Alexandre is originally from Reunion Island, and after 10 years in Canada. (2004 to 2014), he returned to his island and started building his boat. An open hull of 5.50 x 2.20 m built of epoxy plywood. He explains his progress and the pitfalls encountered during this project.
Receipt of plans. Let's do it! Let's do it!
How do you start such a project?
With a carpenter grandfather, the other stonemason and a mechanic father, it was only natural that I became a handyman over the years. In 2006, a co-worker took me to see a small 6-metre sailboat he had built. I was impressed by the work, but starting construction myself didn't even cross my mind: I didn't know anything about boats!
It was only in 2013, following family events, that the idea of building a boat began to sprout in my head. It will be a motor boat, an open hull to go deep-sea fishing off my island.
How to choose a plan?
I did a lot of research on the internet before I found Marc Bowdidge (Bowdidge Marine Design). He is an Australian architect who designs boats and, above all, helps amateur builders to carry out their projects. Without his help and patience (little helped by my very approximate English), I would not have been able to do it.
I also discovered a manufacturer community in Australia through the forums on its website. For two years before I started, I went through all the forum and technical information that I could find on the Internet and on Marc's website (not easy everything is in English). Not to mention consulting Division 240 and 245 for compliance with French regulations.
Marc offers many boat plans in amateur construction. This ranges from the 12-foot (3.50 m) boat to the 35-foot fishing boat. As I like fishing, I chose a SeaStrike 18, a 5.50 m open to be built in plywood and epoxy resin.
How is the construction going?
In 2014, I decided to return to Reunion Island and in 2015 I ordered the plans after Marc Bowdidge. It is by opening the envelope that I really begin to understand the difficulties that await me:
- i am on an island and the cost of materials is very high
- space is needed for construction
- once again the plans are in English
But for those who have the will, everything is organized. I order most of the supplies (plywood) in South Africa and meet a resin supplier in Reunion Island who will be of great technical help to me. For the local, I attack in my garage (I should move the boat twice).
In 2016, after the import of basic supplies, I start construction. The work of the resin is not simple and at first I had some mistakes!
What are the difficulties encountered?
At first, we want to go too fast. Despite my extensive reading in the field of resin and fabrics (on this subject, I recommend the books of the Gougeon Brothers, essential in the construction of epoxy CP boats), despite the enlightened advice of many speakers in the forum who advised me to work in small areas, I still wanted to cover the hull in a single step. Assessment, it took me 4 days to sand non-stop to remove everything..
When building with the epoxy CP method, sanding should not be underestimated. For those who don't know, sanding epoxy resin is like sanding rock. And it's very time-consuming despite the use of tear-off tissue. It's really painful in some inaccessible places.
What about the equipment?
For the realization of the T-top, the base of the bench and the handrails, I have a training in TIG welding which was very useful to me. It was for the bending of stainless steel that I looked for a lot of information. But in the end, System D was the most effective. As an anecdote, I bent the handrails with a tree trunk! I just wish I had had time to polish the stainless steel. I "stopped" at a brushed stainless steel finish.
My training in electromechanics was used for the electrical part, but here again the Internet was an essential tool to know the rules of the art.
What if we have to do it all over again?
If I had to build a new boat, I wouldn't go it alone anymore. I would launch the project with several other builders in order to get help and to be able to exchange on certain phases of the construction. I had the chance to meet a local professional who believed in my project and guided me through the manufacturing process.
But 3.5 years of construction is a long time. You have to be determined not to give up. My biggest fear during the construction was not to finish.
What budget should be planned?
One of the keys to success is to control your budget. For my part, the boat (the hull) cost me about 7,000 euros. To which are added 11,000 euros for the purchase and delivery of the outboard engine (a 115 hp Mercury purchased at the Grau du Roi boat show and delivered to Reunion Island).
What happens next?
On July 17, 2019, after all the administrative process, the Marie Sonia was launched at the port of Saint-Pierre. It is named after my mother who died in 2010. I did the first sea trials and I am fully satisfied with this deep V hull which passes admirably well in the waves. I note all the same that it is necessary to fill the fuel tank (200 l at the bottom of the hull) to weigh down the boat a little when I am alone.
Now I am only waiting for the return of the sunny weather (it is now winter in Reunion Island) to enjoy deep-sea fishing with friends!
