please let me introduce myself to you. My name is Holger, I'm living in Rostock, Germany at the Baltic Sea coast. Last month I started to build the next ECO62 house boat. It's a stretched to 6,5m version and will get a more semi classic superstructure design, so I call it Eco 65 classic ;-)
I've been watching G¨¹nters and Jens' building progress from the beginning, we are in contact contineously sharing our experiences.
As you can see in my album, I'm working with simple tools using a hobby room in my house, since the weather outside does not allow any working with epoxy. I've just finished building the bulkheads and the stems (whithout the cutouts). Next step will be building the bended parts of the stringers.
From April to October, when the yachts are in the water, the building site will be a large boat shed at my sailing club. Until then I'll prepare the smaller parts. I'll keep you up to date here, if you are interested, you may also watch my progress in our German community:
By the way, this my second boat building. The first one was a kayak that I designed and built 2 years ago. It's a 4,80m? double seater from cheap plywood and was inspired by Jim Michalaks Toto. If you are interested, you may read this little story about it (in German):?
Have a nice evening (or whatever it is at your site),
I am out of my country, so not in contact..Maybe Berndt can cast some light on the trailer design? am not familiar with the overall requirements. I can make some enquiries.?
One easy trailer modification that can be explored is a cradle that tilts to between .30 and 40 degrees. I have seen a few cat sailors in Durban, using that modification.. Albeit with smaller boats.
It is very difficult to compare the ECO 5.5 with the ECO 6 which is learly shown in the info material you already have.
Genereal, ECO 6 is "Double" the boat of the ECO 5.5. So it has not only a lot more space in and outside but is also more seaworthy. On the other side it is not a lot more work. I have right now no time, but I will explain the big difference in stability of a 2,5m boat and a boat with a beam of 2,84m. By the way, at my download page is a program where you can calculate by yourself the difference. "Dynamic stability" program.?
I will not mention any design and designer who had problems with the instability of there boats for obviouse reasons. Before you change to a smaller boat. I would first talk to the traffic control autorities. In 90% of the counties in the USA you can have special permissions for wider boats.
Thanks for your prompt reply and information. ?Yes the benefits of the larger boat is obvious which is why I initially chose it. ?And yes MA does offer a special permit for wider boats, but now as I think about it the shorter length would better fit my building space and I would only have to scarf 2 8' lengths of plywood rather than 3. ?But I may be able to order pre scarfed 20' ply. ?Also, regarding the PDF files, I have found a local CNC service that can cut the panels so I will obtain a quote to see if that would be better than cutting them out myself. ?If it is reasonable it should be worth the savings in build time.
I'm sorry, I misunderstood your statement regarding the other boats. ?Thanks for clearing that up.
It is very difficult to compare the ECO 5.5 with the ECO 6 which is learly shown in the info material you already have.
Genereal, ECO 6 is "Double" the boat of the ECO 5.5. So it has not only a lot more space in and outside but is also more seaworthy. On the other side it is not a lot more work. I have right now no time, but I will explain the big difference in stability of a 2,5m boat and a boat with a beam of 2,84m. By the way, at my download page is a program where you can calculate by yourself the difference. "Dynamic stability" program.?
I will not mention any design and designer who had problems with the instability of there boats for obviouse reasons. Before you change to a smaller boat. I would first talk to the traffic control autorities. In 90% of the counties in the USA you can have special permissions for wider boats.
I had suspected as much which is why I asked. ?Greg also suggested that the Eco 5.5 maybe a better boat for my needs. ?I have already purchased the plans, just today, so could you substitute those for the 5.5?
I just bought the plans for an Eco 6 and realized that the maximum trailer length in Massachusetts is 2.6m.? I guess i could just take 0.25m out of the middle, but what problems might that create?
Under no circumstances reduce the beam of the ECO 6. Boats are designed for the water and not the rodad. The boat needs the beam for its stability, with other worts for your safety. I know, that there are catamarans with beams which would fit the streed restriction of 8 feet. Look at the many acitents these boats had, special in Australia. It is reliativ easy to get from the road autorities a permanent, or at least a semi permanent permission to trailer the boat as is legally.?
I just bought the plans for an Eco 6 and realized that the maximum trailer length in Massachusetts is 2.6m. ?I guess i could just take 0.25m out of the middle, but what problems might that create?
Bernd Kohler
Robert Twiss