Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with boat

Help me plan to build a boat

Fiasco da Gama — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:29:40 -0800

Help me think about and plan boat building. For many years I've been troubled by the odd and inexplicable ambition to build, launch, and sail my own wooden trailable yacht. A smallish one, one that could be lifted out of the water by a few people and stored in a backyard, yet big enough to carry one or two people and dinner and sleeping bags.

I'd like to do it for the satisfaction of building almost as much as for the concrete object.

I have joined a Club on Sydney Harbour a bus ride away from where I live and I am taking beginner's sailing classes. They're excellent, and I think I'm learning—but I'm almost entirely ignorant about how one would go about budgeting for, planning out, buying materials for, constructing, testing and sailing one's own boat.

My wood- and metalworking experience is that of faffing about with my high school's clapped out drills in year 9 of high school (although I did get high marks in it). I am a 29 year old white-collar university-educated bureaucrat, though for various reasons my job security is at best marginal. I live in a rented two bedroom flat without even a verandah let alone a garage or shed for constructing things. I have in the past taken on very long-term projects and completed them, but they've been mainly intellectual not concrete in nature, and I'm stumped as to where even to start. I'm happy to read lots of books. I just don't know what they are.

I'm in no hurry, and the timeframe I have in mind is "before I die". Help this cut-price Noah: what would be the first step towards boatbuilding?

Bareboat Sailboat Fun

DuckGirl — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:13:25 -0800

Looking for advice on a Christmas week sailing trip My fiancé and I are interested in a bareboat sailing trip during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I have done some research online about destinations, and while many sound appealing, it seems like we might be able to do this most inexpensively if we focus on the Florida Keys area. We will be traveling from the Boston area and would be most comfortable on a 30-36 foot boat (fiancé owns and has much experience with his own 30-foot boat). My question to MeFites is this – have you charted a bareboat trip in Florida? Can you recommend a specific company/person to contact so I am not anonymously reaching out via google searches? If I am wrong in my assumption that Florida will be less expensive, tell me where we can go instead and find a great deal. I am trying to keep our total cost for airfare and the boat at less than $3500.

Unidentified Flying Boat

renovatio1 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:07:14 -0800

AircraftFilter: Help me identify the aircraft in this photo I looked entirely through my copy of The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft and found a couple that have a similar fuselage, wing placement, and tail section but they are quite obviously not the plane in the photo.

I did a quick search for airplane spotter / identification forums and couldn't find anything that looks all that good. I'll try posting to airliners.net or contacting an aircraft site owner (e.g. www.aviastar.org) but I figured I'd try here first to see if anyone knows; thanks!

Motor Yacht > Maker?

valkane — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:59:07 -0800

Anyone know what make of yacht this is?

Patching and Painting a Fiberglass Sailboat?

LarryC — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:48:09 -0800

I accidentally bought an old 12' sailboat this morning. How do I repair and paint the fiberglass? So I was out garage sailing, minding my own business, and came home with a 12' sailboat. It is a Sunfish (I think) from the 1960s and is in pretty good shape. The pictures linked above show the fiberglass patches it has already, and also a gash along the keel that needs to be patched.

I want to patch and paint it. Any advice? My idea is to get a fiberglas patch kit from the auto parts store and patch the keel, to sand the whole underside down, and to prime and paint it. What kind of primer and paint do I use? Can I get away with foam rollers for putting on the paint or do I need to borrow the neighbors compressor and spray gun?

I am not looking for any kind of show quality at all here, just a functioning boat we can play around with on area lakes. Thanks!

Looking for three people/one boat paintings

TochterAusElysium — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:23:54 -0800

Help me find three men (or women, or whatever) in a boat, please. I'm looking for images of paintings done around the time of the Napoleonic wars (give or take). But I'm looking for a specific subject: a boat with three people in it. The people can be any age/gender/color; they can be doing anything or nothing at all. The boat can be in any body of water, any situation.

I'd like to narrow it down to paintings that would appeal to people who're fans of the Aubrey–Maturin series, but I don't know much about that period, so finding something this specific is not easy. I'm guessing that there are quite a few people here who know a lot more about naval art than I do, and who will have favorites they can mention.

The higher-resolution the better but I'm glad to see any examples at all. Thanks much!

Tractors & Boats

rselover — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:52:38 -0800

Tractors and Boats - Need help figuring out what kind of tractor my dad had, and how to fix a boat 1. My dad had a yellow lawn tractor that was originally my grandfather's. It was probably from the 70's but may have been as old as the 40's or 50's. It was made of Yellow steel, had a grey/metallic grill on the front, vinyl/leather seat, with a mower attachment + plow. Can't find a picture right now. It may have had a logo on the front saying AF or AG. Any ideas what kind this was?

2. My dad also has a 14 foot Dory row/sailboat. Last summer I lost the centerboard to the bottom of a deep lake when I flipped the boat by mistake. The boat was built at Robin Hood marina in Maine. I called and they didn't have replacements, and couldn't make more because they lost the molds (the original was made out of fiberglass). I photocopied some plans from 'The Dory Book,' and have its approximate dimensions... So... Is this an easy project? Could I make one from wood? Someone suggested divers, but I couldn't tell them where to look better than a general area. Took a quick look at Sunfish centerboards, but couldn't be sure it would fit. Any ideas?

How do I find a live-aboard slip in the SF Bay Area?

loquacious — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:46:21 -0800

I need help finding an inexpensive live-aboard boat slip in the Bay Area. General boat-living hints, anecdotes and tips are also welcome. I'm considering accepting the offer from a friend to use a small (25 foot) sailboat as a quiet residential place to get some downtime, quit smoking and work on some stuff. The boat has been stripped of galley and some other furniture in preparation for a refit. The bilge is dry, the boat has no leaks or minimal leaks.

I'm having trouble navigating the hundreds of marinas in the bay, most of which have mostly uninformative websites, and I've never had to look for a "live-aboard" slip in my life.

Location isn't so much as a concern for me, but things I'm looking for are:

1) decent access to BART and transport.
2) Electricity and Wifi access
3) Showers on site, sewage pump-out and hopefully laundry
4) Hopefully in a low-wake zone. Those container ships throw a considerable wake as they pass.
5) Hopefully quiet, IE, not a scurvy party dock.
6) Damn near as cheap as possible.

Any expert suggestions on where to look? Any tips for living aboard a small boat?

3 hour cruise?

toastchee — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:02:37 -0800

Sailboat fever? It's getting warm out, and I live at the eastern US coast. I'm married with 2 kids. How much does an under 30ft sailboat really cost to own and maintain versus how much pleasure I would get out of it?

When it comes to those lost at sea I'm...well I'm lost at sea myself

rileyray3000 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:01:05 -0800

Is there a book or museum or resource that specifically lists the stories of people who survived in Lifeboats? I need a LOT of personal stories of people who had to live in lifeboats and I'm having trouble finding them. I've tried one or two maritime museums, a lot web searching and one call to the coast guard where I think THEY thought I was pranking them. Because they hung up.

I don't need books, or even long stories. What I need is "1938, SS Coleman went down in the atlantic. Nine people survived in a wooden lifeboat for sixteen days. They had a candle, some cans, matches and a blanket. They were picked up by a swedish trawler."

And some rough biographical info on the people would be great too.

Frankly I thought this would be some statistical database somewhere but, if it is, I can't find it.

What is the best aluminum boat for use with Saltwater?

Craiggy83 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:54:12 -0800

What is the best aluminum boat and motor combination that can be used for saltwater or freshwater that can be towed with a Mazda 6 wagon? I have been wanting to get a small boat to use for Salt/Fresh water fishing and putting around. I like the Honda four-stroke engines and I'm wondering what you would recommend for a boat? An aluminum boat was recommended to me. What size aluminum boat should I get? What size motor? What type of bottom (hull shape) and aluminum compound (mixture) should I get? I have a Mazda 6 wagon and may not even be able to tow a boat. I need something small but not so small that it would be overwhelmed by the waves while being used in the salt. Sorry for all the questions. Also what prices are we looking at for a decent boat which will last and require minimum upkeep. What would the approximate combined weight be of the trailer/boat/motor

Up a Lazy River

cloeburner — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:12:07 -0800

How feasible is it to find work on a boat in Colombia/Venezuela/Panama that is bound for the eastern seaboard of the United States, preferably Norfolk or Baltimore? I am in Lima, Peru currently, but I plan on ascending northwards towards Venezuela/Colombia, would like to make a boat journey to the US, anyone know a good time of year, good port, good place to look or any other good advice about finding work on a ship in order to travel.
Thanks.

Tennessee Lakes? Which would you choose?

Kloryne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:57:55 -0800

Tennessee lakes? Which lake is better for a week of house-boating at the end of August -- Lake Norris, Dale's Hollow, or Cumberland? Or are they all equally awesome?

We're current L.A. residents, looking to relax - maybe fish - maybe not. Certainly cooking, drinking, swimming, and staring at nature. Is there a distinct difference between the three mentioned that I should be aware of?

Thanks for any info. If it matters, I'm an Okie and used to nature - my man, well, he's a genius, but not so outdoorsy. It'd be nice to have a "general store" type place nearby to buy bug spray, etc. Also, it's only the two of us going there.

I can haz job? will travelz.

sully75 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:35:09 -0800

I'm interested in jobs where you go to some possibly unpleasant place, work really hard and come back flush. I just spent 3 weeks hitchhiking in Atlantic Canada and heard of many, many people going to Fort McMurray to work in the oil fields. I also have a friend who works as a merchant seaman, and does well (although he's often gone for 3 months at a time).

What other jobs are there like this? I'm thinking about doing something like this, maybe just for a year, to build some capital for some other projects that I'm working on. But I'd like to know what the possibilities are for situations like this before I commit to one.

For the record I'm healthy and strong. Would prefer to avoid extremely dangerous situations but I've worked in boatyards and with machinery before. I'm pretty handy and can usually fix things, but not a mechanic and don't really understand IC engines. But otherwise I think I'd be good at something like this.

Where in Ontario for a short boat trip?

Scoops — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:14:26 -0800

I'm planning a two night boat trip in Ontario with my son. Any ideas on a waterway that will keep us occupied while we aren't fishing? We have a 16 foot boat so I need a fairly calm lake or river system.

Two boats, which one should we purchase?

justgary — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:11:19 -0800

I know nothing about boats, but I'll be buying one soon and have narrowed it down to two styles. Help me make a choice. We have a house on a very small lake that isn't big enough for anything other than canoes, paddle boats, kayaks, and small boats. Motors are not allowed (except small trolling motors). Residents around the lake use their small boats to visit other neighbors and take leisurely rides up and down the lake.

We'd like to buy a boat so that our mother, who loves the lake but is scared of water, would feel safe on. So the number one thing we're looking for is stability.

We've found 2 boats that we like, but they're slightly different and I have no idea if one is more stable than the other.

Boat 1

Boat 2

Does anyone knowledgeable regarding boats know if one would be appreciably more stable than the other?

We've already decided against paddle boats, small pontoon boats, etc

How to find a house boat to rent in london?

YouRebelScum — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:32:04 -0800

What's the best way to look for a house boat to rent in London? I've been checking the usual suspects, Loot, Gumtree, but there don't seem to be many options popping up, unless I'm missing an obvious subcategory. Is it just because they're few and far between, or is it that I'm looking in the wrong places?

From US to NZ by way of boat?

grahamux — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:28:51 -0800

I live in the Southeastern US and I want to travel to New Zealand for a while (or permanently). The catch is that I'm pretty phobic of flying. I've done it many times around the US, but never for such a long flight. Is there a way to travel by boat (or mostly by boat) from the US to New Zealand? I have heard people say one can get temporary jobs or stay on freighters delivering cargo, but my google-fu is clearly not good enough.

Finding Fun On The Freighter

vagabond — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:52:10 -0800

I have booked room on a freighter from Pusan to Long Beach. I'm now looking for some tips advice on what to pack and or things I need to prepare myself for during my ten days at sea. Anyone taken the slow boat home before?

Cheap rowboat?

LSK — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:41:27 -0800

Where can I get a cheap rowboat? I'm looking for a rowboat. Inflatable is fine; I just want something that a friend and I can have fun with on long summer days after having discovered a place to set off from. Budget is around $100, and one of us can't swim.

I like the cut of your free jib!

scabrous — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:58:28 -0800

I've been offered a free boat in working condition. What didn't you think about when you bought your first boat? It's a 16 foot fiberglass speedboat with an outboard motor that can get up to 55mph. I've not docked one before at a yacht club, have no experience with operating one (but will get my license) and can't begin to imagine what else there is to do to a boat other than toss it in the water and speed around. Help a neophyte out! Is a free boat worth the hassle if I'm such a newbie?

We're going to need a better designed boat!

gc — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:47:11 -0800

I want to design a boat. A big boat. Help me learn the basics of interior boat structures. Question first, then background: are there basic, beginner's level interior design books/resources for boats and/or yachts? I realize it's one of those industries that is somewhat obscure, likely by necessity. But I figure there has to be some sort of primer on the subject. I have some idea of what I want, but help me make my design better. My Google-fu and Seattle and King County library-fu has failed.

Background:
I'm working on a story that involves spending long periods of time on a boat, with a crew that ranges from 4 to 10 throughout. And by boat I mean submarine, which, for the world where the story takes place, is as common as a semi-truck. I've got space set aside for cargo, a passenger section, both designed for VIPs or well-paying guests, and for those who just need a berth for a long ocean voyage. I have a bridge, captain's quarters, a sizable engine room, and places for batteries, life support, ballast, and things that generally make the ship go.

But it feels sloppy to me. My references for this sort of thing include spending some time of a fifty-foot Bluewater, some study into the luxury US Subs, pouring over super yacht magazines that were mailed to my house for some reason, and countless science fiction films and television shows (U-571, Red October, Firefly/Serenity, Star Wars/Trek, and on and on). Still, I feel like I'm missing the some of the finer things. I realize that the reader won't be seeing most of the boat, but if I can get a complete picture of the boat, I can give the reader a better picture.

Do I get half the fo'c'sle and most of the poop deck?

HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:41:31 -0800

Is fractional boat ownership all it's cracked up to be? If you have first- or second-hand experience with it, would you recommend it? Specifically, I'm wondering if it is truly cost-effective vs. outright ownership and chartering. Assume one sails once or twice a month on average. The OCSC outfit in Berkeley touts their program for buying a yacht that they maintain and charter for the owner. SailTime does essentially the same thing all over the country and beyond. These programs are similar to timeshares, except that they suggest that the owner actually makes money off of the arrangement. SailTime goes so far as to guarantee it. (Ok, they only guarantee that you'll cover your costs, but still.) Which leaves me wondering; if it's so profitable, why don't they just do it for themselves? Is it possibly a good investment or only a way to sail cheaply?

Boating; which are the best online discussion forums for motor boats?

Ligament — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:52:29 -0800

I just moved onto the Puget Sound and need a small, affordable, transportable power boat and want suggestions from you about the best online boating discussion forums to ask further questions! Hi All,

I recently moved onto Alki Beach in the Puget Sound and want to get a low maintenance easy to transport but safe boat to place on the mooring buoy included with my home. I want the smallest, SAFE, boat with high transportability factor. Not looking for a yacht. Was thinking something like a Zodiac Futura MK III HD, or a RIB, or boston whaler. Something under 20' for sure.

My ideal situation would be an inflatable such as the above Zodiac, without a rigid hull, as this would allow me to deflate and easily transport and store the thing. I don't want to deal with marinas, winterizing, boat trailers, all that junk.

Now, I don't know if a 14' inflatable is a safe vessel for the puget sound.

I want suggestions from you about the best online discussion forums where I could ask more specific questions, as to what type of boat I should look for, etc.

Jimmy Buffett Boat

ZackTM — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:35:20 -0800

Any good Jimmy Buffet lines that would make a good name for a boat? So I've got the perfect lazy Saturday boat and I want to give it a clever name that follows a Jimmy Buffett theme. Right now the best thing we've come up with is "5 O'Clock Anywhere" but thats a little too obvious. Any suggestions?