sweet boat by the way hope you sell a lot of them
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sweet boat by the way hope you sell a lot of them
David, I only have an old B&H so I have something to measure to make the model. The B&H guys are still around and I've talked to them, but they are pretty much retired.
The model will let you get weights and center of gravity information, as well as calcualte stress if you have somebody that can do stress analysis for you.
In order to precict lift, trim, stability speed and other things you need a tool like Jim Russels program. Here is a link to this tool.
http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/vbdp.html
Like I said, if you are designing from scratch or even modding an existing hull shape you need to be able to evaluate where you are going to be. If this is a business you need to minimize your time, cost and number of iterations that it's going to take to develop your product. I don't know of any other program that can do this other than Jim's.
that's the ticket but be forwarned my anti-virus blocked a trojan horse
Ok I'll shut up and say i need to learn to use cad, just stinks my apple isn't worth a darn to use the cad program. I've had other computers that had windows but gave me lots of problems and this one hasn't given me any at all.
I thought there was a way to put windows on an apple? if so could i then download the cad program?
Geoff those are some really nice little boats, kinda reminds me of that Biel that i have seen on youtube with the 130 yamaha on it.
Dave, it sounds like an interesting project. Sounds a lot like something I have thought about building for myself. A lot of good points have already been posted. Some more to think about.
Insurance: Not only the liability coverage already discussed, but the insurability of the finished product. Most of the mainstream companies will, at least initially, shy away from this. You need to talk to some of the specialty companies about their underwriting guidelines. You may need to adjust some things to meet them. And they will definitely want the boat to meet USCG / ABYC guidelines. Your customers need to insure it, even if only for liability.
Financing: You stated a target of 1k per foot. As things like this tend to grow both from the builder, and the customer additions, this is inching past 20k unit. As most of your buyers will see this as a really cool toy, it will likely be a cash sale. Being able to get it financed will open up the market, so you need to do the same research with the marine lenders to see at what point they will consider writing paper on them.
Computers: Take the time to become proficient in computer design. My degree is in Yacht & Marine Design (although I don't make a living that way) and althought I am proficient in the old pencil ways, I would never do it that way. Their are many books on every program, and you can take classes at any University or Trade School that teaches Industrial Design. Also, the software companies offer in house training. The $ I spent for four days of intense training on Rhino was invaluable. I use AutoCAD, Solidworks and Rhino . . . but the second two are too expensive for a start-up.
Marketing: How do you plan to market these boats. Word of mouth, and people seeing one at the lake only go so far. Web presence, boat shows, etc. cost time and money. Building a boat is relatively easy. . . . building a BRAND is both expensive and time consuming. These indirect costs need to factor into your initial plan.
I am certainly not trying to be a downer, or discouraging. Just stressing that it is a tough endevour to turn fun hobby boat building into a viable business. It is imperitive that you cost out the entire project to a very fine level. Know at what point your direct costs, and indirect costs equal break-even. And at what growth break-even becomes profitable living.
At the same time a labor study needs to determine what volume will meet these goals. Remember, until there is staff, all the time you spend on these other issues is time you are not building a boat.
Good Luck - Despite all the realities we are trying to impart, every boat builder out there had to start with their first boat . . . .
my thinking is to be like the early checkmate or baja co's however i realize modern times have modern concerns. started this forum to help try to determan if i could sell these wooden boats at a sustainable level.
a little funny about insuring boats. when i was 14 my mother bought me a '72 checkmate mx16 with a 125 johnson. we then went to her ins co. the agent said ''you want me to ins a 14 year old boy in a 60+ mph boat'' and started to laugh. my mother looked at me and said ''well...... be carefull''.
:D:D David, I know what you mean. I shudder think of things I did in my teens and lived to tell about. The thing I find funny now is that it would never have occured to me to climb into my 65mph raceboat without full safety gear and chase boat . . . but at work during the week I would think nothing of running 85mph "pleasure" boats with only a t-shirt and a smile. Not too smart looking back on it now . . . .
David,
I just finished building a Glen L Pee Wee boat that I built to sell. It takes me 30 hours and $100 to build. I'm asking $250. The inside is painted, but the rest is to be done by the owner. The only person interested in buying it wanted to know if it could be rowed. I am now building row boats.:confused: