Swift Solo

Originally posted by Strawberry Jim, your a bit of a wooden boat expert I believe, where do you buy marine wood from?

Wooden boat expert? Me?! Err no. Decent marine grade timber is a considerable challenge these days, and prices eye watering! With strip wood it might pay to go to a non specialist but major timber merchant and select the best pieces individually. Light spruce especially a problem.

There's a place called Robbins in Bristol who have a lot of stock esp marine ply and big price tags. You need to know exactly what you're ordering from them: the last time I did I got what I'd ordered but not what I'd expected or wanted. Merlin people probably best to talk to about wood, although maybe less weight oriented than Cherub folk...

Might also be worth speaking to some of the 'traditional' boat builders or repairers as well to see if they can point you in the right direction.

My 2p is that the swift is a very beautiful looking boat (I am biased I love wood boats) but it would be a bit of a handful for a lot of people (and probably the wrong side of my club PY limit).

Paul

Originally posted by Strawberry That's definately something to consider. At 89kg it's not exactly light. Jim, your a bit of a wooden boat expert I believe, where do you buy marine wood from?

You don't need to bother with marine timber suppliers. You can can get the particleboard for the forms and the plywood for the strongback from your local hardware. I got my western red cedar from a wooden window blinds manufacturer. I got them to mill the strips for me. That is the only "timber" you need.

Cheers,

Steve   

Why build in wood?

Build a foam glass boat.

The class has a very good male 'slug' mould ( better be quick as it may be
going to France, as there's lots of interest in building boats there, and
even a mould being taken off Jim's old Bistro - I believe!? ). So no cost of
building a mould. Just foam and glass. That radically reduces the cost.
And is likely to end up around the same price as building in wood. Or if
you want to build a boat that has plans ( which I am guessing the reason
you liked the look of the Swift Solo ) talk to Andy at Bloodaxe, he sells his
plans for the P7 for £70?. And they are very good - step by step - with
lot's of pictures. In fact he may have some plans for his P6 ( King Tubby )
which was built in ply, if you are wedded to wood.

Oh yes.... and if you build in foam, you are much more likely to get free
bits of foam and stuff from members in the Cherub class because they
have foam unused kicking about the place, which is much more unlikely if
you build in wood.

And... building a 12-ft boat as opposed to a 14-ft boat or whatever is
cheaper: less materials e.t.c and with a Cherub you can minimise the
fittings used as you don't need that many. And that will reduce the cost
even further still.

Edited by Jack Sparrow

I just thought I would add that foam is more expensive than wood but
you need more wood to build the boat. More floor bulkeads and structure
e.t.c You still need to glass it. So you end up with a boat that is a bit
heavier than foam, costs less per sheet but you use more sheets e.t.c So
the differnce in price isn't that great, especially when you figure in the
Cherub freebie market economy.

But here's a link for wood: http://www.marineply.com/welcome1.htm

Edited by Jack Sparrow