New Canadian Boat company

[Clip]

I was reading a news item http://www.nationalpost.com/news/features/Thrills+rescue+bills+Northwest+Passage+luring+inex perienced+sailors/3364836/story.html
which mentioned two Britisher's voyage up north using boats supplied from a Canadian boat company.
http://www.norseboat.com/Home.html

The boats have a nice shape combined with modern materials. They come as a kit, GRP or wooden hull. Wonder if they sell plans? I was wondering if the pricing looks good, to my mind it appears realistic.

The mast and sail plan for the 21footer looks usable for my Whaler. They also built the whalers for the new Moby Dick movie coming out.

[Mike]

Hi Clip

Good to hear you are back looking at boat designs.

Irrespective of their qualities, which seem very good indeed, I could not even contemplate buying Norseboats' little model boat at $495.00, let alone buy their completed boats. They are mighty expensive, in my view.

And I see nothing in their designs that cannot be built for a lot less money in a John Welsford boat of similar proportions, looks, and performance.

Just my own, admittedly somewhat biased, view. It is, though, based on affordability and value for money.

There are plenty of good boats out there but it's a question of what one needs and can afford to build. I guess if you can afford a Norseboat then why not?

I am determined to build my own boat - and I would never want to build from a kit. Just my own preference, of course, and I recognize that others may take a wholly different view, which is perfectly valid.

Best wishes

[Clip]

I was looking at their kits which seem to be at 3/4 price of the completed boat. The 13ft Selway Fisher Coble I had built ended up costing about $4000 in material (including sails) and that was 7 years ago. So say $5500-$6000 today.

The Norseboat kit for similiar size is $10000, but has completed hull.
I would agree with you, that if you just want a boat at reduced price- go for it-, but where is the fun in the building and acomplishment?

Another boat builder who does similiar stuff and had relocated from the West Coast to Nova Scotia, is Paul Gartside.
http://www.gartsideboats.com/index.php
His designs are gorgeous, and he is well known (in Watercraft and Woodenboat). From a Canadian perspective I would lean more in his direction. I had spoken with him years back about design work on the whaler, but he was too busy.

Love his motorsailer designs, but I don't have a million.

[Clip]

I had said above that:

$4000 in material (including sails) and that was 7 years ago. So say $5500-$6000 today.

Then read Mike's post about the economy, and a good dinghy not even getting a 600 pd bid -hmmm. It doesn't sound good for boat builders.

[Mike]

Cheer up, Clip, me ol' mate. :bighug:

If you are building a boat for own use, by the time you have it afloat all this nonsense should be well and truly over. In any event, building your own boat is well known to cost more than buying one secondhand and doing it up.

The greatest pleasure is in the building with one's own two hands and then venturing out to sea aboard her as your very own pride and joy. Who cares what someone else values it at? Mine won't be for sale anyway - unless I'm made an offer I can't refuse! In that highly unlikely event, I will settle for enough to build another that is even bigger and better. Not likely to happen in the foreseeable future.

It's going to take considerable time for our western economies to recover from the huge rip-off our governments have executed in bailing out these poxy bankers - who, incidentally, don't seem to give a toss that they wouldn't be in a job were it not for the taxpayers.

Screw 'em all, I say, and let's just get on with what we enjoy doing. Life's too short to be doing anything wasteful with your time.

Regards

[George Waite]

Amen to that brother Michael!

[Mike]

Thanks, brother George. I think Brittany is beckoning, mate. May have to sail over there and say hello to your Breton friends. We could make a convoy. Waddyareckon? :spongebob:

Regards

[George Waite]

Follow me, I am right behind you.