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Risks and pitfalls to building a boat |
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It is easy to start building a boat. What is the real challenge for those who have tried to venture into boat building is to carry on the task to its fruition. As there are great rewards in building a boat, so are there pitfalls and risks that every boat builder must try to avoid or at least minimize.
It has been observed that there are more boats that begin construction in backyard home than those built in shops in any given year. Sadly, majority of these self-built boats are left unfinished. The failure to complete boat construction is one of the most common risks when building a boat versus buying a new one. It is, therefore, very important to be realistic in assessing the total costs and man-hours that building a boat will entail before it is even started. You may think that building your own boat is much less expensive than buying but if you are not really an expert, you may be spending more than what you have originally intended.
Consider, for instance, the sourcing of materials. As an individual boat builder, you do not have a strong buying power to attain significant discounts that suppliers are willing to give to large production boat builders. So the minimal discount may not be worth it at all considering the time and energy that you will put to building a boat.
If you are not an expert boat builder, chances are you would also take a longer time to construct the boat since you are not so familiar the methods of boat building. A lot of trial and error may consume much of your time and resources.
Another pitfall to building a boat is the possibility of falling for incomplete boat plans. There are many boat plans that are being sold that even expert boat builders would not be able to follow simply because they lack detailed instructions and even material specifications. Although it is tempting to buy the cheaper boat plans, it is better to invest on good and reliable boat plans from reputable sources or suppliers.
Considering the total cost of boat building, the boat plan is just a small percentage of the total investment required but it is a very important foundation for the boat building process. Check the designer of the boat plans you are buying and ask for referrals from architects and other expert professionals.
There is also the risk of not using the right materials for the right type of boat. Boat builders may also have different levels of expertise in using materials for boat construction. Some are really good at working with wood but need more training when it comes to metal. Weight should be a major factor in choosing the material and method for building a boat.
Finally, one major problem that boat builders should deal with is the problem of the attitude. It is easy to be enthusiastic at the start with all the grandeur that that comes with a boat building pursuit. The excitement could wane easily, though, when problems start to rise, costs escalate, or when the body simply gets tired. A long-time boat builder offers these principles to keep the boat builder focused on his task:
1) Maintain momentum
2) Set achievable goals
3) Highlight milestones along the route
4) Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve
5) Cultivate determination
6) Prepare ahead
7) Cultivate skills
8) Practice safe working habits
9) Take the right steps if momentum slips.
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