Are small pram dinghies the work of the devil ?

[lw395]

Rather than trying to find a suitable mould, how about building a multi-chine dinghy (if there is one that takes your fancy) - but instead of using 'conventional' plywood, laminate up fibreglass sheets instead?
These sheets could be simple CSM/WR/CSM and polyester, or stitchmat, or kevlar, with vinylester or epoxy..... there is a huge choice out there now.
And I am sure that these sheets could be made to be a fraction of the weight of their contemporary plywood sheets. Especially if the panels are not too wide (stressing the 'multi' chine aspect - ok, more work, but less weight).

Many moons ago I designed (and started to build) an 11' long two part nesting dinghy out of laid up fibreglass sheets (using a single layer of stitchmat and polyester resin), with two chines / three panels on each side.
I used a sheet of flat galvanised roofing sheet as a mould surface for laying up the sheets on.
I then stitched the panels together with cable ties and wire where needed.
Have started laminating the joints, and will complete it one day hopefully.....
It will weigh a fair bit more than 25 kg (I am guessing maybe 40 kg), but it could be much lighter if more advanced composite materials were used instead.

We considered making something from grp / foam sandwich panels, but something adequate came along at a bargain price, so the project got shelved.
People have built Merlin Rockets from foam sandwich planks. We quite fancied a sailing tender, but it would not have looked much like a Merlin.

I think people want a whole range of disparate things from a tender, we wanted to be able to cross Portsmouth Harbour in a fair breeze without getting soaked. Able to carry 3 people and gear. Light enough for 1 person to haul up the slipway.
'Be clear about your own needs' would be my advice.