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The boat enthusiast started building a trimaran in 1999 and launched it into the Moruya River on Saturday, admitting it had cost him most of his superannuation and half of his life expectancy.

The Farrier 36 design is the fourth boat the Canberra resident has built, and exceeded an original estimated cost of $100,000.

“I have built four boats, this being the fourth,” he said.

“This is, without question, the last.

“If it does what it’s designed to do, it’s going to be worth it.”

The boat has cost Mr Cashman $350,000, with the original plans altered to make it more environmentally friendly.

The boat is 12 metres long and eight metres wide. It is fitted with a 30 horsepower diesel motor, but its extraordinary features allow two people to exist on board for over six months at a time.

“It has a desalinator and a composting toilet, which has a reservoir about the size of an ordinary domestic bucket,” Mr Cashman said.

“It also makes it pretty well autonomous. There is a large solar panel and a wind generator.

“It should be completely self-sufficient in the water.”

There were some dramas during the launch on Saturday. Mr Cashman thought only one crane would be required to lift the five- tonne vessel, which was meant to weigh only four tonnes.

The crane struggled to lift the vessel and a second crane was called in to assist.

“We sat around for another hour or so, then we had the two of them together,” Mr Cashman said.

“It was marvellous, like synchronised swimming.”

The construction of the trimaran began in Mr Cashman’s backyard, but soon outgrew its surrounds.

The structure was moved to a property 20 minutes south of Queanbeyan and later to a property in Moruya, where he received advice and assistance from Adam Stafford.

Batemans Bay was originally selected for the boat launch but Mr Cashman changed his mind.

“It was possible to find a mooring space in Batemans Bay, but it was a long way from shore,” he said.

“The Moruya River is very, very pretty. I think Moruya is the next big thing and Batemans Bay has outgrown itself.”

Mr Cashman plans to take the vessel out on small trips to South Durras and Sydney, but he wants to later cross the ocean to New Zealand and even Tahiti.