HULL DESIGN

One major decision I did not make until late was whether to embrace a displacement hull or one that planes. A hull that can exceed displacement speeds, especially the relatively low speeds obtained by a boat in this size range, would be very handy when running from weather or trying to get the most out of a short vacation. But I was also drawn to the slower, simpler and quieter world of displacement hulls.

All the research I had done resulted in a short list of plans, which I put up on a web page. This gave me thumbnail images and basic designs all in one place, and so I sought some input from my wife and son. They both promptly ruled out the very design I was considering seriously. Glad I asked! If we were not all happy with it, this building process would not work. Too many people have abandoned wives or boats during a build, and I do not intend for either to happen – another reason to keep things simple.

In terms of planing hulls, Tom Lathrop's BlueJacket 25.5 was high up on my list. The accommodations were good, if tight; it was a small, simple design; and several people I had spoken with liked it. But my family did not. I never did quite figure out why, but the concept wasn't going to fly.Drawing by Mark Van AbbemaThe V28, designed by Mark Van Abbema, has not yet been built.

The Trailer Trawler 28, from Chesapeake Marine Design, and the V28 design, from Mark Van Abbema, were the two other finalists. We all liked the Trailer Trawler. It is a great looking little ship, with more interior room. But it is also a much more complex craft, with an inboard engine and much intricate cabin design. In the end, I made an executive decision to opt for the simpler plan, and my family agreed. The V28 it would be.

DECISION MADE

The V28 was designed as a trailerable version of Van Abbema's V39. With a 7-foot 6-inch beam, 28-foot LOA, 14-inch draft, and 4,000 pound displacement, it's a boat that should fit nicely behind a reasonable tow vehicle. Designed to be a simple boat, it is outboard powered and has only basic onboard systems. The boat is capable of taking an engine up to 50 HP, which the designer expects will yield a cruising speed of between 14 and 15 knots. I intend to install a hot water system and electrical power, via a Honda-style generator with batteries. Beyond that, things will be added as feasible.

The V39 is a proven hull with several afloat, and at least two have made Great Loop passages. The V28 is a new design, and none have been built yet. Van Abbema made several changes over the V39 – the biggest is the swap to a V hull – and I think it is a reasonable assumption that the boat will handle well.Mark Van AbbemaThe V28 has a 28-foot LOA, a 7-foot 6-inch beam and draws 14 inches.

The V28 has some other aspects that drew our eye. It is a visual design that I like, much like an early 20th century "street car" launch. My wife considered it a nice cross between a tug boat and a Dutch Barge, both of which are looks we like. The interior is simple, with a straight walkway and fixtures that an amateur builder might reasonably complete. The windows open and you can dock or lock without climbing all over tiny side decks. In tossing questions back and forth, Van Abbema has been very helpful and accessible. Other's who have built from his plans tell me they have been well pleased.

One bonus was that the plans were cheaper than other designs. Of course, the cost of plans is a tiny fraction of the overall expenses, but this is going to be a boat built with extra funds in the household budget (if there is such a thing). Odd jobs, extra money, whatever. The plan is to pay as we go. In this mode, saving several hundred dollars makes a difference. That's quite a bit of lumber and epoxy.

Is this a perfect design? No. Will it be perfect for us? No. We know it has some limitations in space and layout that we will have to work with (a place for my son to sleep is one obvious item I have to work into the design, but we'll find somewhere to stick him). Still, I think it will be a usable, fun boat for us.

The long period of research – the one that felt like "no progress" – probably was for the best. It allowed me to evolve in my thinking, moving from a complex and expensive ocean-going trawler to a compact and more affordable trailerable boat. Had I jumped into the large, complex craft I initially thought I wanted, it would have been too much for a budding boat builder. I would not have had the resources or the fortitude to finish it. The V28 is a more realistic project, even if it is more of a stretch than I expect.Mark Van AbbemaThe V28 may go 14 to 15 knots with a 50 HP engine.

And, of course, the challenges keep coming. For example, finding marine supplies in a land-locked city can be difficult. In the Internet age, most things can be ordered and shipped, but the cost of shipping can really eat your budget.

Could I research more, know more and make a better decision? Sure. But I'm not going to be a qualified marine architect anytime soon. If we wait for that, then we'll never have a boat (my son was 3 when I started, and now he is 7). I know I'll learn more, but I intend to be out there doing it when I do, whether that happens in the backyard building or in a lock on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Either way, I expect to have fun.