Kyle Ibsen

@Don Silsbe This is why I love these forums. So much wisdom to go around.

Thanks Don, Now I have something else to binge on YouTube

Great Suggestion Amos, Thanks! This helps my decision-making process a ton. I'm often guilty of biting off more than I can realistically chew which I know can slow down a project and cause a lot of frustration and burn out down the road, so I think the kit is probably the way to go for me, especially given that sourcing the ply locally is going to be a challenge anyway.

Any further Updates on this build? Excited to see how she turns out!

Thanks Don, Yes, using the boat is definitely a high priority I think the building of it is also part of the joy of the journey as well. I'm looking forward to jumping into it. Still obviously new to a lot of this and trying to get as much of my head wrapped around it as possible before jumping in with both feet. I can tend to get paralysis by analysis though, so I don't want to spend more time thinking about it than actually doing something about it. Plus, I hope to involve my son in the build, and I don't want him to be moving out of the house before we're able to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Great suggestions.

I am new to the forum, and have been devouring all of the build threads. I aspire to build a boat of my own here in the next year or so. Looking to start with a Marissa and then eventually take on one of the bigger boys. I read through @Lotus’s thread where he did a cabin version of the 20, but would love to see what that would turn out like on a 256 or if someone had thought about doing something similar on a Cape Lookout platform? I love the Gina Marie Day Boat build but that would be probably a bit out of reach for a mere mortal such as myself + I would want something trailerable which would limit space ultimately. Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this or if someone is building something like this?

Great suggestion! I suppose, as you suggest, one could layout and cut templates for all the major parts from the plans and even go so far as to set it up before ordering costly marine ply. This brings up another rookie question I’ve had which is, is it necessary to use marine ply on a fully glassed hull? I understand longevity wise if damage were to happen, common materials would break down faster… is that what you meant by a lot of extra work?

Thanks Captain Tim, I have some wood working experience, so my thought is that laying out and cutting everything myself would offer some learning regarding design/layout for boats in general, I assume. Still open to the kit for a first build though. Would love suggestions on this… both on how to go about it and whether Marissa would be a good starter.

I did. Peachstate can order it in if more than 20 sheets is required. GA Hardwoods, who I’ve used in the past for cabinet work, carries Trident Marine plywood which she said was a Kedondong variety? Only in 1/2” and 3/4” Trident Marine’s website info says it’s meranti. Couldn’t get ahold of a person at ATL hardwoods. Good call on the epoxy kits. I may end up just ordering everything from B&B and making the pilgrimage. I kind of want to challenge myself with laying out and cutting everything myself rather than the CNC kit just for the learning. Hoping to start with a Marissa build.

I’m looking at starting a boat build but am having a heck of a time finding an okoume/meranti/any marine ply supplier around ATL. Particularly on the south west side of ATL. Does anyone know of a supplier in the area?