Contemplating building my own boat

[GuitsBoy]

Ive been contemplating the logistics of building my own 22' wakeboat. Does anyone have any design tips for a wakeboard specific hull?

Ive been playing around with designing some basic hulls in Blue Peter's Hullform 9s. Im planning on foam core construstion. Basically using 12 or so cross sections of 3/8 ply or flakeboard covered with 1/4" PVC of HDPE foam stapled in place, then glassing over the mold. The foam becomes sandwiched in the hull after its flipped over, plywood cross sections removes, and the inside is glassed.

Next year I will be replacing the current motor in my camaro. As it sits, shes a ~500 HP heads and cam LS1 aluminum block V8. Ill have to replace the cam with a profile more suited for lower end torque and to make peak power much earlier. I plan on shopping around for a borg velvetdrive 72, preferably with a 1:1 ratio. Ill likely go with a direct drive configuration to try and keep things simple and keep costs down. I may do a center console type layout much like the new mastercraft fishing/wake hybrid, and just do simple bench type seating everywhere else. Im not sure if I want to try and integrate hard ballast tanks below the deck, or perhaps standard sacks. Alternately I could always just sac out the deck like I currently do on my 18" I/O, or even integrate sacs under the bench seating.

Does anyone have any guidelines or tips on undertaking a project like this? Ive already read the article and site on the guy who built his own steel hull. Ive also got last years wakeboarding magazine in which four wakeboat hull designers were discussing the characteristics of a good hull.

Thanks,
-Tony

[hydeout22]

Sounds like a fun project.

Just my 2 cents. I think I would find a hull that made a wake I like and then take lots of measurements and try to copy that hull. At least you know where you will endup instead of trying something new and when its all said and done, the guy that bought a 1990 CC for $8,000 makes a way better wake.

I am not so sure about the foam. You say you will have it on either side of the plywood ribs and then fiberglass them? Maybe just stick with the plywood on its own. Fiberglass hull? DD is a good way to go. You will want lots of rear weight with a dd so just incorporate a rear fatsac seat like the flyhigh seat that holds like 1200 lbs of water.

Reread what you wrote. I think I am getting a picture of what your talking about now. Havinng the plywood ribs to give you the bottom of the hull shape. Then staple the foam to them to make the bottom of the boat, upside down, and then fiberglass over that?

Good idea, maybe when you have your plywood ribs, have the transom rib in place that will be part of the boat, and cut notches into the plywood and insert spruce for stringerrs in there that you can fiberglass to the bottom of the boat for strength. It will be hard to get a smooth bottom though, doing it that way without a mold.
Would be pretty crazy when finished, but lost of work, and lots of money.

Just curious, why a 1:1 drive? Wouldn't that spin the prop a little fast? Or not.

keep us posted

[Sinkoumn]

There's a website where some dude built his own boat, looked pretty cool. Somebody will likely give you the link.

[Sinkoumn]

Here:
http://wakeworld.com/getarticle.asp?articleid=516

[Wakebrad]

Have fun re-inventing the wheel.. err.. boat.

Seems like a lot of work for a project that boat manufacturers have down to a science.

If you like the customization route I'd buy a salvaged boat. You can find them for pretty cheap and they would have a lot of the details figured out. You can strip it down however you much to do customization. But at least you will know what the hull is capable of and it will have a good finish.

[vette74]

I wouldn't run an aluminum motor in saltwater unless you had closed cooling.

[Jeff206]

Wakebrad, a lot of people enjoy doing this type of work, maybe half of the reason he is doing this is just the satisfaction of completely building his own boat.

[Wakebrad]

[jjaszkow]

[nickl011]

I gotta buddy that built a 12' boat out of maple, go for it

[hydeout22]

Personally I wouldn't run any engine in salt water unless it had a closed cooling system. You get deposits in the cooling system and buildup and then engine, wether steel or whatever, starts running hot and then you have a much bigger problem, instead of just changing the freshwater tank and lines.

Building a boat from scratch is a lot of work, but building a boat from scratch which is designed to make an award winning wake is another thing. Thats something that is pretty much trial and error.

I saw on e-bay a week or so ago, this guy who was selling an x-star, brandnew as a demo model (think it was a 2004 or 2005), but it didn't have an engine in it. Had the v drive and everything else. It just sat there for show. I think he was asking 4500 but can't find the link. If you could find something like that and throw your vette engine in it, that would be bomb for $5,000.

[Lennyp04]

like the idea how much do u think ur gonna need to spend in supplies...might be better to buy wakeboard boat

[mneal]

I have been boating in Florida my whole life and I disagree. Although closed cooling is nice not even close to required on a boat that is not kept in salt water IMHO. If you flush it properly after every use they last a long time. I disassembled a 1988 motor about a year ago and the water jackets looked great, no build up or bad corrosion issues.. Of course you have to replace risers and manifolds about every 5 years, but you have to do that even with most closed cooled systems anyhow.

[LSxChevelle]

GuitsBoy, definately do a lsx motor. I eventially plan on doing one. Quite the project to take on but awesome none the less!

[GuitsBoy]

WakeBrad, I dont remember you being such a dick. What happened?

I have this sickness where everything that I want, I Build if I can. This of course would be by far the largest project to date, but it certainly seems rewarding. I have also looked around for salvageable hulls to start out with, but its hard to track any down. I could live with starting from an old mastercraft prostar 205 or something...

As for the aluminum motor, it will only be used in fresh water, although i might do the exchanger anyway. Dont let my LI location fool you, I only ride the upstate lakes.

[Wakebrad]

GuitsBoy, I'm not sure.. I guess I'm just being more brutally honest lately. I just can't think of one good reason to build it yourself. I have this same kind of mind-set when thinking about buying vs building. Every time I look at something I think I could probably build it for 1/10 of the price. But I just don't see it here.

[Nor*Cal]

Wakebrad, I like your idea. It'd be cool to just have the hull and do the rest. Maybe a turbo-diesel engine.

[wesgardner]

GuitsBoy,

Hey, I don't want to rain on your parade ...I think your idea is cool - you get EXACTLY what you want...BUT, here's the deal when it comes to laying up a hull - if you are not skilled, you'll end up with something that DOES NOT float on its designed lines - this will grossly affect performance...furthermore, fairing and finishing a hull is an ARDUOUS, time consuming, back-breaking, nasty , itchy job....

I'd find a donor hull and go from there...watch your weight - everything counts...

[tmbrown]

it'd be a challenge... going in, keep in mind, it's going to take 4 times as long as your longest estimate, and cost 4 times as much (or at least that's how my projects go!)

I have a similar mindset, but I like to buy something that starts me out, then finish from there. I spent $3K on a neglected boat and took it from there... gutting it and making a new interior; rebuilding engine, etc... in a few months, I was on the water and had about the best summer of my life.

But, we can't knock people for trying... Who knows - you may come out with a bad-ass new boat for a lot less money that's 100% what you want...

[Christobull]

GuitsBoy, you obviously have much more confidence with your hands on ability than I do. I've made myself a couple foam core skim boards that have been better than any I've bought, but that's about the extent of my confidence. I couldn't even imagine the frustration building a boat would cause. My first attempt at the board (along with my first experience with fiberglass I might add) was a total nightmare. I had to scrap several sheets of fiberglass before I could get the resin over it the way I was supposed to, and when I finally did, it bubbled after my first time out because the humidity hadn't allowed it to dry correctly. I tried to sand it down for weeks to patch it, but ended up scrapping the whole thing and starting over. Your biggest problem and the one thing no one has mentioned is strength. The 500hp you've got is going to put a huge stress on the hull, as will your ballast system. I'm sure you've given this a lot of thought, but you better make sure you have enough foam to float it if you crack the hull. The last thing your want is a total loss, engine and all.

[GuitsBoy]

This is still a project that Id like to do eventually, but just wasnt realistic at this point. My brothers and I ended up buying an older 92 prostar 205, and rebuilding/customizing the hell out of it.

[Wakebrad]

GuitsBoy, sorry for being a dick 2 years ago. I re-read that and it caught me off guard. Pretty much uncalled for.

Sounds like a good decision though. That's a sweet hull. Enjoy it.

[Christobull]

I should also apologize for commenting on such an old topic, but I was reading back, and this caught my eye. I'd love to find a good hull and motor with a neglected interior to completely customize.