Welcome to our monthly Newsletter. This month you will find :
1. OFFICE NEWS.
2. CARTOON SECTION.
3. CURRENT SPECIALS.
4. QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
4. QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
5. CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PHOTO'S
6. HULL FOR SALE
1. OFFICE NEWS
Business is beginning to slow and so the many things that had been put
on the back burner are being ticked off. With the purchase of a full
size plan scanner we will start to work towards offering as an option
plans sent electronically. While we believe large format printed
drawings done to scale are far superior to evaluate a design we bow to
the many requests. With the thousands of drawings to convert this will
be an ongoing process expected to take a few years to complete on an
'as needed' or 'as time permits' basis. Downloading
electronically will save you, the customer, postage costs and us a
large saving in printing costs, our major expense. By the end of next
year we do expect many of our plans to be available in this format.
2. COMEDY SECTION
3. MONTHLY SPECIALS
This months plan special is the WR45 powerboat. This design
can be built in Fiberglas, wood epoxy or steel. It has a semi
displacement hull and is ideally suited as a live aboard or extended
getaway vessel. When powered with an engine of around 200hp this
vessel is capable of cruising along at 10 kts. Normally this full
plan set with full size frame patterns sells for $750 but this month
the cost is only $400 plus postage. If you buy the set of study
plans for this design during the month of August then the full set
will be held at the special price for you for an extra four weeks to
fully enable you to study the set and obtain quotes on the
materials.
Our book special this month is Fiberglass
Boats by Hugo Du Plessis. This is
the most complete book on Fiberglass boatbuilding we carry. Normally
$70 plus postage, this month's price is only AU$50.00 plus postage.
4. QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Following are a few answers to questions that have been asked throughout the past few months that may be of interest. Selecting a design depends on the specific needs and desires of the intending builder/owner. We help where we can in making this decision but the ultimate decision remains with the owner. Selling a set of plans is only the start for us. We keep going as long as you need us.
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Hi,
I was after some information about steel boat kits as I see they are covered in your website. I am at early days at this point, I really want to go cruising but would like to start in the mail room so to speak.
I would like to compare costs between buying something used and self build. (I have done a course on welding and a bit of maintenance stuff around the home and I like working with steel). Could you advise whether the pre-cut steel for a BE385 is available to be delivered in Darwin NT and also what you consider a ball park cost for the supply of such a kit (and kit size for transport costs) Also any other advice you can give would be appreciated.
Regards Scott
I was after some information about steel boat kits as I see they are covered in your website. I am at early days at this point, I really want to go cruising but would like to start in the mail room so to speak.
I would like to compare costs between buying something used and self build. (I have done a course on welding and a bit of maintenance stuff around the home and I like working with steel). Could you advise whether the pre-cut steel for a BE385 is available to be delivered in Darwin NT and also what you consider a ball park cost for the supply of such a kit (and kit size for transport costs) Also any other advice you can give would be appreciated.
Regards Scott
Hi Scott,
We would supply the
BE385 kit into Darwin in a 20ft sea container. We have used open
bolsters before with the result that the smaller parts slip out and
end up missing. This does not happen with a container. The cost of a
BE385 kit landed in Darwin and delivered to within 30 km of the port
would be around $38,000.
If you were to build
the R370, the hull upon which the BE385 was based the bare steel
would cost you around $10,000. To this would have to be added
blasting and comsumerables of around $10,000 to get it to reach the
finished hull and deck stage where as the BE385 one would only need
to include $3000. I've included a photo we just received earlier
this week from a builder in Tasmania who hopes to launch his R370
this summer .
The bottom line here
is that at the present point in time a good used boat is around the
same price as it would cost to build one. This, of course, is
ignoring the fact that by building yourself you have new as opposed
to second hand, you know intimately every detail of your boat (a
very important and under estimated quality) and you have the
satisfaction of sailing what you yourself have crafted (one learns
an awful lot about how a sail boat functions during the building
process). Opposing these points is there is little to no labour
involved in buying a good second hand boat.
Generally a new boat
would be about 3 to 4 times what it costs to build one yourself.
Hope this gives you a
starting point in your quest.
Yours Phil Hogg
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Hi Phil
I hope you remember me way back in
2001 I purchased a set of Waverunner 28 set of plans from you
which you designed twin bilge keels so it would sit level on the
sand for loading and unloading. Well after a bad marriage break up
I have finally got the project under way. I have kept the plans in
the original black plastic bag you sent them over in and they are
still in excellent condition which goes to show the plans keep ok
if treated properly.
However now I am underway I have a
few questions to run past you:
1 You asked me to come back to you
when I have chosen a motor to advise on prop size and other
installation details. The motor is a Yanmar 4JH4-HTE with a 2.63
ratio gearbox Dry weight 217 kg and a 8 degree offset.
2 You suggested to fill the twin
keels with oil to prevent any problems but I was wondering on two
other options and would appreciate your advise (a) put engine
coolant in them for recirculation through the engine to save
sucking in salt water cooling through the heat exchanger. (b) Fill
the twin keels with expanding foam.
I look forward to hear from you.
Kind Regards Peter
Hi Peter,
I'm sorry but I cannot quite recall
your particular case but do see where you bought the set of plans
for a semi displacement WR28 in 2001. It's good to hear that the
plans are still in excellent condition and that you are ready to use
them.
The prop is the single most important
part of the drive chain and is one of the hardest to get perfect
first time up. Final weight of the vessel plays an important part as
does the proximity of hull parts to the prop. After sea trials you
may have to alter slightly the pitch if you cannot reach full revs
of the engine. Also props come in so many different types (blade
area and leading edge / tip shape) all play rolls and if you are
buying a new propeller then the prop manufacturers recommendations
should over ride the below recommendations. What you are looking for
in a standard three blade propeller is 18"dia x 22" pitch or in
a standard four blade propeller an 18"dia x 20" pitch. These have
been calculated using a 4JH4-HTE Yanmar through a 1:2.63 reduction
box with an estimated displacement of your finished vessel being
4500kgs. This should give you a max speed of 10 kts with a cruising
speed of around 8 kts at 2200 rpm.
There are no problems with either of
your suggestions re the twin keels. Using one as a heat exchanger
and having a closed circuit fresh water cooling system would work
fine and make good sense. There are formulas that give surface area
required for given hp and I would imagine that one keel would be
sufficient but check with your Yanmar dealer where you purchased the
engine who should be able to supply you with this data. If you do
find that one keel is sufficient for cooling then I would suggest
filling the other with oil (used vegetable oil is an ecologically
safe material to use here) so as to keep your boat on an even keel.
Yours Phil Hogg
5. CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
These photo's have been sent in from
Melbourne, Australia where this R345 is currently being fitted out.
Although fairing is a rather torturous job the care this builder has
taken in this, and also the painting of the hull is evident, even
when looking through the protective chain mesh fence.
6. HULL FOR SALE
The builder of this hull
unfortunately is very ill and can no longer continue with this project and
as such it is now up for sale. The finish on this hull is truly
magnificent. There is still a lot of work involved in finishing and thus
can be customized by the new owner to suit his or hers needs. The hard
work has been done here. All offers considered. Photo's and information on
this vessel are
here. As
the keel has not been attached yet, the hull is only 2.5 meters wide, plus
with the present hull weight at an estimated 1.25 ton this is an easy
vessel to shift. It is currently lying in Hervey Bay, Queensland,
Australia. For further information please phone or email the office here.
Well that's all for another month. If you have any suggestions please
email
office@bruceroberts.com.au or if you wish to unsubscribe to our
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