Avoid Pitfalls

A lot is possible as long as the “bones” – the hull and overall design – are right. New sails, a new rig, will make a good design sing but will make a poor yacht less poor – at best. A gut-out and new interior or a repower will make a good yacht better and more pleasant, but a bad yacht only less bad.

• Choosing a design because it is “easy to build” will save a few percent of project cost but result in a poor boat forever.
• Building yet another yacht off a “proven” old design will result in a yacht with a proven old feel that forgoes all the advances made in the interim.
• Building from stock plans
  • risks building the architect’s rather than one own’s dreams unless the plans are a very good match to the requirements.
  • still involves a multiple of plan cost for engineering and cutting files.
• Substitute cheaper materials and equipment for proven quality – it will always be more expensive and less satisfactory.
• Go full custom when a suitable semi-custom option is available where the heavy lifting – design, engineering and build of of hull, rig, propulsion, systems etc. – is already taken care of.