Hi Franco
I am planning on transporting the Voyager, upon completion of course, to the water by means of a trailer. The empty weight of the voyager (no mast either) should be around 3100 kg or about 7000 lbs. Even if it weighs a bit more, a double axle flat bed trailer meant for transporting farm machinery should work. Maybe even a hay bale trailer that has a pivoting forward axle. We are in a farming area here. The hulls should be plenty strong - enough to go unsupported. I plan to use pallets or some other simple structure on the flat trailer with either tires (tyres) or foam on top to support the bridge deck between the hulls. Of course the Voyager is wide enough to take up the entire road, so a special permit is needed for the wide load and usually a flag truck is required to precede the whole operation on the road. A farm tractor will certainly be strong enough to pull it, perhaps even a simple truck or utility vehicle. Another consideration is the boat ramp. Most boat ramps around here are 10 or even 18 feet wide. Not wide enough. Our plan A is to use a very gently sloping sandy and shallow pond which has canal access to launch the boat. This requires permission from the farmer but no permit. Plan B is to get the permit to transport the ¡°wide load¡± down to the only boat ramp wide enough. Plan C is to get the permit to transport the boat to the nearest boatyard which has an old crane to lift the Voyager to the water. The attached pic is an Oram 44c.?
I think if you currently have a good place to build, use it. There is usually a way to get the boat to the water somehow. I think Bernd had to remove part of the roof of the shed to get his Pelican out, and used a crane. I have seen other pictures of a crane lifting the boat out of the backyard and on to a big truck. The more important issue is having plenty of time to build. And not having to pay rent for a shed. Or at least, not having to pay very much rent. This allows you to enjoy the building process without the passing of time costing you financially. I have more pictures of the build than what is on this forum if you are interested at any point.?
Cheers
Patrick
