| Should you build a small trimaran with wood or | | | | Even if you've got a healthy budget, and money isn't |
| fiberglass. There are good arguments for and against. | | | | an issue, then you still may want to consider wood |
| Some of these are covered, including how important | | | | for another reason we'll talk about in a moment. But |
| it is to know what the market wants at any given | | | | just keep in mind that building a GRP boat tends to |
| time. | | | | be pricier. |
| There are some sound arguments against building a | | | | Level of Difficulty to Build - The molds and |
| small trimaran with wood. And building a trimaran | | | | time-consuming techniques for GRP building are going |
| sailboat with fiberglass, or GRP (Glass-reinforced | | | | to pose a much bigger challenge than wood |
| plastic), seems like a great way to go for larger | | | | construction methods. |
| boats. But I still like the idea of using wood to build | | | | I do realize it's rare that anything in life worth having |
| small trimarans. | | | | ever comes easy. But some folks don't have an |
| First, lets talk about what could possibly be the | | | | aptitude to work with their hands as well as others. |
| biggest disadvantage to building a small trimaran with | | | | If you're somebody who wants to build a fast, fun |
| wood ... the ability of a boat to maintain strong | | | | small trimaran with the least amount of hassle then |
| monetary/resale value in the marketplace. | | | | there are ways to achieve this goal without enduring |
| There is a reason why smaller trimarans, properly | | | | a 2 to 3 year building project. Building a boat in |
| built with fiberglass, have strong resale value. Many | | | | fiberglass at home can take anywhere from 1,000 to |
| sailors in the market for a tri just don't want to buy | | | | 2,000 man hours. |
| a wood boat. And all things being equal, a GRP small | | | | Reputable designers that explain in detail how to build |
| tri in excellent condition is probably going to fetch a | | | | a small trimaran in GRP have sold many plans to |
| lot more than a wooden small trimaran of comparable | | | | prospective boat builders. Many would-be boat |
| size and features. | | | | builders have purchased these plans with every |
| If resale investment is an important consideration for | | | | intention of building the GRP sailboat. Many of these |
| you personally, then talk with a few sailboat brokers. | | | | would-be builders never complete their dream. |
| Get their feedback on this subject. Whether buying | | | | What happens? |
| commercially or home-building, you need to know | | | | Somewhere in the process the builder loses heart. |
| what the market wants, and will probably want in the | | | | Then they lose focus. Then the project languishes. |
| future, before deciding what type of sailboat you're | | | | Dreams serve as fuel for our goals. But individual |
| going to sink time and money into. | | | | goals should be real and genuinely attainable. |
| If resale factor isn't a very important factor for you | | | | If you've never built any boat before then building a |
| then building a wooden small trimaran may become | | | | 20-plus foot small trimaran in GRP is going to be very |
| an attractive option. Here is why: | | | | difficult. It'll be far more difficult, in my opinion, than |
| Cost - wood boats are generally much less pricey to | | | | building with wood. |
| construct. | | | | I had one small tri designer tell me recently that as |
| Even though wood and epoxy costs have taken off | | | | many as 90% of those who purchase boat plans |
| lately, wood building is still not going to cost as much | | | | never actually finish building their dream sailboat. This, |
| as fiberglass construction. The materials required for | | | | of course, means only about 1 in 10 actually finish. |
| GRP, in addition to the equipment used to put these | | | | You may be up to the GRP challenge. But count the |
| materials together, will end up costing much more in | | | | costs in money, time and skill level before |
| dollars. | | | | undertaking such a project. |