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Permalink Reply by lhedrick on December 7, 2008 at 6:29pm

A kit boat will cost about 3000 to start. Building one from plans might be about 2400.

This is a time consuming affair. If you count the hours the 3000 profit you make (if you can sell the boat for 6000 still needing a trailer for another 1700) may earn you about 8 bucks an hour. If you like doing it then it's a win all around. Most people out there have this strange idea the wood boat are a maintenance problem. They just don't understand the facts.

I am setting up a shop now. I hope to build one or two boats a year. When I sell one I will start another. The idea isn't really to make money. I just like building things.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on December 8, 2008 at 9:29am

You can build from plans much cheaper. But much more labor intensive. I for one, like building frames! and scarfing plywood!. I have an itemized bill of material for a 16 foot doouble ender that I build from Roger Fletchers plans. Current going rate is about $1600 per boat. I am very frugal and search out the sources for the right materials at the right price. I am using either fir or meranti plywood (same $$ from my source), doug fir for frames, seats, etc, and white oak for all trim. bronze ring nails, screws, etc.. It can be done for less, but you would have to skimp on materials.

If you are serious about making it a business, you would have to get a tax-id number. You could then buy the costly stuff at wholesale and not retail prices. Buying in bulk really makes a difference.

I have built boats just as you have said- sell one to make another. The problem is- your friends will want them, and you'll be hard to not give the buddy discount.

a better option is to make the first one for yourself-use it a few years, decide what you would do differently and then sell it to fund the next boat and so on... I do the same thing with custom guitars and amplifiers.

Its really a labor of love. good luck!

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