B&B Yacht Core Sound 20 - Plan Choice

[Kal]

Looking into B&B Yacht Designs plans for the

Core Sound 20. Is this a reasonable first yacht project? Thank you
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My Website :  Ati Yachts

[Hirilonde]

The kit and directions, as well as the support from B&B and here in the forum can't be beat. But I say you have to really want to build a boat.  If you do, and you aren't afraid to ask questions, you can succeed.

[Don Silsbe]

Welcome to the forum, Kal.  If you’re already familiar with basic woodworking, a project like this is merely a series of simple steps— a LOT of simple steps.  The big question is— do you have patience and determination?  These are more important than boat building skills.  And, as Hirilonde said, this forum is available to assist.

 

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the process.  Watch Alan Stewart’s video series on building this 15 foot Core Sound daysailer.

 

This video series has become a sort of textbook for building stitch and glue boats.  Construction methods for the CS20.3 are the same, in many aspects.  Then, I’d watch Alan’s video of building his own CS20 mk3. 

 

Then, ask us more questions!

[Paul356]

the 20 is emminently buildable, but it won't happen overnight.  and, perhaps not needed, but a clarifying note on don silsbee's note:  Alan's 2d video shows construction of a CS 20 Mark III, with cabin and water ballast.  You might be looking at that, but if you're looking at the 20' Mark 1, open boat, not water ballast, construction is quite a bit more straightforward.  The 15-footer is much more like the 20' Mark 1. Techniques are the same, tho, generally, in both videos.

[Don Silsbe]

@Paul356— Good catch!  I automatically thought he was going to build a mark 3.  I’m sure he’ll clarify that for us.  I’ve sailed on. 20 mark 1.  They are commodious and responsive.  Check out Andy B’s posts.

[PadrePoint]

I finished building and painting the hull of my Core Sound 15 from a full kit in less than 3 months.  (My sails took a while due to COVID supply chain issues.)  I paid attention to all the videos of Alan’s as he built the CS15.  That was my primary source of information. 
 

It’s doable to someone with basic abilities and willingness.  (I learned my body doesn’t like epoxy but effective precautions made it possible for me to build another epoxy boat the following year.)

 

I could mention that a ninth grade girl across the street successfully built herself a Spindrift 10 from a B&B kit.  I coached but SHE did the work.)

 

My build blog: 

 

[Reacher]

Kal, I have a Core Sound 20.1 so I'm partial to the design and it has been a successful boat to build and sail. I’ve built several stitch and glue boats and the CS design is good. If you are building from plans some woodworking experience is an asset so you understand how to be exact in measurements and cutting. The kit is simpler.

As others have said, look at the CS 15 videos and other construction logs. All the CS Mark 1 boats go together the same way.

 

Working with epoxy makes joining the parts quicker and easier than traditional methods. 
 

Good luck with your project.

 

 

[Andy B]

The CS-20 is a great boat--light and responsive but still stable and fast.  Easy to rig. 

 

I did not build mine but I have some posts here about why I bought one.

 

I can add that if you are thinking about buying a CS-20, they are rare.  I looked for about 18 months, and found one in moderate condition (but paid very little for it).  On the other hand, CS-17 boats seem to come up for sale every month or so, at various price points and conditions.

 

Check to see if the 20 fits in your building location (meaning both where you are going to build it and store it).

 

 

[Steve W]

I built a Spindrift 11N first. I don't regret it. I leaned a lot of skills and I had a lot of fun. It was an easy decision to built Skeena, a Core Sound 20 Mark III. There is a lot of work in a 20, whether it has a cabin or doesn't. 

 

As others have said, if you can commit to the not small project, I think a 20 is fine for a first project and the B & B team is there to handle your questions. 

 

Take Care,

Steve

 

[Don Silsbe]

Where’s Kal?  I wanna know if it is a mark 1 or a mark 3!