Building Tokyo Express: Turning a dream into reality. The building of a 40ft catamaran.

Build yourself a home on the water!

Living on a boat has a lot going for it, and it‘s more affordable than you think.

If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing off over the horizon, but haven’t had the money, there are ways to do it, even on a small budget. Most people buy a boat, but building your own is a rewarding and cost-effective alternative to getting onto the water.

For $70,000 (AUD) first-time builder Tim Weston built a 40ft catamaran “Tokyo Express”, in just under 3 years. It was the beginning of an adventure, on a boat that became home, for the next 5 years.

There are many ways to save money by doing things yourself, and you will end up with a boat, made how you want. Inside the book, Tim shares his story with insights, explanations and tips.

Tokyo Express is a lightweight, fast, cruising cat built 20 years ago on a tiny budget, and she looks as good today as the day she was born. Made with simple materials, but with performance to leave behind most production boats.

Inside the book, you will learn;

• Catamaran vs Monohulls - which way to go?
• Things to consider - before starting out
• How she was made - the sequence of events
• Ways to build the hull - the pros and cons
• Different motor options - what’s best?
• Reasons for using a daggerboard - and why it is so important
• A timeline - of the stages of the build
• Ideas for making a generator - from what you already have
• Thoughts on CNC kits - is it a good option?
• A simple steering system -made from recycled parts
• Layout for a nav station and interior ideas
• Antifoulings that don’t need replacing
• How the boat was painted
• And much more…

The book is the story of the build with insights into life in the bush, living in Australia. Scroll up, “look inside” and see what you think.

Read the book - you might find this idea more achievable than you expected