hi Max,

Short answer to Q1. Yes.

Long answer, depending on speed, fuel efficiency, fuel capacity and not forgetting engine condition, your own abilities and lastly distance to be travelled anything is possible.

Short answer to Q2. Probably yes

Long answer, Most yachts need the internal furniture to be fitted as it forms part of the overall structure of the yacht and this includes the deck being joined to the hull, otherwise the hull just flexes and stresses. The keel ballast would need to be fitted to get the boat to float closer to her lines. If this is not done try to visualize a cork bobbing around in your washing machine.

Lastly, when building a yacht the hull is the cheapest part of the whole exercise, it's all the fitting out and rigging that will keep you broke after that.

Having said all that it is good to dream, for without dreams we are nothing. The way boat prices are dropping at the moment it may be more prudent to keep your eyes on the used yacht market.

Harry

Oh and make sure you fit all the heavy stuff,fuel,water,battery's etc as close to dead centre and as low as possible!

Thankyou everyone for the replys.

A lot of the reason for building a yacht is to work as a family and to understand what is in it and how it works. As with Southace's yacht I like the lightness of the interior which a lot of yachts don't have. I'm not against darker wood interiors but having decked out a mobile home and you notice that it makes a space feel a lot smaller.

As Charriot has said, I too think that to build one from nothing is probably over but there are some nice semi-built yachts that only need an interior put in that could be good for us as we don't has the experience to make a structurally sound boat. As we are still in the planning and understanding phase, which could mean buying a completed yacht rather than building.
The worse is I end up with a rather expensive day sailer. We have not looked into slip fees for our area but we live in a small town so hopefully that it will be a lot less than the city prices.

Thanks for the link slainte,
We noticed that one and would love to have a go at it! Just think it maybe out of our league for a start but in real terms how good would it be as a world traveller? Is it a good designed hull? Is there such a thing as too big?

Yep, both of those boats would be perfect beginners boats, just the thing for someone with no experience.

Oh dear! I got my 37ft glass hull for $22,000 and then spent $100,000 inculding my labour to get it to cruising mode. double all my prices plus add 20% and that will give you a rough figure for that back yard boat makeover!!

If you spend some time studying sites such as yachthub you will find the larger yachts, those over 36 feet seem to be exceptional value compared to the smaller yachts. Watch your local marina or mooring area for awhile and see what yachts actually move. Visit harbours in Queensland and Darwin and see which yachts are for sale and talk to the husband left there trying to sell the boat after the family walked off!
Think about how strong your family members are, can they manhandle a No1 headsail up on to the deck, can they even lift the spinnaker pole? If your incapacitated can they get you home?
My home port is filling up with 40 foot plus yachts, some steel some glass and ferro. None of these boats have left their moorings since! I sail at least once a week and make a point of sailing past these boats, owners are often onboard and I wave to them.
I sail 99% of the time singlehanded, if your sailing with a family you are too in reality.

If your looking at steel project yachts remember steel is 80 dollars a tonne.