About this project

There are many good reasons to buy a new, ready-to-go yacht, a custom-built boat, or a well-maintained second-hand vessel, rather than taking on the challenge of building a boat entirely from scratch. One valid reason to do it yourself is when you are confident that you can maintain the highest possible quality. One poor reason is money. Although it certainly plays a role, in reality it is usually cheaper to buy a used boat.

On the other hand, a building project like this can be a tremendous source of energy and motivation. The satisfaction of completing such a project—and ending up with a high-tech yacht as the result—is immense. I have done it before, on a smaller scale and a long time ago, and I enjoyed it greatly.

This chapter explains how I arrived at my choice for the F-39 trimaran and provides insight into a number of aspects related to construction methods and material selection.

During the preparation phase for building my F-39 trimaran, I immersed myself in the many structural considerations, material properties, and skills required. Constructing a high-tech boat involves far more than I had previously been comfortable with. This essential process of deepening my understanding ultimately led to choices that are both technically responsible and realistically achievable within my own capabilities.

The chapters listed in the sidebar on the left provide further detail. Choose one of them, or continue using the “next” button.