Glen-L.com

Bob,
Congratulations on getting your interior and a lift! It sounds like a floating lift from your description. Is it similar to mine or is it more like the jetski drive-on type I've seen for power boats? Ours is a Floatair which actually sinks and then it refills with air and rises. http://www.boatlifts-floatair.com/

Hopefully you'll get your fees cleared up. Ours was pretty straight forward and on the website. The paperwork was easy and I even got a temporary permit or whatever they called it. Then the GA DNR Officer came to inspect and finish the paperwork and I was legal. Did they at least grant you the temporary permit to use the boat?

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Jeff.
Mine is a Galvalift, made by Shoremaster. http://www.shoremaster.com/default.asp It is a floating lift that fills tanks with air. When the valve is opened it completely submerges and you just float off. We are required to raise our lifts when out boating, so you have to get off and re-float the lift. I'm looking at a remote controlled control box, but they cost about $1200.

Missouri doesn't have a temporary permit. I also doubt I can get insurance until I have a title and HIN in hand.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Bob, our dock was built to accommodate Shore Master or Floatair. I ordered ours with a 25ft cord that I plug into an outlet on the dock. That way, I can also plug it into an inverter onboard the boat in case I want raise or lift from the boat. They now have a remote control option which I may look into, but I think it is also pretty expensive. You may be able to do the same thing with an inverter or just go with the remote control. The things I like about a floating lift:
1. there is a floor below our boat so water is not splashing onto the bottom
2. I can walk around on that floor to clean or install covers or tighten bolts (at least on a small boat like the Malahini)
3. It moves with the dock so in lakes with fluctuating levels, there are no problems
4. No hydraulics...only air

Good luck on the state permits.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

I wonder if you can use something like this?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&tok=F_IVJgDurT7z4_ZgbkJ2eg&cp=23&gs_id=2m&xhr=t&q=remote+control+power+switch&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1680&bih=925&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11593072133178525939&sa=X&ei=_zTJT-70CsavgwfmsbXiDg&sqi=2&ved=0CNgBEPMCMAM



It's $14 online.

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Ken Hundley
http://www.nocturnalguitars.com

So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan

Look's Great, Bob! The color will be cooler in the hot sun and won't show dirt easily. Similar to what I used.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

If Bob's lift is like ours, there is a valve that has three settings:
Lift
Store
Lower
Then there is a power switch which turns on the air pump which refills the tanks/floats. If you only needed to turn the power on or off, that would definitely be something to consider. I suppose the whole valve situation is why the remote is so expensive.
In my case, I can leave the lift submerged and set the valve back to raise before we leave the dock. I have a 25ft cord with a plug on it that I could have within reach when I come back into the dock. I could grab the cord off the dock and plug it into an inverter on the boat...or just get out and plug it into the outlet...or just leave the thing plugged in. The outlet on the dock is GFCI protected, so I don't worry too much and the lift company has done others that way.

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Hallelujah! I finally got my Missouri HIN and registration sticker and numbers. It has taken 2 months. When I read Roberta got her HIN in 2 hours, I was jealous she lives in a state that offers service to their residents. Getting the job done in Missouri is like throwing your money into a black hole and hoping something comes out the other end. It took six weeks to find out I sent in the wrong amount. I immediately sent in the additional money, but didn't hear anything. To make matters worse, when you call the DOR, they cannot tell you whether they have your application, or where it is in the process. All you hear is that they are really busy. What a screwed up process!! If it were not for my persistence and a helpful customer service rep., I would still be waiting.

Having dealt with many online retailers to buy boat parts, I find it totally baffling how archaic and customer un-friendly the state government processes can be.

Anyway, I am finally beyond that. I hope to officially launch my boat next weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. I still have a few things to fix on the trailer and boat, but nothing that will keep me from launching.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Bob - Glad to hear. I know about the "hole". You wait and wonder, The water patrol who certified my boat as "home built" told me to be sure to carry a copy of the application and inspection with me while on the lake until my registration numbers came in. Two weeks later that very same water patrol officer stopped me on the lake. He did not remember my boat and did not remember his instructions to carry the paperwork. He let us off only because my associate pastor was in the boat who he knew.

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Glad you have all in order now, Bob. All the Best on the launch!!! It's amazing how how the same things can be so different in states. Wisconsin has such an easy process. I walked in and left with my HIN, the registration numbers, and my 2015 stickers and proof of registration in about 10 minutes time, not including the 1/2 hr drive to the DNR field office.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

The challenges of not planning everything ahead. I am rushing to finish up a few items before the official launch on June 24. Late in the game we decided we needed a boarding ladder since a lot of activity at the Lake of the Ozarks is anchoring in a cove and floating in the water. Then I saw Iggy's ladder and felt that would be the way to go. It needed to go on the port side due to the speedo pitot on the starboard side. The challenge was that I could not get to the transom on that side of the boat due to the gas tank.

The tank blocked all access to the rear port side transom and due to its size is not removable. (You may ask about the hole. I needed that to access the hose clamps around the filler neck.)

So, to get at the mounting bolts that would go through the transom, I had to cut an access hole in my motor well.

The hole is 3.5" and was determined by test holes I cut in plywood. Anything smaller and I couldn't get my hand through. With a bit of contorting and jury rigging I was able to attach the washers and nuts and through bolt the mounting brackets giving me a boarding ladder. It folds up above the water when not in use. I also plan to get some quick release pins to permit easy removal and attachment.

I cut about an inch and a half off the tubing at the mounting bracket to compensate for the angle of the transom. I also have to make a cover plate to seal off the large hole in my motorwell.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Look's nice, Bob!! Access holes are always handy. You should be able to find or make something nice to plug the hole.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

More last minute things to do.
I found a real cooler that just fit between the frames that form the middle decking, so I scrapped my home made cooler and just screwed the cooler into place. I couldn't use the lid, so I insulated my trap door. I also mounted a few blocks that will hold up the waste basket. I don't have pictures of this.

We had our priest come by to bless the boat. The church actually has a boat blessing, but I think it was designed for working boats but he adapted it for a pleasure boat. If the oak and epoxy fail, I'm hoping for divine intervention.

Here is Father Chuck, with the captain and admiral.

I made a poor man's transom band out of 1.25" hatch trim.


Finally, I did a quick spray paint of the lower motor unit to cover some of the faded paint. Now the rest of the motor looks dull. I didn't have time to do more, so it will have to do for now.


We are ready to officially launch. I can think a lots more things to fix and tweak, but sometimes you just have to declare completion and move on.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Getting ready to have the official launch.

I was surprised by my son, Kevin, who now lives and works in Seattle. He came in for the launch without telling me. I was totally surprised. My daughter, Leah, who is great with child, also accompanied us on the weekend launch.

Here we are in the trailer parking lot of our condo complex at Lake of the Ozarks removing the custom boat cover. It worked like a champ on the highway. I cruised at 70mph for 2 hours and didn't have any flapping or blown snaps. I was worried it would balloon and come loose, but that was not the case.


More pictures and video of the official launch will be posted in the Launching Ramp when I get the video edited.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/

Can't wait Bob...how exciting!

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

Well, its been almost a month since launch. The boat is out of the garage and the wife is happy. However, I miss the building process. The planning, designing, finding parts and materials, and then putting it all together. It has been part of my life for the last year and a half and now it sits at the lake. Oh well, the bathroom needs to be redone.

After using the boat at the lake for the past weeks, I thought I'd provide an update and comments on some aspects of the build that might assist others currently building. I am very pleased with the Malahini design as it looks good, planes easily and seems very stable. It does get you wet, however, when hitting some waves at speed.

Spray rail. If your design has an optional spray rail, I would recommend installing it unless you always have calm waters. The Malahini has it mentioned in the plans as optional and I did not install it. I plan to add it sometime in the future to hopefully cut down on the showers we get on occasion.

Gas Tank. I have an old 65hp Mercury and a 14 gallon tank. I think a slightly larger tank (18-20) would be more appropriate for this boat. I seem to need gas a little more frequently than I like.

Access. It hasn't been an issue yet, but I worry about needing to get at the control cables, wiring, etc. I can get to them but I pretty much have to disassemble the interior to do it. If I did it again, I would make the top of the side console, as shown below, removable.

If and when I ever have to take it out, I will probably make the top part removable.

Control Location. As the picture above shows, the control handle is fairly low. To give it full throttle you have to lean pretty far forward to get the handle down. A better location would have been higher up and closer to the carling. I didn't pay enough attention to boat operation when I was building. The Mercury also requires a lot of handle movement so you need to give it room.

Getting back on-board. We anchor and swim in the coves on our lake. This little ladder on the transom works pretty well, although when extended, the lower rung is pretty high and you need a good pull to get upright. My wife needs a hand to pull herself up. I'm not sure a handle on the deck will help. I think a short post on the transom will help one pull themselves up. I'm going to try a few temporary solutions to see what works. Any suggestions are welcome.

A longer ladder would also help, but there is limited transom room on the Malahini and it didn't want it dragging in the water.

Vinyl auto trim. I used some vinyl chrome auto trim as a rub rail. It was easy to install and looked good. However, a good hard ding and the shiny chrome turns dull at the impact point as shown below. The rub rail is still intact and functional, but the dull spot remains. If you go this route, just be aware.

It isn't very expensive, so if it become bothersome, I'd just have to replace it.

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Bob
Completed Malahini (launched 6/24/2012)
http://bobsboatbuild.blogspot.com/