Constructing Bivalve- a wooden sailboat

[imiritu]

Hey I am planning to buy a motor yatch or mid sized boat of some kind so that I can roam around the islands in the pacific. What kind of boat would you recommend, that is fuel efficient, and a good all around boat (like storm worthy). I am planning a sort of adventure in the pacific, and I want to have a boat that can stand its ground against most reasonably nasty storms. I do want it to be as inexpensive as possible of course too! Should I just buy a regular 1990ish motor yatch? cabin for 2ppl

[proto57]

@imiritu Well that sounds like a wonderful plan. But I'm afraid that I am no knowledgeable enough about the available boat types, and could not advise you. I could direct you to back issues of Cruising World, which has a review of old boats called "Classic Plastic". This section gives real world experiences and values. Also check forums of cruisers who have done it... there are many... who can give you sound advice. Best of luck!

[darkaegisagain]

People build wood boats… to build a wood boat. Fiberglass may last nearly forever but its still a fiberglass boat.

[proto57]

@darkaegisagain Precisely.

[josephdupont]

I love your boat.. But I think I'll just buy a used fiberglass boat for less than a grand.

but nice project.

[proto57]

@josephdupont It almost sounds as if you are taking my own advice, found on the page linked in my description. From that page, "Or buy an O'Day 22 for under $1,000, and sail it on the way home." You build a wooden boat if building and wood are the reason... they are very far from the economic choice... even a simple, small one like this. That being said (and I love my FB O'Day), I would like to do it again, someday. My own design, next time, I think.

[snowypetrel]

What a beauty

[bulldog01209]

Good job !

[SufiBuddhist]

do you have a design link ? as this is worth building ...

[proto57]

Hi: The link is: sredmond (dot) com There is a picture of the Elver, but I couldn't see a listing for the plans. I'm sure he would sell them to you if you wrote... If you like, check out my page on building it, with comments on other designs. Youtube will not let me post it here, so I added it for you in the description page for this video... best of luck... Rich.

[atomicdollar123]

great work sir. I'm impressed. How did you make the keel/center board?

[proto57]

Hey atomic: Thanks for the comment. As for the keel: It is not a weighted keel, just a long "skeg", 11" deep at the stern. The centerboard was two layers of 3/4" waterproof ply, epoxy glued into one 1 1/2" thick board. It was carefully shaped, and about 35 pounds of lead is poured into a 5"x7" hole. It's just enough to sink the board, and keep it from rising under sail. This was all Redmond's spec., especially the shaping... which helps performance... Rich.

[swiFtey08]

when you build a boat like this do u have to register it or something ? im looking to build a small fishing boat soon and just wanted to know thx

[atomicdollar123]

You are supposed to. BUT, it depends where you live and what kind of body of water you are talking about. If you live on a lake or body of water that has a marina then those waters maybe patrolled by state police or coast guard boats. Legally yes...but you could prob get away with not registering it. Also length of the boat and how much horse power are factors.

[thomasuras]

HEY swiFtey08 Just take of your warrant's ,then build your boat OK

[snaxlepaxle]

I'm looking to make a boat for next summer on which to spend a lot of time. Roughly how many man-hours and how much money did it take to make this boat?

[proto57]

Hey Snax: Sorry it took so long to respond... just noticed this. I don't know man-hours, but it took seven months of spare time, including most of my weekends. The boat only cost $2,500 to build... but that was cheap even in '92. Many spent $6k to $12k to build the same boat. It all depends on the wood you choose, and if you make your own sails, and so on. I have a link in the description, which has more info.

[edelwiess990]

NOAH!

[lolzpstaker]

Its not a comment its the truth to build something like that is absolutely amaizing!

[lolzpstaker]

How long did this take like altogether a few days,weeks,months,hours?

[proto57]

Thanks for the nice comment! As for the time, I started it in the winter, in my garage. Inside, in the afternoons and weekends, I built the bulkheads, centerboard trunk, CB, rudder, and other parts. When it got warm I went outside and assembled and planked the hull, deck and made the spars. I sewed the sails in my livingroom. The whole project took 7 months of spare time... launching on August 2, of that year... for lots of summer and fall sailing. Rich.

[lolzpstaker]

Wow hes talented.5*

[melecozoa171]

Simply beautiful...

Greetings from Brazil.

[1527cool]

A very beutiful and well made boat. The inside looks great too. The only think i must say though is i would get a a better outboard wich isn't very loud. but apart from that it is a lovely kind of boat.

[proto57]

Yes... Seagull outboards are probably the loudest . The service manual claims you can close two pressure relief holes in the muffler, and make it quieter- at the expense of harder starting. I never tried it. Now you may think this odd: I don't have the boat any longer, but I have the motor, and still use it! You can see it in another sailing video in my uploads, titled "Sailing an O'Day 22 on the Hudson". Seagulls are either loved or hated... it is clear where I stand on the issue!

[acqua313]

Wonderful adventure with wood and sea.

[proto57]

Thank you, acqua313. I saw your video, Barca a vela 5. Momenti di buon vento , and think it is just perfect. I had tried to do something similar, i.e., a simple video of just sailing, with my Saling an O'Day on the Hudson: O19W6f3AGZg I have put your "Barca a veta 5" in my favorites.

[Alomphega]

Hello Rich,

Wonderful work, and good choice of boat.

I ordered and paid the Steve Redmond plan and received it.

On your web page you say :

"The youtube video to the left is just a few clips from the hour-plus tape I filmed while making the boat..."

Please how could I get this one hour+ video ?

Could you give it to download somewhere or split it then publish all the films for the entire stuff on YouTube ?

Anyway, nice work and tx to make us dreaming !

All the best,

Guy.

[proto57]

Alomphega: I'll consider doing something like that maybe. But I'm not sure if the rest of the video would add enough info to make it worthwhile. Right now it would be hard for me to convert a whole hour... I pipe it into my little Everio camera. Maybe I should finally get a hard-drive DVD recorder. If I do, it would be easy. I'll write you if I make such a disk. And good luck with your project... any questions, feel free to email me: helio6 "at" hotmail "dot" com. Rich.

[DUDEwheresmycomp]

Any suggestions on how to make a LARGE ( I mean 64' long 24' wide) ship using just stuff Id find in the Catskill forest? (less power tools the better) I plan to go completely medieval as much as possible thanks and thats a hella nice boat

[proto57]

Hey Dude: There was an article in WoodenBoat in the 1980's about an English couple who built a large catamaran, and crossed the Atlantic. They made it like an Irish Curragh (sp?). It had a bend wood frames, and was covered with two layers of tarred cloth. It was very inexpensive, but very tough. Other than that, you would need to get a Ross bandsaw, and cut your own frames and planks from trees you felled. It's been done! Sorry I'm not the expert on large homebuilts... But best of luck.

[huglex]

Hey Buddy, (Sorry for my bad english writing)

thank's for your video. I'm presenstly built a 27' feet sail boat, in a plywood method. (From Glen-L California) And to see your boat finish, boost back my energy to stat my second summer, in this project.

Good job, and i hope you'll have the opportunity to do another one, as you wish...

Respect...

Franki-Gi (Montreal, Canada)

[proto57]

Franki-Gi: Thanks! I hope you post some vids when you get the chance. I looked at the Glen-L "Amigo", and the Ian Oughtred "Grey Seal", before building this boat. But I really liked the Glen-L study plans. I could tell they were very detailed... Good luck... Rich.

[sercann8]

arkadaşlar yöremizin en güzel seslerinden biri sefa güneşi dinlemenizi tavsiye ederim toyuğu çalanı çok güzel okumuş yüreğimizin sesi bu sanatçımıza destek olun sahip çıkın herkese slm

[proto57]

I am sorry, I do not speak Turkish. But from the best I can translate online, you are asking what this would cost, and what the beam is? It cost me $2500 to build in 1992, and it has about a 7 foot beam. But usual building costs for others were higher, as much as $10,000. Take care, Rich.

[cordvarty]

This is amazing! I can't believe people still build their own sailboats. I have always wanted a sailboat but building one would be even better. I love seeing all the woodwork inside. Great Job! This is the kind of stuff that created my interest in tall ship models.

[proto57]

Thank you for the nice comments! It was a lot of fun, and I hope to build another someday. What ship models have you built, or do you collect? That would make a good video for youtube, if you have a clip. Take care, Rich.

[drail80s]

Very nice work!! How long did you take building this boat??

Is this the first one that youve built?

Design?

Thanks

[proto57]

Thank you for the comments. The boat took about 7 months from the time I first started cutting out the bulkheads in my garage. I did those parts in late winter, and finished the boat in August of 1992. It was the first boat I built. The design is Steve Redmond's Elver, a 20' Canoe Yawl (although the layout is really a ketch). It is about 900 pounds on the trailer, maximum 1400 pounds sailing. Take care, Rich.

[mamacoke]

That was great!! I loved this video. Great job, somday I hope to build my own. 5 stars!!!

[proto57]

Thanks! I see you are into woodworking, too... I'll bet you would build a beauty of a boat. Rich.

[willmarsh3]

Nice video! Thanks for posting. I liked the nice curve on the frame of the amidships bulkhead.

[proto57]

Will: I had forgotten many details of construction like that until I pulled out the video (after ten years or so). If I were to build another, I would take my time and make it prettier (like your boat). Thanks for the comments...