GreenHorn Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 I was surfing the 'Net looking for ideas for cabin lighting when I came upon a boatbuilding company selling a DEMO weekender. They asking $18,000!!! http://www.harmonyboatworks.com/newboats.html A little steep ain't it?? Quote
captjack Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 I thought the point of having a weekender was the built by statement that you could make along with the pride in what you have built :? Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 I think that Harmony built these boats to show off their workmanship at the Chicago Show a couple years ago. They are trying to break into the custom building business and by building one of each of these popular boats as per the plans. By using great materials and professional craftsmen to do them with beautiful finishwork they have attracted a lot of attention. The boats have been the subject of quite a few discussions in this and other forums. Yes....they are expensive. But then if you could do that type of quality workmanship and try to break into the custom business, you would probably want about the same for your boat too. Haven't seen any takers though for them and they have had some "Sale" pricing on them before. I don't think the Stevenson's have had much to say about it. But they have made it quite clear that they intend that these plans be used by home builders to produce a one off craft for their own use. They have had commercial builders try to have a go at the Weekender before. There are some out there. Quote
Russ Sylvester Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Tom made some sort of deal with the Stevenson's a long time ago to where both parties were satisfied. Unlike the commercial weekenders that were built many years ago by some nefarious company that was illegally building weekenders, Harmony is playing by the rules. Whether or not the boat is worth $18,000 is between the builder and the buyer. There is no denying though that the craftsmanship is first rate. Quote
Charlie Jones Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 LOL- Thank you Russ. I built all those boats for Harmony. I am currently building a Princess 22 for a customer, and I traded for the Sharpie, so it belongs to me now. I am a Coast Guard registered builder, with a registered MIC code that I use on boats I build. (for the HIN numbers) The Weekender was originally built as Tom's personal boat, and has quite a few "enhancements" All mahogany trim, inside and out, mods to the companionway and other places. All spars are birdsmouth with a wooden tabernacle and the sails were custom made in Las Vegas from Tanbark sailcloth, which is double regular sail cloth in cost. All rigging and fittings are top grade stainless. The boat also comes with a trailer customized to fit the boat. It was originally priced at that level, but is now on the market for a good bit less. He would like to move it so I can build him another boat. The Weekender turned out to be just a bit small for Tom, since he's a pretty large dude He'll like a bit more room. (seems that kid of his just KEEPS growing too ) Tom and I talked with Mike before doing the boat - he knew that a custom builder was building it. They have no problems with that, since we showing it as a custom built Stevenson's Weekender, and had no real intentions of building a second one. If we had done a second, the plans would have been repurchased for the second boat. The remainder of the boats were CLC designs and every thing was cleared with John Harris on those also. Ya gotta play by the rules if you are gonna keep designers happy, and we DID want the designers to be happy with us. I'm on the phone often with Graham Burns on the Princess. Quote
Dave R1 Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Charlie, you do nice work. I remember when you were building the Weekender. Would you be willing to talk about the tabernacle you made and would you possibly have pictures? I'm trying to figure out how to set my mast up since I'm going to use an old wooden one that was given to me. Thanks in advance. Quote
Tim Diebert Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Would you be willing to talk about the tabernacle you made and would you possibly have pictures? I'm trying to figure out how to set my mast up since I'm going to use an old wooden one that was given to me. Thanks in advance I 2nd that motion Charlie...... A strong, good working tabernacle using a traditional round mast. I would be also be very pleased to see some ideas here. Quote
High C Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 A professionally built Weekender is a bargain at $18,000. Has anyone shopped around lately? A plain plastic tub will cost you that. The problem with resale is the perception that wood is inferior, and a home built boat is always going to be seen with a degree of scepticism. Quote
Charlie Jones Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Dave and Tim- I have some pictures and would be happy to discuss what I did and how I did it. Be a little patient though, cause I'm going to this Messabout in three days and then two weeks later we're taking our sloop to P'cola for a Trailersailor gathering. I (and my wife) am trying to get two boats ready to roll. It may be a couple of weeks before I can get to the writing, but I won't forget. OK? Quote
Tim Diebert Posted May 14, 2003 Posted May 14, 2003 I will have done my mast within two weeks I hope. No worries here. Have fun. Quote
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