

I'd love especially love to hear reports from people who actually built their own large sharpie sailboats.

Thanks!

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by babyhauler

Hi I hear about people taking years to build boats.

Then I read that sharpie sailboats are the easiest boats to build. I have searched all over the internet and can't find the answer to this question- how much time and effort should I budget to build my own big sharpie sailboat?

Like this 46' Reuel Parker design: https://parker-marine.com/product/sharpie-46-new-haven/

I'm trying to size up the cost:

Assuming I worked at it alone 8 hours a day, how long would it take a reasonably skilled person to build it?

I'd love especially love to hear reports from people who actually built their own large sharpie sailboats.

Thanks!

The hull form and material wont save much time as it's the easy part. For me it took 200h to build strip planked 35' hull. After that I've used at least 10 times more for other stuff on the boat.

[Tin Tin]

See link - times to build 40ft catamaran and others https://schionningdesign.com/design-comparison-chart/

[coopec43]

How long is a piece of string?

It depends a lot on the standard you want to build to. A few of my mates built some real shockers but they went sailing!

Their yachts would never have passed a survey, were uninsurable, would never be allowed into a marina (and therefore spent their down time at anchor)

As I said they went sailing (even a circumnavigation) but life must have been pretty grim. After 15(?) years the yachts were scrapped because they were unsalable.

Those sort of yachts could probably be built in 2 years full-time

[Fore and Aft]

Babyhauler we (wife, two kids) and I built our own multichine plywood 32-foot yacht in 18 months of part time work. I am a boatbuilder and used every shortcut I could think off.
It is your standard of finish that is going to take time. For example, every one of our cupboard doors is a piece of 4mm black Perspex. All I needed to do for a cupboard door was cut out the shape, sand/polish the edges, screw on the hinges and catch and that's it. Nine years later they still look fine, and I wouldn't even consider changing them. The interior of the yacht is all painted white with black painted trim. The black trim was another time saving measure, not every one of my joins was perfect but you can't tell. Unlike varnish where I would be forced to make everything perfect.
Like everything a professional will be way quicker, just because they have more practice. A professional will know when to stop and start the day as well. Often a few more hours work will save plenty of time the next day.
I can see a few years work in this sharpie. I also notice a few hatches on the deck. If you're going to build every one of those hatches, then the jobs going to take longer, same with the portholes.
I am a big believer of just smashing the project out. Just buy everything you can and get in the water. Hammer the Visa and then when afloat sort out the finances. To many projects I survey stall due to money then the momentum slows and before you know it the project is up for sale or on the way to the dump.
Another thing I did was every day I scanned the classifieds looking for things I needed. It's surprising what comes up for sale.
When purchasing materials bulk buying really pays off, we purchased 112 sheets of plywood and got an excellent discount.
Cheers