Manfred "Fred" Jiran - "This is It"

Good Day everyone,
My name is Tonja Jiran and I'm the surviving daughter of Manfred Jiran. Fred was in the process of building a composite catamaran named "This is it" when he passed October of 2024. I'm here for a few reasons and hoping someone might be able to lead me in the right direction. For insight into my father you can read about him in soaring magazines article titled "The Wizard of Fiberglass" link below. This will also take you to his website, CODEVCO.WS, where there's quite a bit of information on the boat project.

https://codevco.ws/Composite_pages/Glider/Soaring_article.pdf

1. I'm not certain if there's an interest in pursuing my fathers' dream of finishing this project but if there's an interest we have about 90% of the plans drafted and quite a bit of the structure completed. There's lots of parts made but not installed. If this seems unreasonable, then my next option is to cut it into pieces and recycle.

2. We have fiberglass, resin, hardeners, foam, etc. for sale. I'm running into dead ends on trying to liquidate this material. If there's any interest please contact me directly to discuss.

I apprecaite anyones input good, bad or indifferent as I'm kind of at a loss on what to do.

Thanks in advance.

 

Unfortunately, unfinished projects are hard to even give away. Materials are easier depending on what they are. Resin and hardeners have a shelf life. Fiberglass and foam are OK.

 

A boat project 97 feet long is in a different class. The problem you will encounter is anyone with a few million dollars to build a boat will want to choose a design, not get someone elses.

The best you can do is sell the project on a catamaran facebook group.

I would not be too discouraged. See if you can find any interest. Your costs are sunk/lost. Any recovery you get is a positive, no?

post pics of current progress here and on the facebook groups

best of luck

 

Thank you for your input.
Understood on the resin and hardener. I have a few leads on selling the fiberglass but it's been a challenge. We did sell one roll for a person building a kayak on Facebook Marketplace.

 

As recommended please see pictures of current project and some notes on what is completed.
Hulls: Almost complete, minor but labor extensive work to be done
Bow(s): currently worked on, a STBD and a PT side part / mold are virtually complete. These will be the finished bow sections and the molds for the second set.
Stern(s): One is built, it will be finished, then used as the mold for the second one.
Cabin: The cabin Beams are built. The outer panels, including "port holes" are large surfaces, however simple to build and install. The upper surface will hold solar panels and be used for rainwater collection.
Deck: The deck-beams are finished and installed. The fabrication and installation of the upper and lower surfaces are large but simple tasks.
Main connecting Bulkheads: We have all the fiberglass, the plan on how to construct them
Transom: It has been started on the STBD hull
Raw materials: some 40 K of fiberglass and epoxy resin is in stock

 

The description indicates hulls that have been molded in sections and have to be joined after. That is one more hurdle to convince someone of the viability of the project. Are you offering for someone to take on the project at the location it is in now?

 

@Tonja Jiran

please check your email and junk email

I am sending you a private message..

Dan Fall

 

Clearly a major problem here as the hulls cannot be moved in their current state. The project did not make it to critical mass.

 

———

Tonja, I dealt with Fred for many years on making parts for our F.8L Falco airplane. Perhaps contact me at iPhone (804) 690-4591 alfred.scott@me.com

We turned the Falco over to Craig and Martha Gunder. They would be interested in getting some of the Falco components and molds such as the seats, etc.

Our website is www.seqair.com

I’m very distressed to hear that Fred died. He was a lovely guy, and I enjoyed dealing with him over the years.

We have info on Fred at Composite Development on the website.

Alfred Scott
5407 Patterson Ave, Ste 202B
Richmond
VA 23226
alfred.scott@me.com
(804)690-4591

Craig & Martha Gunder
Gunder Restoration & Design, Inc
120 Yoe Drive
Red Lion
PA 17356
N46079@comcast.net
(717) 246-1200
mobile: (717)495-3226