S/V Lynx stern

The Cost to Build

There are four main costs in building the boat:
1) Constructing the shell
2) Finishing the boat to sail away condition
3) Adding final optional or necessary things
4) Labor
Let's break down all four below.

Cost Breakdown:


South Africa Orders: 232,015.91
Phase 1 Construction: $180,957.76
Phase 2 Construction: $77,174.68
Final Outfitting: $42,306.30
Labor: (free, we are insane but resolute)
Total: $532,445.65
Outstanding: $125,990.02

S1520

South Africa Order: $232,015.91  

This consists of the following items:  

  1. Plans plus everything in the Shipping Container from South Africa: $208,247.71* - The plans and the laminated foam core CNC cut sections, plus the Ullman sails, the Sparcraft mast and boom, roller furler, standing rigging, running rigging, the Nanni diesel engine, and two freezers and our kick-up rudder mechanisms from Schionning.
  2. Second shipment: $11,982.81* - Laminating Resin plus Boom Trampoline.
  3. Import Duties: $3,395* (1.5% of the Kit and 2nd Shipment costs. This is for importing to California, in the USA
  4. Shipping: $8,390.39* (Both shipments from South Africa to Southern California)

Item Cost
Mast, boom, spreaders, and all associated hardware$21,147
Jib Roller Furler and Wire Forestay $4,342
Sails: (High Roach Crosscut Dacron Main and Self-Tacking furling Jib, CZ60 Screecher, U-Stack with Lazy Jacks)$19,636
Running Rigging$3,824
Refrigeration, Top Loading Freez./Refrig. 230vac/24vdc (1 NL125 & 1 NL72) $1,764
Boom trampoline$983.65
Boat Material overruns... needing more than what Schionning sent. (Silica $120, Fiberglass, $800)$920
Epoxy (Sicomin)$11,982.81
Rudder Posts$1,400
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

Phase One Construction: $180,957.76
( $23,436.70 Outstanding) 

This consists of the following items:  

                                                           

Note: We need power to run tools, so we will purchase the boat's power system early on, use it for power, then move it to the boat during the second year. We are adding the tender because they both have along lead time, and we want to do some testing on the tender electric system early on.  Also, we are front loading our purchases, ordering things earlier than expected if they come form South Africa or Europe.  This has to do with the strength of the dollar and the current good exchange rates.  Some items are also shipping container that is coming from South Africa in December (that will save us some shipping costs).

Item prices with a '*' have already been purchased.

Item prices with a '~" are partially paid.

Item Cost
Canopy and structure for shading build site, (this one went way up due to our tunnel tent fiasco)$2,642*
Build Site: Rent: $9,600* & Prep: (lights ($100*), cameras ($600*), cement $723*),$11,023*
Toy Box Trailer for build site$3,400*
Utilities (depending on your location, you might need to pay these.  We are generating our own power so we only need water)$50
Tools (laser level, drill, impact driver, circ. saw, sanders, vacuum, faring tools, grinder, recip. saw, jig saw, multi tool, router, etc.)$3,884*
Misc. supplies outstanding ($5,000 spent so far, $2,000 remaining)$7,000~
Lithium Battery Bank - 33kWh (We may need to add two more batteries later, for an additional $2.340)$7,020*
Victron Inverter 5000 watts, 48vdc to 230vac 50hz  (x2), Victron Isolation Transformer 3600w$5,688*
Victron Inverter 70a 5000VA, 48vdc to 120v$1,786.70
Victron 100|20 MPPTs (x11), Lynx Dist. (x4), Lynx Shunt, Smart shunt, GX Touch 70, GX Cerbo, misc. wires, etc.$4,884*
Solar Panels 435 watt Sun Power used E20 panels (x11)$2,189*
Solar cables, fuses and box, Solar Connectors, USB hub, VE direct cables (3), VE direct adapters to USB (8), $1,044*
Tender$6,365*
Zero Jet Electric Outboard and 5kw lithium battery (early bird price, $100 deposit paid)$11,500~
Electric Outboard 3 hp$3,077*
Autolock Brake Calipers and Rotors (Bruntons sponsorship deal)$1,202.67*
Dampers: (2 Sigmadrives from Bruntons, a sponsor deal)$1,653.75*
Folding props x2 (Brunton's Autoprop ECO*STAR) (Bruntons sponsorship deal)$7,235.28*
Diesel Engine/Generator (80hp Nanni)$16,122.80*
Hybrid Electric System:  (ordered early to take advantage of current good exchange rates)$26,435*
Hatches/Portlights (Salon Hatches (6): $2,376 Deck Hatches (2): Portlights $2,694, Galley Hatch: $246)$6,337*
40' HC shipping container$4,690*
20' shipping container (after buying and selling)$661.45*
Sailrite Sewing machine$1,270*
Parasailor  (sponsored deal)$6196.94*
Escape Hatches$1,010*
Peel Ply$1,550*
Steering Cable$200
Basalt Fiber for Hull Skins (Basalt: $3,082 plus (Customs etc.: $2,070)$5,152*
Quadrants ($100 x 2), Sheaves ($350 x 7) and Steering Chain ($175) Lifeline ($190):$3,015*
Cleats ($442), Stanchions (1750), Steering Wheel: ($358)$2,550*
Continuous furler for Screecher ($3,112.87 + $510.30 import duties)$3,623.17*
Winches (Selden: 2xS60ST: $4,500, 2xS52ST: $3,000, 1xS52 Electric Motor: $2,000, 1xS46ST: $1,500$10,500
Deck Hardware:  Traveler, Jib Track, Blocks, Clutches, etc.$8,000
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

Phase 2 Construction: $77,174.68
($61,538.32 outstanding)

Once our boat shell has been completed, it will be time to start painting, adding engines, electrical, plumbing, rigging, deck hardware, etc.  Once that is done, the boat is in sail away shape.  Below is an estimated breakdown of these costs for the Solitaire 1540.

Item Cost
Bottom Paint $3,141*
Painting Consumables$125
Electronics: (AP: $2,663.80, Wind gauge: $516, Dspl. $493 x2, Comp.: $2,278.75, GPS: $267.22, Pilot Ctrl: $330 x2)$7,373
Synthetic Rigging stays and hardware$6,000
Chartplotter and Wiring (Chartplotter: $4,400, M2K Wiring $390)$4,790
Mast Compression Post$600
Prop Shafts and bearings$2,900
VHF Radio (AIS/Radio: $1,300, Handset $250)$1,500
Radar (B&G HD 4G Broadband)$1,963
Fuel System:  $2,500
Interior & Exterior Flooring$2,000
Mattresses$2,000
Diesel AGM Starter Battery:$100
Digital Switching: $4,043
Wire$500
Windlass (Maxwell 48v)$2,598
Chain and Anchors (Bow Anchor $1,227, Stern Anchor $1,470, Chain $845, Rode $320, Chain Stopper: $100)$3,962
Docking Lines, Bridle, and snubbers (3/4" 50' lines: $50 x 8, Bridle 3/4" nylon line 50': $50, Line Snubbers: $45 x 4)$630
Navigation and Interior Lights: (Nav: $425, Interior: $390)$815
Cooking: (Induction pads x4 $276, Convection Microwave $240.89*, Electric oven $140)$716~
Tank Ports (Diesel Ports (3) $628.54* (1) $209.50, Inspection Lids ILT120B (8) $800, Water Ports *(4) 331.966$1,970~
Countertop and Wood Trim: (Countertop $650, Wood Trim $300)$950
Toilets, Sinks, and Faucets: (Toilets $4,000, Sinks & Faucets $888 [$272.57*])$4,888~
Plumbing: (pipes $650, pumps $200,)$850
Water Makers (2 for redundancy and increased output)$7,000
Air Conditioners (4)$3,100*
Glazings, Windows, and Sliding Door:$5,000*
Latches, Locks, Hinges ($71.33*, $183.84*)$934
Trampolines$1,100
Steering bar and bearings$1,500
Standing Refrigerator, Freezer, Icemaker$1,626.68
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

Final Outfitting: $42,306.30
($41,015 Outstanding) 

Once our boat build is finished, there is additional equipment to be added, see list below:

Item Cost
Fenders (12" x 24" HTM: $119.00 x 8, 27" diameger Round: $140 x 4)$1,512
Life Preservers (8)$1,440
Washing Machines$1,291.30*
Fire Extinguishers$750
Life Raft (8 person)$3,300
ePurb (1 main boat and 2 personal)$1,100
Enclosures (materials)$4,000
Cushions (materials)$2,000
Stern Barbeque and matching charging station: (one SS electric barbeque: $300, and one SS barbeque box $109)$409
Dive Compressor$5,000
Dive Gear (additional, we own a lot already)$1,530
Iridium Go Satellite connectivity$800
Various Kitchen and galley accessories$400
Transportation of boat to water.$15,000
4G cellular booster and Wifi booster (Cell: $400, Wifi: $400)$800
Marine Alarm System (Siren 3 Base Unit: $550, High Water/Entry/Battery/Bilge: $123.84 ea., Wireless Entry: $100.74)$974
Fishing Gear (Reels: $620 x2, Rods: $150 x2, Braided line: $26 x4, Monofilament Leader Line: $15 x 8, plus misc.: $236)$2,000
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT (probably purchased later, so not included in total shown):
Hull Cleaner - cordless$1,200
FLIR camera$3,500
Echopilot fls 3D Sonar$10,000
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

These can all add up to some serious costs.  In our case, we want all of these things (and a few more), and what we are choosing for this will cost a whopping $42,306.30.  Your cost may be far less if you skip some of these options or make less expensive choices.

Grand Total

$532,445.65
 
 

However, look at what we are getting:

1) A brand new Schionning 50' catamaran with space & comfort.
2) Nanni/Combi diesel/electric propulsion & generator (138 hp). 
3) 38kw of LifePO4 battery power.
4) A Zerojet electric outboard powered dingy.
5) Brunton Shaft drives with Eco*Star Autoprop folding propellers.
6) Daggerboards with basalt reinforced casings.
7) Kick up rudders (for beaching and safety) .
8) A enclosed helm with separate steering and winch stations.
9) A spacious cockpit with seating for up to 14.
10) A 'garage' storage locker for up to 4 foldup bikes.
11) Two 8-person and one 4-person tables with seating for 20.
12) U-shaped galley & 12.7cf freezer space & 10cf refrigerator.
13) A large wrap-around, forward facing navigation station/desk.
14) 2 queen & 2 King size beds in 4 cabins with ensuite dry heads.
15) A convertible salon queen size birth and separate single birth.
16) 2' 2" draft (with dagger boards up).
17) Good bridge deck clearance at 33".
18) Basalt reinforced hulls.
19) Big beautiful Salon windows with six hatches for ventilation 
20) And much more! 

Solitaire 1520

A comparable performance cat of this water length and premium features built by a production company would cost well over a million dollars, sometimes up to 2 or 3 million. 

We can build S/V Lynx for much less! (See Grand Total below).

The Cost of Labor

The old saying is, 'time is money'. We are spending our own time to build this boat. However, 10,000 (approx.) number of man hours is time worth money. Even at just $30 an hour that is the equivalent of $300,000. Yet, even if you add that labor cost to your total the boat would cost: $832,445.65, and be ready to sail.  Boats from a production company would still need a lot more options added.  Even so, our Solitaire 1520 completely finished price is far less money.  Since we don't have the extra cash to pay people for labor. 

Therefore, to us, the Grand Total is still $532,445.65 ready to circumnavigate with all the toys and features.

Sweet!

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