Glen-L.com

With current builds that I'm tracking including: gdcarpenter's, ches t's, sawford's, acal100's, and mine, as well as recent completions such as Chris, retroman, and Roberta's beautiful boats, I'm wondering just what it is about the Zip and its siblings (Squirt, Flying Saucer, and Malahini) that give them such appeal.

I have my own opinions but would love to hear yours.

BTW, I know there are more builds out there (especially a few Malahinis), but I just listed what came to mind at the moment.

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Andy Garrett

"When all else fails, follow the instructions." -Dad

Being backwards at best, the reason I am building the Zip is because it's the boat that best fits the engine I am building the boat for. My uncle gave me his '59 Mercury Mark 35 A years ago, and after restoring it a little voice inside my head said bulid a boat for the engine! Good news is the wife will be happy when the old engine is finally removed from our living room.

If I had to guess as to the popularity of the boats you mentioned I would guess it's a combination of the smaller size, ergo doable for a newbie, and the retro look, since who wants to bust their butt building a boat that you can buy. Just my ramblings. Good luck on your Zip.

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This is my first, last and only boat build.

http://www.gdzipbuild.blogspot.com

I'd say the simple answer is outboard power. I am not a "wrencher" and the very thought of installing a big lump inboard was very intimidating to me. Also, at 13-16 ft, those models can be easily powered by smaller outboards and run in the 25-50 MPH range. The problem is finding a decent older outboard. Plus, the older outboards have cowlings like works of art (not mine). Even though I have a Malahini, I think that overall, the Zip has the sexiest lines. Most importantly for me: I bought mine half built

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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/

The size and the versatility of the design allows the builder to be creative and express their ideas in a boat. Easily built to be affordable or as grand as you like.

Roberta

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

For me, it's the elegant beauty of the high-varnish wood decking, combined with the graceful lines of the boat with its tumblehome transom. It's an echo of the classic & timeless beauty of the Rivas, Chris-Crafts, and similar boats of the past. And, it's all of this combined with the prospect of being able to actually build one within reason. The outboard power, too, is part of the appeal as JeffH mentioned... it makes the project seem all the more achievable.

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-Michael

my boatbuilding blog:
http://barnaclemikeboats.blogspot.com/

I agree with everything already said here.

One of the big selling points for me was getting as big a boat as would fit in my garage with a swing away coupler. However, the biggest selling point is that stunning illustration in the catalog. Absolutely the sexiest lines I've ever seen on a boat.

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Andy Garrett

"When all else fails, follow the instructions." -Dad

1. It fits in the garage on the trailer.

2. Its big enough to take a couple friends along.

3. I can lift the motor on and off by hand without any special lifts.

4. Easily towed with a light truck or small SUV.

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

I am not building a zip and have opted to build a much larger boat, and the main problem I have found is finding a large enough space to build it. if i had went with the zip it would have been much easier to find a place. The zip is a very good looking boat and reminds me of the boat my family had as I was growing up. We owned a birch craft and it seen many years of use and was sold when my father retired.

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Don't be afraid to attempt anything. You might surprise your self in the attempt.
http://www.facebook.com/Home.Made.Boat.Building
Modified Jubilee-"Wild Flower" 40' house boat
14' Mr John-Wild Flower 2
32' Supper Huck- Wild flower 3

Rod H

its an interesting question. There are a lot of zips and malahinis out there. They are both really cool boats and there a tons of great examples to draw inspiration from!

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Built the 17' Glen-L "Sea Knight"

I am building it because it is very close in design to what Century boat co. built back in the 50s. They built 2 different 14and 15 foot bosts. One was an outboard and the other was a mid engine 4 cylinder single cockpit runnabout.
Jeff

1. It's a great-looking boat.
2. Amount of materials required is reasonable, making it a relatively low-cost build.
3. I had a 1956 Merc Mk 55 sitting in the garage.
4. My dad built a Zip in 1956 and I'd been hearing about how great that boat was for many years, so we had to do it.
5. It fits (barely) in my garage.
6. I can get in a full day's running on eight gallons of gas.

-Mark Shipley

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A boat is just a wooden box with no right angles.

Looks like I'll have to post some more pics painting the hull right now.

Travis

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It's like anything you Build. You have to be Patient.

Measure Twice, cut Once.

I bought Malahini plans after seriously considering the Zip. But a couple of reasons for bypassing other designs I think was that I had trouble imagining how some plans would look completed if there was only line drawings to go off. Hence no or very few documented builds.

Conversely there are a heap of Zip and Malahini builds with varying finishes and mods plus awsome blogs and documentation of how people built them. Not ignoring the fact the Malahini fits the bill for my needs - size, looks and versatility - but I've a gut feeling that newbs like myself will tend to be attracted to these designs that have been built and mentioned the most. So it's partly why I chose the Malahini despite spotting perhaps another 6 or more outboard plans that would be suitable. The popularity of the Zip etc designs becomes self sustaining. Or so me thinks.

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Building a Malahini.......one day