The 'laws' of boat size - the larger the boat the fewer, less extensive, and less practical modifications one can make due to cost and complicated systems; the smaller the boat the more numerous, more extensive, and more practical modifications one can make due to less cost and greater simplicity. Plus, small boat owners have the advantage of having to make fewer changes to new boats to meet our changing needs. E.g. with my 18' John Gardner workboat I went from an open boat to a small shanty-style boat to a mini-lobster boat with a cozy cabin and pilot house for my aging bones. Marty's work changing a Welsford Whaler sailboat to a practical, cruising cabin motor vessel is another great example.
I didn't modify the design other than raising the fore sheer by 4 inches, extending the cabin aftwards by a full station, raising the cabin height by a only a few inches, added a second helm position (with all the controls), re-positioned the fuel tank, added storage to the aft compartment, added an anchor well in the bow, used plywood instead of canvas for the cabin top, and... let's see... Oh yeah, I used doug fir instead of oak for the frames. That's about it. So, mostly it's stock.
On my Walkabout very few of the parts are made just as drawn by John Welsford:
Stretched by 8 %
Balanced lug yawl changed to single standing lug
Off center daggerboard changed to Michalak style single side leeboard
Bellcrank coupled steering changed to Coquina style rope steering, with whipstaff
Mast made as 2 part with mast gate to quickly drop and stow
Rails mounted to side seats for Gig Harbor style sliding rowing seat
Rounded coaming changed to pointed front (too hard to make the curves!)
Open transom closed up and compartments sealed with hatches
Bow compartment made into anchor rode locker
The ability to customize when building is something lost with the recent availability of precut kits, and I am not sure they save much time compared to the full build and finishing.
Absurd! Just as all of us are different, all boats, depending on circumstances, changing needs, aging (us & them) etc- will require modifications. Otherwise it's an AI world.
None. I made my boat myself - - Well, modification from the plans I bought was to slightly lengthen it. Also created a lug rig vs the cat rig with "marconi" style sail. AND made leeboard as vs plan daggerboard. So - took basic plan and built as I wanted it.
Homebuilt B&B design Mathew Flinders 246 so there is a lot of fiddling about with deck rigging. I think I just about have it….. but it might be better if….
While I like to keep my motorcycles and cars basically “stock”, I’ve never felt that way about any of my boats. Customizing various aspects adds to the pleasure derived and may even increase value.
That's somewhat of a worthless open ended question to ask a committed design and build addict ;-)
The closest I ever came to not making a mod was my EasyB canoe which was the first boat that didn't whisper "I'd be a little better if you'd only ..........". Even then I eventually added some adjustable foot pegs.
Our most recent power boat, a Yamaha 190 SX is stock except for an added ski mirror and a 3d printed phone holder above the mirror to easily take pictured behind the boat, the last of little use now that we've aged out of water skiing.
I introduced LOTS of mods in my Tiki 21. Mine was built to plans, except for the platform (flat in the design, with lateral seats, as built). I modified mast head, mast rake and some minor rigging details. Also substituted the trampoline for a slatted deck. More to come, as perfection is far.
Making a boat "perfect" is part of the fun!
The 'laws' of boat size - the larger the boat the fewer, less extensive, and less practical modifications one can make due to cost and complicated systems; the smaller the boat the more numerous, more extensive, and more practical modifications one can make due to less cost and greater simplicity. Plus, small boat owners have the advantage of having to make fewer changes to new boats to meet our changing needs. E.g. with my 18' John Gardner workboat I went from an open boat to a small shanty-style boat to a mini-lobster boat with a cozy cabin and pilot house for my aging bones. Marty's work changing a Welsford Whaler sailboat to a practical, cruising cabin motor vessel is another great example.
Always modifying... It's a disease.
When I wonder the aisles of GOODWiLL, I do not see the many items for what they are, I see how they could be altered for use on my Potter 19.
I didn't modify the design other than raising the fore sheer by 4 inches, extending the cabin aftwards by a full station, raising the cabin height by a only a few inches, added a second helm position (with all the controls), re-positioned the fuel tank, added storage to the aft compartment, added an anchor well in the bow, used plywood instead of canvas for the cabin top, and... let's see... Oh yeah, I used doug fir instead of oak for the frames. That's about it. So, mostly it's stock.
Ha! Just a couple of details :)
"I know, why can't designers and builders ever get it right?"
(In case it needs qualification, that's a joke.)
On my Walkabout very few of the parts are made just as drawn by John Welsford:
Stretched by 8 %
Balanced lug yawl changed to single standing lug
Off center daggerboard changed to Michalak style single side leeboard
Bellcrank coupled steering changed to Coquina style rope steering, with whipstaff
Mast made as 2 part with mast gate to quickly drop and stow
Rails mounted to side seats for Gig Harbor style sliding rowing seat
Rounded coaming changed to pointed front (too hard to make the curves!)
Open transom closed up and compartments sealed with hatches
Bow compartment made into anchor rode locker
The ability to customize when building is something lost with the recent availability of precut kits, and I am not sure they save much time compared to the full build and finishing.
Absurd! Just as all of us are different, all boats, depending on circumstances, changing needs, aging (us & them) etc- will require modifications. Otherwise it's an AI world.
None. I made my boat myself - - Well, modification from the plans I bought was to slightly lengthen it. Also created a lug rig vs the cat rig with "marconi" style sail. AND made leeboard as vs plan daggerboard. So - took basic plan and built as I wanted it.
#1 favorite, changing over to an outboard rudder on my Santana 2023c by RudderCraft
#2, a Bimini Mon!
#3, padded aft life lines.
#4, self tailing winches for my arthritic old hands.
#5, 4:1 main sheet with a Hexaratchet instead of 3:1
w/o, for the same reason.
Homebuilt B&B design Mathew Flinders 246 so there is a lot of fiddling about with deck rigging. I think I just about have it….. but it might be better if….
While I like to keep my motorcycles and cars basically “stock”, I’ve never felt that way about any of my boats. Customizing various aspects adds to the pleasure derived and may even increase value.
Silly question, not to your usual standard. You are assuming that we are all buyers of stock boats. We are not.
That's somewhat of a worthless open ended question to ask a committed design and build addict ;-)
The closest I ever came to not making a mod was my EasyB canoe which was the first boat that didn't whisper "I'd be a little better if you'd only ..........". Even then I eventually added some adjustable foot pegs.
Our most recent power boat, a Yamaha 190 SX is stock except for an added ski mirror and a 3d printed phone holder above the mirror to easily take pictured behind the boat, the last of little use now that we've aged out of water skiing.
I introduced LOTS of mods in my Tiki 21. Mine was built to plans, except for the platform (flat in the design, with lateral seats, as built). I modified mast head, mast rake and some minor rigging details. Also substituted the trampoline for a slatted deck. More to come, as perfection is far.
Ruddercraft rudder, boom vang on my CP 19-II. Previous owner built a chart table with cabinets and drawers on the starboard quarter berth.