The purpose of this project is to design and mass-produce kits for a floating tiny house that can sail. It combines high-tech modeling and fabrication and low-tech assembly that can be carried out DIY-style on a riverbank or a beach. This boat is a four-bedroom with a kitchen, a bathroom/sauna, a dining room and a living room. The deck is big enough to throw dance parties. It can be used as a river boat, a canal boat or even a beach house. It's rugged and stable enough to take out on the ocean.

Monday, November 7, 2016

It floats!

The 1:12 scale model is now complete except for the sails and the radio control componentry, which are in the works. The maiden voyage went uneventfully: QUIDNON sat quietly on its lines. The first and most important requirement for a boat, and especially a houseboat, is that it has to float really well. And it seems that this hurdle has been passed. More to come soon; in the meantime, feast your eyes.

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15 comments:

  1. Old ProfessorNovember 7, 2016 at 7:55 PM

    Looking good! What is your best guess for a bare boat kit cost?

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  2. Dmitry OrlovNovember 7, 2016 at 8:24 PM

    50k USD

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    Replies
    1. Old ProfessorNovember 9, 2016 at 6:22 PM

      Cheaper and much more practical (and fun) than a lot of tiny houses!

      Delete
    2. James NewlinNovember 11, 2016 at 9:23 PM

      How is it so much cheaper than a production sailboat? A 30 ft boat is more like $150k at least...

      Delete
    3. Dmitry OrlovNovember 11, 2016 at 9:49 PM

      The reasons it's so much cheaper than a production boat are:

      1. It is optimized in such a way that each element of the design serves as many different purposes as possible
      2. The price does not include construction labor; it's the price of producing a kit of parts for assembly
      3. There is no profit margin or management overhead, since this is basically an open source development
      4. Production yachts are designed for luxury, ostentation and sport. QUIDNON is designed for comfortable living aboard and safe travel over water, period.
      5. Production yachts incorporate a huge amount of lead ballast, which is expensive. QUIDNON uses seawater for ballast.

      And so on...

      Delete
  3. Pantalones FrescosNovember 8, 2016 at 1:53 AM

    Fantastico!

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  4. UnknownNovember 8, 2016 at 4:33 AM

    Did you doubt it?? you guys know your stuff

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  5. MattNovember 8, 2016 at 4:58 AM

    Superb! Well done. :)

    I'm still concerned about that checkerplate deck. I thought it would be extremely hot underfoot if you're in the sun. Now that I've seen the photo of the model I see that it's also going to be quite dazzling.

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  6. Dmitry OrlovNovember 8, 2016 at 5:14 AM

    Here's an example: my marina neighbor Peter did up his entire deck in diamond hatch. It is not dazzling, it doesn't burn one's feet, and it looks the same after more than a decade.

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    Replies
    1. MattNovember 8, 2016 at 4:03 PM

      Excellent! I can't argue with "Tried it. Liked it." :-)

      I too am enjoying the vicarious adventure. Many thanks.

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  7. locojhonNovember 8, 2016 at 10:23 AM

    Absolutely sweeeet, Dmitry. It looks more and more like a fantastically awesome design.
    The checkerplate deck is s.s., correct? How thick, how fastened-down and how much weight per sf? (Sorry if I missed it if mentioned earlier.)
    I am fascinated and can't wait for her maiden voyage once 'completed', and I am certainly not alone.
    Thanks also for this 'challenging' vicarious adventure, and for utterly destroying my long-held 'idyllic sailboat dreams' with your 'build-logic'.
    With much respect,,,locojhon

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  8. UnknownNovember 8, 2016 at 1:37 PM

    Any chance of a picture of it upsidedown Dmitry?

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  9. James NewlinNovember 11, 2016 at 9:22 PM

    I haven't followed your posts on this, but how much studying of naval architecture was needed for your design? I've been wanting to understand the best sailboat designs for purchasing a used boat, and it seems you've gone through the work already.

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    Replies
    1. Dmitry OrlovNovember 11, 2016 at 9:51 PM

      Precisely zero. I've read Chapman's, Gudgeon bros. and various seafaring testimonials. I have also done a fair bit of seafaring and boat repair. Experience counts for a lot more than academic knowledge, especially if that experience was on a custom, home-built boat. What qualifies me to design a houseboat that sails is living aboard and sailing for a decade or so.

      Delete

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