There are many sailors that wonder which boat to choose; a production or a custom boat. Others don’t know exactly what they want in a boat, and need some guidance so as to draw up the specifications. By choosing a custom boat, you’ll get a completely unique boat, but you’ll pay more for having one-on-one attention. Custom boats would be the only boats constructed in a world where everybody is wealthy. This is because, with a custom boat, you get exactly what you want. Meaning that the layout, look, and dimensions are all tailored to your preferences. On the other hand, production boats are less costly and sometimes have fewer problems. They also require less maintenance due to their already accomplished design and development. So, let’s see some more details about the production and custom boats as well as which one you should choose. So, keep reading!

Production Boats – Useful Information

In some ways, production boats keep us out of trouble because there isn’t much you can alter about them. In particular, nothing fundamental like the hull shape, configuration, and structure. Let’s look at the distinctions between custom, and production boats, as well as some of the benefits and drawbacks. Each category has its own limitations and opportunities, and sometimes the differences between these categories might not be that different.

For most people, having the most bang for their buck is paramount, and production boats excel in this regard. Keep in mind that there isn’t any huge difference between these boats when they come off the assembly line. Production boats have a wide range of hull colors, different engines to choose from, red cushions instead of tan, a life well instead of a cooler, a generator, a windlass, among others. These are some of the most common choices that production-boat buyers might need.

Consistent quality, a lower price tag, and the help of a dealer network are all advantages of production boats. Since production boats go down the line and are made by people who perform the same tasks over and over again, labor costs are also much lower. In addition, labor costs are smaller as well as overhead expenses such as lights, taxes, and heat. This is because lamination and assembly staff do the same job over and over, thus improving productivity. As a result, each boat is that much cheaper with increased throughput.

The tooling and molds used to make the fiberglass parts are the main reason a fiberglass production boat is so much less costly to manufacture. Tooling is costly, on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a 30-footer. The female molds can be used to make hundreds of parts until they need to be replaced after they’ve been installed and maintained properly. This ensures that the costs of the molds is spread out over the life of the boat model.

The finish of the fiberglass part, for example, the hull and the deck or small components like a deck hatch or live well tub, will mirror the surface of the mold. This results in glass-smooth and ready-to-use parts with only a slight touchup needed. Hull molds, in particular, are often used to produce several models. For example, the same 28-foot hull is used for center console and cuddy cabin configurations. Some builders can repurpose an older mold to construct a larger boat by lengthening and widening it. Moreover, this modification is more than likely to produce a better boat. And, this particularly applies if the original lacked a bottom area to spread its weight over.

Production Boats – Quality

Keep in mind that when a process can be replicated exactly the same way every time, quality also gets improved. Meaning that the finished product will be better when passing through a high-quality process, using high-quality materials and components, and manufacturer professionals. And, quality means that a boat and all of its parts will be robust and reliable. In other words, they will operate properly with proper maintenance over time.

Production boats are also less costly to build and buy because the boatbuilder will buy in bulk. Suppliers provide discounts for bulk purchases and long-term orders. This aids the supplier in planning its own production rates and budgeting time and materials. Seacocks, hose clamps, cleats, types of diesels, and all of the hundreds of parts needed can be purchased in bulk. Therefore, material costs are lower significantly.

Space is also put to good use, with production lines tweaked and fine-tuned from lamination to final finish. Meaning that a custom builder must throw more skilled and highly paid labor at the same job to equal the standard of a production boat. And, note that there are less chances for a custom boat to match the quality of a production boat. This is because the repetitive nature of production manufacturing is absent to custom boats.

Production boats have other advantages as well. They’ve been thoroughly scrutinized by other owners. And, also from their designers and builders, so they’re less prone to severe weaknesses. But, bear in mind that there is a lot of difference in terms of navigation, seaworthiness, stability, and endurance among boat classes. For example, bowriders, center consoles, sailboats, powerboats, etc, all have their different characteristics. So, before figuring out if you go for a production or a custom boat, consider the type of your boat and the potential manufacturers.

Like used cars, a boat owner would have a decent idea of how much his boat would be worth two or three years down the road. Furthermore, they’d be able to sell it easily because there are normally a lot of people looking for specific brands.

Finally, production boats are typically sold via a dealer network. So, buying a good boat from a service-responsive, reliable, and competent dealer makes all the difference. What good is a $350,000 boat if the water pump breaks down and you need a technician to repair it asap? When it comes to choosing a boat brand, consider focusing on the dealer’s reputation. Also, inquire around to see who is well-regarded, who has qualified technicians, and so on.

>>Also Read: Most Common Sailing Terms

Custom Boats – Useful Information

For custom boats, a client may hire a designer or naval architect to design the entire boat from beginning to end. Alternatively, it may be a joint project with one person doing the hull and another doing the styling. Styling also includes the hull sheer line and some hull topside features. For instance, a company could be hired to engineer the structure, defining the laminates, cores, stringer system, etc. And, someone else will design the electrical and mechanical systems. It’s popular to hire an exterior stylist and an interior decorator as subcontractors on larger yachts. The functions and duties of these subcontractors are clearly defined in the contract. Moreover, bear in mind that they all work for the same boat builder.

This method allows the builder and the owner to take advantage of the various brands’ strengths. For example, you get the ride and seakeeping you want, as well as the design you want. It’s also possible that you go for a specific builder after previously collaborating with him. But, you want your next boat to be more powerful and lighter. So, you may be theoretically moving the builder forward in the process. However, this may necessitate hiring an outside company to engineer the structure or train the builder’s lamination team.

Another choice is to employ a single company to handle everything. In other words, the hull, construction, structure, styling, propulsion, and systems. The benefit is that you only have to deal with one contractor. And, the most popular way to get a custom boat under 100 ft built is via a one-stop-shopping approach. Many yards employ less than 30 individuals, but nearly all of them are reliable and skillfull. There are craftsmen who can laminate the hull one month, shape teak for the helm station the next, and build the electrical system the following month.

For either of these approaches to designing a custom yacht, the act of taking a one-of-a-kind boat from design to commissioning is likely to be the most distinctive advantage for the owner. The point for such people is to have a boat that is one-of-a-kind, just like the owner. In this case, the metaphor and motivation are pretty obvious. Even if the building process does not go smoothly, the end result of the owner’s efforts is likely to be satisfying.

Custom Boats -Quality

A blank sheet of paper or a blank computer screen is the starting point for a custom boat. The boat is one-of-a-kind in terms of its dimensions, hull shape, deck, superstructure, arrangements, features, and materials, as well as how everything fits together. Since the fiberglass pieces are one-offs with no female mold for a layup, a custom boat is costly to create. This indicates that the hull’s construction is from a male mold or a limited-production female mold was made specifically for this boat. In comparison to a molded production boat, after the hull and other parts are made, a considerable amount of labor is needed to fair the fiberglass surface to yacht specifications.

Much of the talent needed to manufacture a boat may be in-house. Or, the builder may want to bring in others for a team project. A lot goes into making a good boat. In particular, one with the best hull shape, construction, propulsion, electrical engineering, and so on. Anyone can draw a pretty hull, but having it work well in rough water necessitates a unique skill technique that is often missing today.

It’s also true that a person can get themselves into a lot of trouble specifying a boat that won’t work out in the end — and that no one else would want to buy when it’s time to sell. Nature, on the other hand, seems to find a balance in our imperfect universe. Many, if not all, custom clients have already owned a variety of boats and understand what they’re looking for when creating requirements for their next one. Fortunately, most custom boat builders have enough experience to recognize when a client’s request lacks something. The builder must have the courage and common sense to say so in this situation.

Maine boatbuilder Henry Hinckley was a master at this. He made sure that his Hinckley sailboat owners received a perfect boat with a few personal touches without ruining the design. After owning their vessels for a while, owners who tried to pack too many staterooms into a small hull or make the cockpit too small must have thanked him after making their purchase.

To summarize, a custom boat means that no one else has the same boat, hull, look, or deck design. It’s totally new, and one-of-a-kind, which is exactly the point. The downside is that it will cost you more, possibly up to twice as much as a production boat of the same size, but this gap narrows with larger vessels. Furthermore, it will take you longer to get your vessel, but there will be less of a backlog in these difficult times.

If cost is a concern, look for a less well-known custom builder. You may be able to find a boat that meets your needs for a lot less money. Do some research as you can find many reliable boat builders that require less money for a good quality custom boat. Premium names in the custom boat market, however, command a higher resale value, so paying more upfront will pay off in the long run if you plan to sell the boat in the future.

And, honestly, it really depends on which custom vs which production boat you go for. For example, most production boats of well-known brands like Oyster, offer a substantial amount of customization available. In my opinion, a custom boat generally needs to start with a very definite State Of Requirements. The Statement of Requirements (SOR) outlines what the boat should be designed to do, and what are its priorities. As a result, the SOR for a racer is somewhat different from the SOR for a cruiser. Then, a review of what else might meet those requirements. There may or may not be anything on the market that can be changed depending on the SOR, but it is all dictated by specifications. It’s only after you determine that there isn’t a boat on the market that meets your needs and that you have to consult a builder for a custom boat.

Production vs Custom Sailboats: Which is Better? – The Bottom Line

Since there are more sellers than buyers, you have a wide range of choices available. The chances of finding a builder who can take on your project in the near future are really good for a custom boat. The same is true for production builders: by reducing the large backlog of orders that many had a few years ago, you will potentially order and get that new boat delivered earlier than you expect. In any case, it’s totally up to you to decide if you want a production or a custom boat. Consider your budget, time frame, plans, as well as which characteristics you want your vessel to have. I hope that this article will help you make the right choice. See you soon!