Dinghy Plans

[bristol27]

I am looking for suggestions for dinghy plans.

I would like to build an excellent cruising dinghy. It must have the following characteristics:
+ Sails
+ Rows
+ Can be stowed in a deck area of about 4' (between the mast and doger, on the cabin-top). Likely meaning the dinghy must be nestable.
+ Buoyant when flooded
+ No engine mount necessary (will use wind/human power only)

Might you have suggestions for designs I could investigate that meet the above characteristics?

[tager]

Deckster.

[keepondancin]

Check Chesapeake Light Craft, Google clcboats. They have a nice nesting dinghy that you can get plans or a kit. They also have a nesting 14'6" kayak that brteaks into 3 pieces. Nice people to deal with.

[Cheechako]

Port Townsend watercraft. I think they have a few options. Nesting or not. Port Townsend Watercraft?s Nesting Dinghies

[David_Old_Jersey]

I am meant to be making one of these - sometime around February. Last February



Eastport Nesting Pram

There is even a thread around here somewhere .......let me know how it goes .

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I am meant to be making one of these - sometime around February. Last February



Eastport Nesting Pram

There is even a thread around here somewhere .......let me know how it goes .

Wow, that's a beautiful boat you haven't built David!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by hummingway

Wow, that's a beautiful boat you haven't built David!

yeah, so far so good

[sabray]

Chameleon nesting dinghy



Still happy with this design. Still need to finish the sailing rig.

[Pblais]

I just closed on a Fatty Knees 8ft. They also have a snub nose 7ft and a fuller 9ft. You need a fair amount of beam in a short boat to row well. Fatty Knees rows very nice if you use the light Canada Spruce oars. I used to have a Montgomery 8ft with another boat but that hull was too "V" shaped and it didn't row that well and the Admiral thought it was too tippy.

I've seen decent looking stitch and glue plywood boats but rigging them for sail isn't so easy. You can get some plans that are OK for rowing and can carry a decent load. I think you want something close to a 4 ft beam.

[GrizzlySailor]

Probably not a great row boat, but your description of need reminded me of an old sailboat I started n called an El Toro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Toro_(dinghy)). Pics are at el toro sailboat - Bing Images. It might be a little large for your needs at 8 feet but it was a decent little sail boat you could build yourself, and I can promise you it still floats when full of water.

[w32honu]

I second the vote for Chameleon, by Danny Greene. I am probably 60% done with our build. The boat went together with no problems. Good design at a very reasonable cost. Danny Greene was a great guy to deal with........

Check out www.sv-carina.org They have some nice pics and comments regarding the Chameleon. They have also put the boat to good hard use....... tried and true. There is lots of stuff on the net.........etc.

[sabray]

Originally Posted by w32honu

I second the vote for Chameleon, by Danny Greene. I am probably 60% done with our build. The boat went together with no problems. Good design at a very reasonable cost. Danny Greene was a great guy to deal with........

Check out www.sv-carina.org They have some nice pics and comments regarding the Chameleon. They have also put the boat to good hard use....... tried and true. There is lots of stuff on the net.........etc.

I am pretty confident you are going to be impressed with the boat. I nest mine on deck and launch it in 2 pieces bolting it up in the water. Amazingly easy. Rows a champ. Need to finish the sailing rig still..you'll want to make a cb plug if you want to tow it. Defender had a sail on a hinged water tight hatch. I think this is a better solution fir the forward compartment but added 25 bucks

[w32honu]

Originally Posted by sabray

I am pretty confident you are going to be impressed with the boat. I nest mine on deck and launch it in 2 pieces bolting it up in the water. Amazingly easy. Rows a champ. Need to finish the sailing rig still..you'll want to make a cb plug if you want to tow it. Defender had a sail on a hinged water tight hatch. I think this is a better solution fir the forward compartment but added 25 bucks

Hey thanks for the input!!

We modified the design somewhat. Just a few inches shorter......didnt want to depart from the design too much.

Good info on the cb plug. Our boat is basically finished just need to build the sailing rig and cb slot......etc. Plan to modify the sail plan and use an off the shelf lug rig from "Sailrite." I am fairly confident the rig will be a bit more efficient than the original and easily self made.......etc. Settled on the "Acorn" design from the Sailrite kits. Centers of effort and areas will be about the same and the spars will be a touch shorter for easier storage.

Progress is slow in New England. Winter is too cold and summer is too fun!!!

[boatsail]

Here is a link to a cool looking pram for free. Some sites charge for the same exact dinghy plans.

I am actually building one right now. Should be painted up this weekend.
Free boat plans from Bateau

[boatsail]

Years and years ago, I applied for a job at CLC. They ended up calling me back asking if I wanted a job, but I already had one and respectfully declined. Great place. We used to go to their annual day on the water where you got to test out the different boats. It was a really good time.