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 optional (and some necessary) things.
4) Labor
Let's break down all four.

Cost Breakdown:

Shell Construction: $435,418.47
Sail Ready: $81,336
Final Outfitting: $56,466
Labor: (free, we are insane but resolute)
Total: $573,220.47

S1520

First Year -Shell Construction: $435,418.47  
(61,792.1 outstanding)

This consists of the following items:  

  1. Plans plus everything in the Shipping Container from South Africa: $208,875.11* - 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)
  5. Construction Costs: $169,440.25 (see below for full breakdown of this item, items marked *^ are not included as they were added in Item #1 and #2, from Schionning, above)

                                                           

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).

Items with a '^' are already included in the cost for items coming from Schionning in the shipping container and not in the Construction 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)$5,542*
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)$200
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$7,000
Lithium Battery Bank - 33kWh (This and items below for the boat's power system.  We will use early on for construction)$7,020*
Victron Inverter 5000 watts, 48vdc to 230vac 50hz  (x2), Victron Isolation Transformer 3600w$5,688*
Transformer 220v-240v to 110v-120v (to step down power from the 220v Inverter)$200
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*
Tohatsu Outboard (MFS30D 30 hp)$4,500
Electric Outboard 3 hp$3,077*
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*^
Diesel Engine/Generator (80hp Nanni)$16,122.80
Hybrid Electric System:  (ordered early to take advantage of current good exchange rates)$26,435*
Running Rigging (ordered early to come in shipping container from S. Africa)$3,824*^
Refrigeration, Top Loading Freez./Refrig. 230vac/24vdc (1 NL125 & 1 NL72) $1,764*^
Hatches/Portlights (Salon Hatches (6): $2,376 Deck Hatches (2): Portlights $2,694, Galley Hatch: $246)$6,337
Sailrite Sewing machine$1,270*
Parasailor  (sponsored deal)$6,000
Escape Hatches$1,010
Clutches, & Dampers: (1 Clutch: $700, 2 Sigmadrive Dampers: $1,000)$1,700
Deck Hardware: Winches: (1 elec.: $2,966 & 4 man.: $5,200), Traveler: $1,700, Jib Track, Blocks, Clutches $4,140$14,006
Folding props (Brunton's Autoprop ECO*STAR) (Quoted for S/V Lynx at 2912.70 each)$6,000
Steering Wheel & Rudder shafts ($500 x 2), Quadrants ($100 x 2), Sheaves ($350 x 7) and steering chain ($175): Wheel: $358$4,183
Cleats, Stanchions, Lifeline: (Cleats $442, Stanchions $1750, Lifeline $190)$2,357
Kick-up Rudder and Steering mechanisms plus Steering Rams$1,647*^
Basalt Fiber for Hull Skins (Basalt: $3,082 plus (Customs etc.: $2,070)$5,152*
Boom trampoline$983.65*^
Continuous furler for Screecher ($3,112.87 + $510.30 import duties to South Africa)$3,623.17*^
Epoxy (Sicomin)$11,982.81*^
40' HC shipping container$4,690*
20' shipping container$2,161.45*
Peel Ply$1550
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

Finishing the boat - Second Year: $81,336

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
Paint (Paint: exterior top: $800, Interior: $500, Bottom: $800. Hulls: $1600)$3,700
Painting Consumables$1,125
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
Refrigeration, Vertical freezer/refrig./Icemaker $2,499
Prop Shafts, struts, shaft logs, bearings (2 Shafts: $1,600, 2 P-brackets and cutlass bearings: $1,000, 2 Logs: $300)$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 Flooring$1,300
Mattresses$1,400
Diesel AGM Starter Battery:$100
Electrical Panels: (12vdc - 13 switch: $371, 120vac - 6 switch: $214, 240vac - 6 switch: $258, 48vdc - 8 switch: $200$1,043
Wire$1,000
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 $300, Electric oven $140)$716
Non-skid deck paint$1,500
Countertop and Wood Trim: (Countertop $650, Wood Trim $300)$950
Toilets, Sinks, and Faucets: (Toilets $4,000, Sinks & Faucets $888)$4,888
Plumbing: (pipes $650, pumps $200,)$850
Water Makers (2 for redundancy and increased output)$7,000
Air Conditioners$12,000
Glazings, Windows, and Sliding Door:$5,000
Latches, Locks, Hinges$934
Trampolines$1,100
Steering bar and bearings$2,000
Mast Compression Post$600
Showing entries (filtered from total entries)

Final Outfitting: $56,466

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$1,440
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 $300)$600
Dive Compressor$6,700
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
Sale of Shipping Container ($3,000 for the 40' (buyer lined up in two years, $1,500 for the 20')$-4,500
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):$1,200
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 $56,466.  Your cost may be far less if you skip some of these options or make less expensive choices.

Grand Total

Getting you to sail away shape runs a total of $516,754.47, but adding on that final list of items drives the price up to a grand total of...

$573,220.47
 

However, look at what we are getting:

1) A brand new 50' performance boat with space and comforts.
2) Combo diesel/electric propulsion & generator with 138 hp. 
3) 33kw of LifePO4 battery power (House 22kWh, Tender 11kWh).
4) An electric outboard powered dingy.
5) 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 6-person and one 4-person tables with seating for 16.
12) U-shaped galley & 12.7cf freezer space & 10cf refrigerator.
13) A large wrap-around, forward facing navigation station/desk.
14) 4 queen size beds in four cabins, each 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) Fully enclosed helm with hard top and line handling station.
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 her 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, that 8,000 (approx.) number of hours is time worth money. Even at just $30 an hour that is the equivalent of $240,000. Yet, even if you add that labor cost to your total the boat would cost: $813,220.47, and be ready to sail.  Boats from a production company would still need a lot more options added.  Even so, the Solitaire 1520 completely finished price is far less money.  Since we don't have the extra cash to pay people for labor, we have to build her ourselves.  However, we have the time, so we get to save that $240,000 (or more). 

Therefore, to us, the Grand Total is still $573,220.47 ready to circumnavigate with all the toys and features.

Sweet!

Help us out

Subscribe to our Youtube or Patreon 

Please consider subscribing to our Youtube channel, it really helps us out! To subscribe, click the Youtube link (left). Or, we would love it if you became part of our Patron Crew, with all the perks! Link is also (left).

Best AI Website Creator