fryderyk needs your help!

**fryderyk** · 19th July 2014, 12:29 PM

Hi Everyone!!

This is my backyard:

I want to build a boat!
Specifically, I really want to build the Ooze Goose with the boom tent for me and my boy here:

..he has webbed feet. ..and he's Australian!

Only problem is, I've never built a thing in my life.. and I won't be getting any help with this either.
Also, I'm broke, and can only really work on this on the weekends..

So it won't be easy, and I'm thinking it might not be an good start for such a novice.

Then I started looking into the Oz Racer RV. Although I don't think it would be a good fit for my 8y/o, 100lb labradoodle, it might serve as a good step toward building my building skills.. not to mention my sailing skills. Did I mention that I don't know how to sail?

Let's see.. I have a handsaw, a coping saw, a surform plane, a four-way rasp/file combo, oh and a rotary tool. I just bought that.

So what say ye? Is the Ooze Goose biting off more than I can chew?
I'd hate to have my maiden voyage without Satchmo with me.. but I definitely want to put the right foot first.

Also.. I know pricing differs all over the world.. but what kind of costs in general am I looking at for North America?
Everything I read describes these boat builds as finally something 'sensible' for people to get involved in sailing, like it was many years ago.. but I've never read anyone's actual account of their cost to build. Is it closer to $150? $250? $500? $5000?? (USD).

I'm excited to get started to say the very least, and look forward to your input!
Any advise is greatly appreciated!

oh yeah, and I still love INXS (no kidding)

**Sumbloak** · 22nd July 2014, 02:32 AM

If you want to take the dog and sleep aboard, build the Goose. It's as easy to build as a PD, just longer.

How do you know you want to go sailing if you've never done it? Maybe you should try it first, on someone else's boat, for free, and see if you like it.

**davlafont** · 25th July 2014, 05:46 AM

I think the "RV" designation refers to changes in the original Oz Racer layout so that it is more open and "recreational" like the Ooze Gooze. That mainly means the dagger board is offset into the side deck to eliminate the centercase structure that eats up precious foot well space. If it's just you and the pooch, I think the Oz Racer RV would do fine.

That said, the two differ in length and therefore amount of material and a small bit of extra build steps. If you think you'd like to keep this boat for a good long time and have something to really be proud of, the Ooze Gooze may give you more reason to put the extra effort into. If you want to do a low-cost quickie build, the Oz Racer makes lots of sense and you can "learn as you go." That was the spirit of the PDR class of boats: don't let the build get in the way of the sailing.

But it's splitting hairs really. Both designs can yield fantastic show quality boats and both can be slapped together rapidly.

I wish I could speak to the costs, but my build was different (GIS). That said, I didn't spend $4k to build a larger boat with very good quality materials (i.e. Joubert brand Okoume plywood which ain't cheap). I bet you could build an Oz Racer RV for under $1K, assuming a polytarp sail. Really Simple Sails is a low cost option for the Oz Racer lug of good quality and I would recommend you look into that when forming your budget.

Good luck and let us all know what you end up doing.

**Boatmik** · 4th August 2014, 01:47 PM

Fryderyk,

I do have information I have worked out for buildling the Goose like an OZ RV. It is a bit simpler than basing it on the Mk2.

I do think the OzRacer might answer your needs, but the Goose is an option.

This information is available to anyone who has bought the goose supplement for free. Please email me.

MIK

Thread: fryderyk needs your help!

Thread Tools

Search Thread

fryderyk needs your help!

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions