Kit boat design.

The current state of the marine industry is seeing many small production companies being forced into closure from severe lack custom. The decline in new boat purchase is not however reflected in the coastal leisure participation figures with recent studies still seeing increases in many areas. This indicates that there is still a demand for leisure craft, but the options available are not appropriate for a market where disposable income is not as readily available. Other options available to those still wishing to pursue their hobbies are to purchase a second hand vessel and hope to save as a result of the vessels deterioration, or to take on the daunting task a complicated home build project. This project offers an alternative to all these options, supplying potential customers with brand new inshore power craft capable of being adapted to a wider range of activities and at a fraction of the price. The project involves selecting an existing power craft and updating it to provide a simple kit boat to the market. The project will investigate the use of innovative new building techniques in an attempt to produce a vessel that is simple to produce and requires little or no boatbuilding experience. New production techniques such as CNC cutting and nesting will be researched in order to reduce wastage and overall cost, and modern materials that have been rarely used by amateurs in the past will be used to produce a light, durable structure. The final design will also be assessed for suitability and to ensure that the vessel and idea as a whole is in fact a viable investment and if this niche market can be exploited.