38'-ish build - what would it take?

[snark]

First time poster here. Have owned and fished many different boats including Nauset 25, Donelle 43, Albemarle 36 and some big fast CCs. Day dreaming a bit about the next one which might happen by 2013.

In a perfect world I would build a 38 footer, say Wesmac or Northern Bay. Would build it to sleep our family of four with a tiny bunkroom for kids and a queen for parents. It would have a wheelhouse with kitchen a settee up, enough amenities to spend a few days on board. AC a must - genset. No need for frilly finish but must be clean and good craftmanship - i.e. pass the wife test. Flybridge, no tower.

Would like real world 23-25 knot cruise. QSM11 or Scania maybe? Needs to be quiet - yacht quiet - sub 80 decibels at cruise. Must have oceanographer + range 400NM + with reserve. Won't be commercial fished but will be catching lots of tuna.

Would love any thoughts on similar builds, builders and guesses as to what this would take.

 

[Blitzen]

Flowers Boatworks 38, C-12 Cat, 500 gal of fuel, and everything you said.
Contact Mainely boats here on this sight.
It will be fast, fuel efficient and have a nice soft ride, Ken and Dave will build it so it is quiet and have all your needs.
I have the 36 and wish I went up to the 38 with a little more power. My kids take up more room than I thought.

 

[richardh]

a 38 holland or a 38 calvin both realy nice boats and would go good with the power you use

 

[F/V First Team]

Pretty sure they don't want an engine box Richard

 

[richardh]

hey make a good table

 

[Blacktide]

I would go for the NB 38 if i was in the market! If a quiet ride is important look into the evolution drive it makes a difference.

 

[F/V First Team]

If a quiet ride is important look into the evolution drive it makes a difference.

I'd save the weight and space required and align the engine properly.

 

[BillD]

"Would like real world 23-25 knot cruise"

I guess you gotta build big to get the speeds!

 

[Frank Grimes]

This is my situation as well, even right down to most of the specs, but probably a couple years out past 2013. And who knows where we'll be then, rec boating & fishing might be outlawed. Staying optimistic though....I would probably choose a couple 3-4 hulls, ride each of them (maybe charter one for a day of fishing if possible) and see which one I liked the best. The ride is the most important thing for me, gotta be good in a head sea as that is what I'd deal with most often where I'd keep the boat. That being said, as it stands right now I'd look at, in no particular order:

38' Flowers
38' Northern Bay
37' Duffy
38' Wesmac
38' Lowell Bros

heard plusses and minuses to most all of these boats, but only via hearsay. The internets can spread a lot of subjective info about a particular model that may or may not be relevant--only way to discern what's right for me is to set foot on the boat and make up my own mind.

 

[Blacktide]

I'd save the weight and space required and align the engine properly.

There are pluses and minuses to all drive systems, but the need for quiet is requirement the that system helps. I,m no boat builder or any kind of expert but I can't figure the evolution drive adds any significant weight. And a dry bilge is nice too

 

[Blacktide]

P S that 38 Flowers is damn nice too!

 

[WoundUpMarine]

can someone please explain to me what an evolution drive is?

 

[El Mar]

http://downeastboatforum.com/downeast-engine-room/evolution-drive-849.html

 

[snark]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I had not heard of Flowers. I seems like a hull worth researching more.

I am curious what people think about what it would cost. Informed people have told me anything from 300-500k. Many horror stories about builds going around. I personally know 3 that have had to take over or switch finishers.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I had not heard of Flowers. I seems like a hull worth researching more.

I am curious what people think about what it would cost. Informed people have told me anything from 300-500k. Many horror stories about builds going around. I personally know 3 that have had to take over or switch finishers.

My ceiling would be $500K, for a 38'. I know I'd probably have to concede some things here or there, but hey it's a downeast design, not a floating condo.

I have also heard some horror stories about finishers recently, and honestly I'd do almost as much due diligence on the finisher (and who popped the hull out of the mold) as which hull to buy.

 

[F/V First Team]

That certainly can be true, we like to oversee the layup of our hull and top units that we will be working with, sometimes specifying the material going into it. We've even gone down and laid the units up ourselves to get the exact thing that we wanted. Fun times in the layup shop.

Face full of overspray while being the flange man however is not so much fun. Also, acetone tastes horrible!