Good morning fellow people,
my name is Marc. We, my wife Lilli and I, are planning to build a catamaran. A Manta (or 'similar') would be lovely.
Yes, 3000+h is plenty, but we think we can make it with a 5th and 6th hand here and there in a year or so.
We would prefer the Manta or Cormorant over the KD122, because we plan to have some stuff on board and need 'carrying' abilities of the vessel and like the design. We plan to live and work aboard full time.
Until now, we repaired and refitted a steel boat (12m), repaired two other steel vessels in the canaries and built an aluminum and a ply dinghy. Basic woodwork skills and tools are available. Until now Lilli had the patience and I had the power for these builds.
From past projects and ideas we have plenty of parts for the boat -> 2 mast sections (148x220x3ish mm..could be sparcraft NG70...not sure) together 13.8meters (+ boom 3.9m + furler + traveler from a 16ton monohull from 1990. Could be a bit heavy, and until now I don't know the rig size, but might fit. Changing the mast fitting and building a 'tabernacle'/mast foot should be fine, as we are ok in welding Alu. Some new V4A screws and fittings and antiseize, some paint and it should be fine. Would have loved to build a junk rig, but we have the stuff, and so it is. For rigging in general we need some assistance.
Oven, electric + diesel Heater, solar panels, winches, steering wheel, 2 anchors + 50m of galvanised 10mm chain, daytank stainless, windgen, 1 dinghy, box full of bronze windows, plenty of aluminium and stainless stuff to build bow roller ect.
All of our stuff is in a 40ft container, which we may want to move to the building place.
Until now we have contact with Bernd and have bought the study plans.
Well, we are not particularly experienced in wood/ply-epoxy building. Beside the dinghy, which worked quite well and some youtube videos ;-)
So I have some questions to the community.
- Bernd recommends Okume plywood. Does it make sense to buy this with LLoyds/GL or BS certification? What would be a reasonable price at the moment in 'these times' for 9 and 12mm respectively?
- Do you have special Epoxy + Hardener + Glass recommendations?
??? - My current plans are to take as epoxy + hardener which is 'GL approved' but needs 'higher temperatures' to cure.
- I really don't want to vessel a boat which is later problematic to be 'certified' or 'accepted' also by insurance. Anything to consider here?
- From past projects we know: When the place and people are nice, building is much much more easy. So we are looking for a place to build.
Anyone here has recommendations for a suitable, nice, secure and not too expensive place near the water, preferably in Germany, Spain, Croatia, Greece? Arr, warmer Europe, near waters in general? ;-) Would be nice to have some boat builder/boatyard and 'help' not too far, just in case.
We are going to visit some places in the coming weeks but are thankful for whatever recommendation.
Any hint is highly appreciated. Thanks.
Cheers!
Marc & Lilli
