check my youtube @catamaraniablogcatamaniac8833
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I am in Caboolture, QLD btw ;-)
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Greetings Byron,
?
Very good qu8to start from. I remember myself looking for answers. So, it depends.
?
Of course if you have access or can build a decent cover it helps. Especially if you building with plywood. Moisture levels are critical when laminating wooden core. Easy to ruin the whole project expose core to rot from the beginning.
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Some people brave to build under open sky. Check S/V Lynx project on YouTube. They built enclosure but council forced them to remove it due to heigh not allowed in the area.
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For my boats I usually building cover from scrap wood. $10 3-5m from Bunnings. Cover cost me $100 transparent tarpouline 9x12m. Glue and nail with silicone. Then because project takes more then one year I cove second layer a year after. It stops leaks.
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Good luck.
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Hello Byron,
?
It is desirable to be able to build inside, but a lot of boats have been built out in the open. A lot depends on the climate of your location, and the amount of rainfall you get. I built the hulls on my Eco 6 on an open porch, and then I did the rest of the build in an open ended shed with a third of the boat protruding outside. When not working on the boat I covered the exposed part with a tarpaulin.
?
Have you done any previous boatbuilding, and had any experience working with epoxy? Although Bernd's designs are relatively easy to build it is best to have had some previous boat building, and sailing experience. Being able to understand the end use that the boat will be put to helps in building a boat suitable for it's intended use. Also to first time builders I always say that you need to realise the amount of commitment required to build even a boat the size of an Eco 6. There are a lot of hours required to build a boat so it takes a massive amount of personal resilience, determination, and application to see the job through to the end.?
?
David
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Hi David,
Thank you for the reply, sharing your experiences with the ECO 6 has answered all my questions. I did think I was pushing the boundaries a little, but it's always best to ask those with experience.
If I might pose another question about building?
I'm a landscaper in Australia, so even though I will make mistakes, I'm confident that with swearing I'm capable of building a boat following Berndt's plans. My constraint at the moment is enclosed space, a 6m boat would be perfect to construct in the garage/shed. However, I truly would like a blue water boat, my question is how sheltered does the build need to be?
Cheers
Byron
On Wed, 30 Apr 2025, 12:05 am David Thatcher via , <david.thatcher= [email protected]> wrote:
?
I have some thoughts on the Eco 6. I built one here in New Zealand and used it for two years on our northern coastline. Firstly I greatly enjoyed the whole Eco 6 experience, from building to sailing, and coastal cruises of up to 3 weeks duration. The Eco 6 is a lot of boat in a small package, and with a very roomy interior if you are happy not to be able to stand up.
?
Based on my experiences on our exposed New Zealand coastline I would class the Eco 6 as a semi sheltered waters coastal cruiser. You would not want to stray too far from land and a refuge if the weather kicks up rough. For such a small boat the Eco 6 can cover distance very quickly, but there is definitely an upper wind limit, and sea state limit. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Australia on the northern Queensland coast I could see the Eco 6 as being a suitable cruiser to do the Brisbane to Whitsunday trip, and further north, so long as you have plenty of time to choose the weather. But for the more exposed areas of the Australian coast, such as the NSW coast, I think you would need a larger catamaran.
?
David
?
?
Hi All,
?
Greetings from Australia, I am very ecstatic and excited that I found this group, I have been drooling over Berndt's designs for a while now and plan to take the plunge this year.
?
As a overconfident noob, I wanted to ask what the ECO 6.2 Houseboats water capabilities are. With or without modifications could it be suitable for coastal conditions or am I delusional and should go for the ECO 6 instead?
?
Thank you for your time.
?
Kind regards
Byron Harrison
?
|
?
I have some thoughts on the Eco 6. I built one here in New Zealand and used it for two years on our northern coastline. Firstly I greatly enjoyed the whole Eco 6 experience, from building to sailing, and coastal cruises of up to 3 weeks duration. The Eco 6 is a lot of boat in a small package, and with a very roomy interior if you are happy not to be able to stand up.
?
Based on my experiences on our exposed New Zealand coastline I would class the Eco 6 as a semi sheltered waters coastal cruiser. You would not want to stray too far from land and a refuge if the weather kicks up rough. For such a small boat the Eco 6 can cover distance very quickly, but there is definitely an upper wind limit, and sea state limit. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Australia on the northern Queensland coast I could see the Eco 6 as being a suitable cruiser to do the Brisbane to Whitsunday trip, and further north, so long as you have plenty of time to choose the weather. But for the more exposed areas of the Australian coast, such as the NSW coast, I think you would need a larger catamaran.
?
David
On 28/04/2025 12:10 NZST Byron via groups.io <brnharrsn.orig@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi All,
?
Greetings from Australia, I am very ecstatic and excited that I found this group, I have been drooling over Berndt's designs for a while now and plan to take the plunge this year.
?
As a overconfident noob, I wanted to ask what the ECO 6.2 Houseboats water capabilities are. With or without modifications could it be suitable for coastal conditions or am I delusional and should go for the ECO 6 instead?
?
Thank you for your time.
?
Kind regards
Byron Harrison
?
|
I have some thoughts on the Eco 6. I built one here in New Zealand and used it for two years on our northern coastline. Firstly I greatly enjoyed the whole Eco 6 experience, from building to sailing, and coastal cruises of up to 3 weeks duration. The Eco 6 is a lot of boat in a small package, and with a very roomy interior if you are happy not to be able to stand up.
?
Based on my experiences on our exposed New Zealand coastline I would class the Eco 6 as a semi sheltered waters coastal cruiser. You would not want to stray too far from land and a refuge if the weather kicks up rough. For such a small boat the Eco 6 can cover distance very quickly, but there is definitely an upper wind limit, and sea state limit. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Australia on the northern Queensland coast I could see the Eco 6 as being a suitable cruiser to do the Brisbane to Whitsunday trip, and further north, so long as you have plenty of time to choose the weather. But for the more exposed areas of the Australian coast, such as the NSW coast, I think you would need a larger catamaran.
?
David
On 28/04/2025 12:10 NZST Byron via groups.io <brnharrsn.orig@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi All,
?
Greetings from Australia, I am very ecstatic and excited that I found this group, I have been drooling over Berndt's designs for a while now and plan to take the plunge this year.
?
As a overconfident noob, I wanted to ask what the ECO 6.2 Houseboats water capabilities are. With or without modifications could it be suitable for coastal conditions or am I delusional and should go for the ECO 6 instead?
?
Thank you for your time.
?
Kind regards
Byron Harrison
?
|
Hi All,
?
Greetings from Australia, I am very ecstatic and excited that I found this group, I have been drooling over Berndt's designs for a while now and plan to take the plunge this year.
?
As a overconfident noob, I wanted to ask what the ECO 6.2 Houseboats water capabilities are. With or without modifications could it be suitable for coastal conditions or am I delusional and should go for the ECO 6 instead?
?
Thank you for your time.
?
Kind regards
Byron Harrison
?
|
Hello Bernd,
I think the easiest way to maintain a group like this one is to switch
to Telegramm.
Telegram has all the features we need to exchange texts, pictures,
videos, comments and search function etc and it is completely free!
How do you think about it?
Best regards from Luxembourg
Paul
N.B. actually finishing DUO 425 restoration..
Am Montag, dem 31.03.2025 um 03:27 -0700 schrieb Bernd Kohler via
groups.io:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
To all participants
?
Thanks to all participants for reporting on the work of the group.
?
The fun? thing was that we had a lull here. I think because of the
winter sleep period in the North and too busy in the South.
?
Cheers
?
Bernd
|
I received it on March 31st, but due to my busy schedule, I was only able to respond today, April 4th. Thank you Bernd
|
Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Here is a link to my You Tube channel where I have documented all my trips using solar electric power.
|
|
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
www.youtube.com
|
Phil
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toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM, bryanandmarycox via groups.io <bm.cox@...> wrote: ?Hi All , this is a test message at Bernd's request to see that the forum messages are coming through properly, regards
Bryan
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I am in Caboolture. Accumulating energy to build KD122
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Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Hi Phil,?
Nice hearing from you.?
Thanks for chipping in. You have a lot of experience with electric solar-powered boats.
I see you are busy lengthening the boat.
?
Here is a link to his YouTube channel, or in the middle of a journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eyJUnSCYms
?
Success with your new plan for this year.
?
Cheers
?
Bernd
?
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Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Hi to all,
I also have not posted in a while. I have started my hull extension on my Eco5.5 to go from 18' to 20'.
This was a bit controversial, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway. I have the extensions independently built over the winter. The next step is to sand the existing hull down to add them. The attachment point will start 6' back from the stern. I have also
modified the bow to go back to a curved bow so that weeds in the canal do not accumulate around it.
As for batteries, I bought qty 16 of 202 Ahr LifePo4 batteries in the Spring of 2020 and paid a total of $3200 CDN. They are still good but are now at about 90%. It is not the cycle life you need to consider but the age degradation of Lifepo4, but even with
age they still work.?
I just received a few weeks ago new 302 Ahr batteries and paid a total of $2100 CDN. So, 1/3 more power for a 1/3 less cost as batteries are getting cheaper all the time. There are more electric motors available in 2025 but are still double the cost?of a gas
motor. This will change in the future with mass production.
I am documenting the modifications on my YouTube channel as I get ready for a new season. This year I will be touring the 1000 Islands and the Rideau canal for two weeks using only solar electric power.
Regards
Phil Boyer
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Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Hi Matus
?
I do not reflect on the electric drive issue. You see for yourself how uncertain the future of the e-drive is.?
When the hulls are 8% longer without increasing the beam, about 100 hours will be needed.
Because of the bigger inside room, it is up to you how much more work you will invest because of the gained space.?
?
Cheers
?
Bernd
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Hi All, Received here 2 days ago in Queensland, Australia but just opened today we are a bit slow down here. Cheers,?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 31 Mar 2025, at 8:27?pm, Bernd Kohler via groups.io <ikarus342000@...> wrote:
? To all participants
?
Thanks to all participants for reporting on the work of the group.
?
The fun? thing was that we had a lull here. I think because of the winter sleep period in the North and too busy in the South.
?
Cheers
?
Bernd
|
Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Matus,
?
Phil Boyer has many videos on YouTube about electrifying boats
?
?
Maybe help
?
Best regards, Eduardo.
?
?
De: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Em nome de matushonko111 via groups.io
Enviada em: segunda-feira, 31 de mar?o de 2025 09:59
Para: [email protected]
Assunto: Re: [K-Designs-Multihull-Sailboats] A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
?
We want to thank all of you for replying to our questions. We are still a bit lost in the 'what do we want and how do we want it' phase, and greatly appreciate any and all information.?
As for the (currently strictly hypothetical) solar electric part, yes batteries have many, many problems- I personally remain deeply critical of our civilisation's claimed goal of being powered by lithium ion. We did not intend to use those:
they are too expensive, short-lived, dangerous and a few zeroes off in terms of energy density.?
However, there are 5+ alternative ways to store power in a 'rechargeable' way, all better in most ways vs the conventional battery tech, in various stages of 'work in progress'. Organic fuel cells, metal air batteries, different ways to
store hydrogen... For instance, methanol (fuel with half the energy density of gasoline) can be made with electricity, air and water- with current research working out how to make the electrodes durable enough for common use. When they succeed, a 'solar electric'
would just be a power boat able to slowly make its own fuel.
? ? ? ?I apologise for the text wall, just little frustrated none of this is part of the public debate (or funding) with batteries being the only, and worst, option. It could make for an
interesting separate thread perhaps. Considering the above, we wanted to make the boat in such a way that it could be a test bed for some of those emerging technologies when it comes to it, therefore the powerboat question.
It is great to know road transport of the semi-finished thing is possible. How much construction time/complexity would the extra 8% add? Also, I haven't been able to find the materials list for the KD860. Is it available on the website
please, or part of the study plans?
With regards, Matus Honko
|
Hello,
The group was also helpful for me. I'm building a DUO 480. The lower section is finished. I'm waiting for the warm weather to apply several coats of graphite resin to the hulls and begin the upper sections. The boat is easy to build and intelligently designed. Bryan's photos (and advice) and Mikael's slideshow were very helpful. Well done, Bernd. Best regards, Fran?ois.
Le 30/03/2025 à 13:51, Bernd Kohler via
groups.io a écrit?:
Hi All
?
It is very quiet in the group. Is someone still building
something, or are all activities on hold?
When I see what? Nothing, is it any good to continue the
group?
By the way, this group was founded by a client who is no
longer a member.
I was then taking over with some doubts.
This group was meant to help each other build boats. I
suggested that followers here also report on their experiences
with their boats.?
Again, besides 3 in a year, I have it amiss.
?
Ultimately, it would be helpful if builders and owners would
participate.
?
I am waiting
?
Bernd
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
--
Fran?ois Moinet
05 65 37 77 77
06 86 72 99 12
|
Moderated
Re: A newcomer's questions: More motoring-optimised liveaboard cruiser?; Assembly by water?
Greetings,
We want to thank all of you for replying to our questions. We are still a bit lost in the 'what do we want and how do we want it' phase, and greatly appreciate any and all information.?
?
As for the (currently strictly hypothetical) solar electric part, yes batteries have many, many problems- I personally remain deeply critical of our civilisation's claimed goal of being powered by lithium ion. We did not intend to use those: they are too expensive, short-lived, dangerous and a few zeroes off in terms of energy density.?
However, there are 5+ alternative ways to store power in a 'rechargeable' way, all better in most ways vs the conventional battery tech, in various stages of 'work in progress'. Organic fuel cells, metal air batteries, different ways to store hydrogen... For instance, methanol (fuel with half the energy density of gasoline) can be made with electricity, air and water- with current research working out how to make the electrodes durable enough for common use. When they succeed, a 'solar electric' would just be a power boat able to slowly make its own fuel.
?
? ? ? ?I apologise for the text wall, just little frustrated none of this is part of the public debate (or funding) with batteries being the only, and worst, option. It could make for an interesting separate thread perhaps. Considering the above, we wanted to make the boat in such a way that it could be a test bed for some of those emerging technologies when it comes to it, therefore the powerboat question.
?
It is great to know road transport of the semi-finished thing is possible. How much construction time/complexity would the extra 8% add? Also, I haven't been able to find the materials list for the KD860. Is it available on the website please, or part of the study plans?
?
Thank you,?
With regards, Matus Honko
|
To all participants
?
Thanks to all participants for reporting on the work of the group.
?
The fun? thing was that we had a lull here. I think because of the winter sleep period in the North and too busy in the South.
?
Cheers
?
Bernd
|
@catamaniac
Byron
Bernd Kohler
stoffercn