Rigging your own boat from scratch

[skein]

Okay, the boat show is over so it's time to get serious. The choices seem to be new vs used, glass vs aluminum, and inboard vs outboard. Within those choices are myriads of important decisions, but let's talk broad sweeps of the pen for a little while.

I am thinking of another choice: turn-key vs rig-it-yourself.

I'm no boat builder; hull designs and top houses are best left to the experts, but what about the other tasks: pulling cables, mounting motors, plumbing fuel systems and bilge pumps, and even installing electrics.

Any of you ever rigged your own boats? Tell your stories. Was it a LOT more complex than you thought going in? Did you save money? Would you do it again? Talk to us.

Skein

[RJ]

Skein, did we buy a boat?

[ 01-12-2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: RJ ]

[El Shaddai]

Skein:

Good question..easy answer....

I bought a new boat last September. It had a few accessories, but by and large I have outfitted the boat myself including the motors, steering systems, gps, sounder, radar, vhf, stereo and other misc. electronics, down riggers, rod holders, custom railings, brackets, fenders, anchors, safety equipment (great posts on this)....the list goes on.....I have bought items from West Marine, Fisherman's Marine, Englund Marine, Bi-Mart, Browns Landing, Beaverton Marine and Gi Joes.

If you are short on time and long on $$, then buying a fully outfitted boat may make sense. Other than having to do all the reasearch and leg work (which is half the fun) there is no good reason not to do most yourself. Every boat takes on the personality of its skipper and more than likely you will have your own way you want things set up...Not to mention, I have saved thousands of dollars by shopping around for the best value on the equipment I want. Just my .02...

[skein]

RJ,

No, but we looked long and hard - and the boat show marks the beginning of boat-buying season, not the end.

I was really impressed with the Norvelle, and of course I want to talk with Ed Wing. Both those guys will build a boat to any level of completion you want - hence my inquiry on rigging.

Did you go to the show?

Skein

[Orca]

Skein,

I helped my brother put together 2 small jet boats, both 12.5'. One had a 35 HP outboard jet, the other a 45 HP inboard. the inboard was the Rotax/UA pump setup used by Mid-Jet in the days of old. This unit is sitting in my barn, and I use it a few times a year. He went on and built himself a 16' sled with a 90 HP jetski motor and pump.

While these were small scale units, there was still a lot of work involved, and a decent amount of money saved. And, in the case of the 12.5' inboard, we had something that you couldn't just go out and buy.

I am now running a Bayliner 2159 in the ocean, but would like to have a bigger boat with more room and a head. I am thinking along the same lines as you - I am thinking about having a 24' - 25' shell built, then finishing it up myself. I guess I would need to get somebody to quote just a shell, and a complete boat. You could then figure out how much the missing hardware would cost and then see how much labor $$'s are saved.

I would be looking at having a hardtop shell built with bulkhead door, outboard mount/swim platform, windows, fuel tank installed, and deck fish boxes and storage roughed in. I would then put in the head/enclosure, all seats, all controls, bilge pumps, hatches, rail, and other hardware and electrical. It would still be alot of work, and would likely take me about 3 - 4 times as long to do as the factory. But I should end up with my ultimate boat at the right price.

How about you go first and locate all the pitfalls!

[Stabiman]

Skein-

I thought you were gonna come and take a good look at the Stabi-Craft... or did you? I was keeping an eye out for you all weekend but didn't see anyone with an Ifish hat crawling all over the boat. :grin:

Anyhow... if you want a barebones Stabi-Craft to finish and rig yourself... just give me a shout. I'll have the gang in New Zealand get started on it right away and we can have it up here in 8-9 weeks!!

Cheers

btw- did your buddy buy the Sea Sport?

[Pitch Pocket]

If you haven't rigged several yourself, and don't have a rigger that you like, then let the dealer rig the boat for you. They have done it so many times that they know what works and what doesn't. Plus if it screws up and it's their fault, they are on the hook.

I had Boondocks rig mine (electronics, trolling motor, pot puller, radar arch, windlass) and they did a great job. Everything was done professionally and worked correctly the first time. Much of the wiring installation involved removing the headliner. That is something I personally did not want to tackle.

I installed the rod holders and rocket launchers myself because I wanted to place them after I became familiar with the way the boat worked, but other than that, they did it all.

[Sensei-san]

Skein, I agree with El Shaddai. Eventually you will have to outfit a boat the way you want to fish or use (if the wifey has any say) the boat. As boats operate in a much harsher environment than a car and your life may be depend on it, learning how to care for the mechanical things on a boat becomes all the more important.

Another thing to think about is to always talk to your fishing buddies. Often they have various types of equipment that they prefer. It makes it a lot easier to have compatible equipment. In the old LORAN days various models of LORAN receivers would have really big discrepencies in their output. It makes it easier to troubleshoot on the water if you can walk through a problem with friend rather than calling out on a cell phone to who knows where.

Rigging a boat from "semi" scratch is the only way to go. Especially if it is a used boat. One more reason to buy a used boat. The original owner will have taken the hit for the depreciation and you get a boat that you can cut, drill, saw, hack and otherwise mutiliate to your hearts content.

[Miss B Haven]

When it comes to major outfitting, you really have to ask yourself 2 questions:
1) What is your skill level (relative to a good "pro" shop)?
2) What is your time worth relative to your budget. Are you willing to save some dollars but give up time on the water?

You can apply these questions to each of the items you are thinking of "doing it yourself" and come up with different answers.
The point above about knowing your boat/gear when you get done outfitting it yourself is a good one. Just make sure you have the skills/knowledge and tools to do the job right. I find it almost as much fun as fishing too!

[corrirod]

Skein,

I saw the Norvelle also and it is tempting. My only concern was the quality of the welds when looking at the display. I'm not an expert welder by any means but it just looked very shaky, not smooth like the other manufacturers. I talked to the guy for awhile though and they seem to be able to make whatever you want, finished or not.

IMHO, I don't feel the installation of the electronics by yourself is really as important as the installation of the mechanical features, ie. downriggers, pole holders, washdowns, etc.. It's the mechanical items that you will want to personalize, meaning the proper placement for YOUR functionality. Some people like riggers to run behind the boat, others on the side. The factory might pick the easiest location possible to put in the pole holders but they may be in the way for the type of fishing you like, or they may not be the right style. The factory may install a 10 ft. washdown hose when you may want 20 ft.

As far as the electronics go, they're not hard to install yourself. If you don't feel like tearing your boat apart and running a 'fishtape' thru every orifice of your boat, then having someone else install the electronics will save you the hassle. Just tell them where you want the display and leave the rest up to them!

Can't wait to see what you get. I'd get a new boat too..........................if I didn't have my wife! :tongue:

Actually, out of all the boats we looked at at the show, I must admit, even though Sensai-San and others will cane me, my favorite was the 24' Trophy. Sorry guys, I just like all the features/layout for the $$. Lots of living space, fishing space, fuel, fish storage, etc.

[skein]

Good input, guys. I figured by rigging it myself I would *know* everything in it; how it worked, how it was routed, etc. Plus I could think about offshore repair or replacement at all times during the installation. The idea of saving money was secondary, but still important. Those dollars probably wouldn't make it back to the "General Fund" but would instead go to buy those other necessities like Mustang suits or radar.

I have a nice shop to work in, a fair collection of tools, and a (talented) brother who would dive into a project like this with both feet. And like Miss B says, I think it would be fun and a real source of pride.

Stabi-man,

We did come by, but my wife didn't buy the design at all - she wouldn't even step aboard. I think it was too new and radical for her. And she is my number one fishing partner who isn't just some delicate little flower setting on the fantail in a bikini (although she'd be good at that, too). She *rarely* lets me get out without her, and when we go, we always discuss who's going to be the skipper that day, me or her. She's equally good at backing the trailer down or running the boat up on it. She's got good eyes (pretty, too) and a cool head. I've seen her bring the boat in through some pretty sloppy weather, and while we always discuss situational strategy, when she's the skipper, she fills those boots quite nicely. Hence I wasn't going to *force* her into anything that might effect the on-water partnership we have. Sorry.

I'm getting closer, guys, and my hands are starting to shake.... :grin: [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] :grin:

Skein

[Pilar]

Skein, been there, done that. Being somewhat thick, I thought that completely restoring a boat was the way to go. With a little hindsight I now know there there is only one reason to do this.

To build a boat you can't get any other way.

At any rate, the pain in the keister factor was way high. It took longer and cost more than I ever intended. I went through the whole boat and changed or fixed every thing I did not like or that did not work.

Gutted it to a shell and replaced all the floors, stringers, transom, foam. Then I made new coverboards, windshield, fishbox, gastank, seats. Then I rebuilt engine and outdrive and replaced all the wiring and electronics.

The result is the little boat that could. 5 years and 600 hours later, it still fishes like a dream. I could not buy for any money a comparable craft with the same features. Would I do a complete rebuild again? No!

Would I use what I learned to outfit another boat? Hell, yes!

So, you can outfit your boat but you will need some advice to avoid common pitfalls. Choice of materials and methods are critical. Knowing something about your hull construction is critical. Some boats (solid glass) can withstand holes for mounting things. Some (balsa core or other composites) need special methods for drilling holes. Would you know the methods?

Wiring a boat is a pain as well. Every hot connection must be soldered and heatshrinked. To do anything else is to invite the effects of corrosion and the failures which will result. Dissimilar metals must be electrically bonded together to prevent galvanic corrosion.

But in the end, doing your own outfit allows you to personalize, know it by heart and have some satisfaction, peace of mind and ownership. You may save a few bucks but you will make a few mistakes and maybe you won't save any money. It's all about good advice and using the experience of others to avoid pitfalls.

I'm quite sure my friends on 'Double Gaynor' have taken this lesson to heart. They have taken a new interest in working on their boat.