Thread: Waller 1100

Hi, there is a forum group who seem to specialize in big cats here:
http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=easy
Madaz is building one of Mike's cats.
Good luck with your project and I hope this forum can be useful too.

I am in the process of building one in New Zealand

Well here is some advice you won't appreciate, then I'll get onto designers:

Don't do it.

Sail boat prices have been in freefall for years. You can easily buy a really nice boat for less than it will cost to build.

If you do build don't build in ply.

Ply boats are basically worthless second hand and there is good reason for that. At this point the advocates raise their pitchforks and torches and tell me how well build ply boats can remain sound and well maintained ply boats are sound...yep. So what is the chance you will build your 36' x 20' and not make a single mistake that lets water in in spots you won't notice until it's too late ?

You realise to build a boat that big is 5 - 7 years of hard work ? You only need an 11 meter cat if you have a big family or are planning to sail round the world. A couple or small family can easily coastal cruise on a 9 meter boat. The time and cost of building is not proportional to the length, it is the weight. That boat is 5 ton. A 30' bridgedeck cat is typically about 2 ton (the waller 880 for example).

Now having played devils advocate a few of the better designers:

Richard Woods (my personal fav)

Sailing Catamarans - First Choose a Design

Bob Oram:

https://www.boboramdesign.com

Kurt Hughes:

Kurt Hughes Multihull Design - Catamarans and Trimarans for Cruising and Charter

I've always found his website confusing but put in the effort. He has some nice stuff. He does tend to design for speed though...

or if you want something unconventional Rob Denny's harry proas:

Harryproa

Ask around before you choose. There are plenty of self proclaimed messiahs out there selling multihull plans. Many of the results are unsatisfactory, some of the plans are hopelessly inadequate.

The multihulls section of the boat design forum is my favorite place to hang out talking things catamaran. Many very clever people there and a few idiots. Not as much silly arguing as many forums. There are a few threads there already similar to yours so read back and you will see what people say.

2c

Edit: I forgot to mention Mick Waller is one of the good designers. I've spoken to him and he knows his stuff. Not always the case with people selling plans!!

Interesting comment seeming as you know absolutely nothing about me and why I am building the boat. Will just say that I have done my homework and my budget is much less that a second hand boat would cost. I have also been monitoring the sales of ply cats for some time and they are selling for good prices. I am well aware of the problem of water getting into the structure but here is also no chance that this will happen of you take the time to ensure everything is correctly sealed and have talked at length with a profession boat build on what is needed.
Am over a year into the build with another four to go and there is a huge amount of personal satisfaction that I am doing this by myself.

You are correct I don't know anything about you, but I was replying to the original post not yours.

I don't know anything about them either but given they are asking about other designs in that range I have assumed they are early in the process of finding out stuff, so I offered some warnings. You are all adults and can make your own decisions, but sometimes people are ready to listen to alternative points of view.

The fact is sailing, like woodwork, is stupid. You want to go to point A but in order to do so you have to consider wind and water and sail to 20 other places in the hope you will eventually arrive. The fact that I sail at all let alone am building a boat makes me a certified idiot. Likewise wasting hours in my shed building things I could easily and cheaply buy is ridiculous.

The thing is though I've seen so many people over the years go down this path and it's ended in tears. Marriage breakdowns, abandoned projects. Disasters. So if you are going to take on a mammoth project - and an 11 meter cat is a MAMMOTH project - you should do so with eyes wide open.

At least they aren't contemplating building a schoinning

Good for you to consider building a boat. The hull material choices have a lot less to do with it's value, than may seem obvious initially. As a rule any home built boat, particularly of this size, is typically based on level of finish, how it's equipped, her abilities and amenities, etc. than hull shell material decisions.

In fact, I'm currently advising on a 50' home built. The boat is completed, has sailed around and proven herself quite well, but a new owner has some concerns and I'm involved to sort some of these out. This yacht was a long labor of love, as you'd imagine a vessel of this size, but a cold molded (yeah, plywood) hull that's tight and reasonably well faired helped keep her sale price in the moderate end of a similarly equipped ketch, from one of the manufactures. A good, low hours diesel, water maker, solid and updated electronics, including radar and appropriate devices, etc. all helped, which is my point.

Now, I'm not suggesting you just go out and build a good size yacht, quite the contrary, if you have limited boat building experience, but I am saying you can, if you have a plan, reasonable budget and perseverance.

As you can see it's not a small puppy and does "present" well, so it can be done, though this would be the rare exception to the rule. The best advice is to make a serious assessment of your skills, budget, tools, building site, etc. and see if the BOM is something you can afford to get started. If you're new to this, maybe building the dinghy to your "mothership" is in order, preferably in the same build method of the big boat. This will let your cut your teeth on a small, similar project, if only to see if you can handle something much larger.


There's much to consider about building in the size you're looking at, such as how to transport her, or mover her around. This puppy needed a 100 ton portable crane and lowboy marine transport trailer.

Don't give up, but please do think seriously about some of the major "events" that'll occur during the build.