This started from one of our IOM builders, Andrew Wardrop, coming across a page on RC Groups, called the Plywood IOM, created by "Swiftsure" Link to the forum topic. He has designed half a dozen or so IOM's and wanted to try something that could be easily built by a person with access to pretty basic tools in their shed.
Another RC Groups user came along and converted the drawing of the NightHawk IOM to CAD format, and when Andrew mentioned it to us, I thought I might see if I can get a copy of the CAD file.
Fortunately, the designer of the NightHawk and the CAD guru were both happy to pass on the files for free, so after a quick run around some members, we found that we could have 5-6 people interested in building one.
Off for some more research, and we found some suitable 1mm Birch Ply, but it was from the mainland. 3 sheets of 1200X1200 (enough for 6 yachts) made postage reasonable to share amongst six of us, and we enlisted the services of Xanderware (Laser, CNC business) and for a modest fee, we contracted them to cut the CAD files with their laser cutter into the six "Woodie" kits. Overall, the cost of supplying the Birch Ply, postage and laser cutting amounted to just $70 each.
Our aim now, is to build these yachts, with cost effectiveness in mind, as they could be seen as an excellent entry level yacht for a very reasonable outlay. We are hoping to have a brand new yacht on the water, for under $1000
In order to do this, we are obviously building the yacht ourselves. We will also be using our own resources to build rigs and make sails. We aim to find a cheap and cheeful supplier for the bulb (if we cannot build one ourselves) and we will either make our own fins, or find a supplier at a very good price (I like to build my stuff, so we'll see). If we are successful in building the fins in the first instance, we will be able to replicate this for others as well.
We were hoping to have these builds done for the Wooden Boat Festival, in February next year, but Covid has put a halt to that. No problem, we currently plan to have them finished by the same time, and will look at having a Wooden Yacht day around the same or similar time.
Another RC Groups user came along and converted the drawing of the NightHawk IOM to CAD format, and when Andrew mentioned it to us, I thought I might see if I can get a copy of the CAD file.
Fortunately, the designer of the NightHawk and the CAD guru were both happy to pass on the files for free, so after a quick run around some members, we found that we could have 5-6 people interested in building one.
Off for some more research, and we found some suitable 1mm Birch Ply, but it was from the mainland. 3 sheets of 1200X1200 (enough for 6 yachts) made postage reasonable to share amongst six of us, and we enlisted the services of Xanderware (Laser, CNC business) and for a modest fee, we contracted them to cut the CAD files with their laser cutter into the six "Woodie" kits. Overall, the cost of supplying the Birch Ply, postage and laser cutting amounted to just $70 each.
Our aim now, is to build these yachts, with cost effectiveness in mind, as they could be seen as an excellent entry level yacht for a very reasonable outlay. We are hoping to have a brand new yacht on the water, for under $1000
In order to do this, we are obviously building the yacht ourselves. We will also be using our own resources to build rigs and make sails. We aim to find a cheap and cheeful supplier for the bulb (if we cannot build one ourselves) and we will either make our own fins, or find a supplier at a very good price (I like to build my stuff, so we'll see). If we are successful in building the fins in the first instance, we will be able to replicate this for others as well.
We were hoping to have these builds done for the Wooden Boat Festival, in February next year, but Covid has put a halt to that. No problem, we currently plan to have them finished by the same time, and will look at having a Wooden Yacht day around the same or similar time.