Folding Dinghy - Should I rebuild it?

[Forbsie]

I cleaned up my bit of pontoon today, lots of offcuts of wood for my stove and about 2" of sawdust under my saw bench. So it's all tidy but I've got this old folding dinghy sitting there that I've always thought of as a winter project. It was built in 1934 by a late friend's brother. It has a wooden frame and canvas shell and is about the size of an electric guitar case.

Are there new materials that could replace the canvas and keep the water out?

Is it likely to be stable enough?

 

[Kilter]

the stuff used for soft sided trucks will work well

 

[Peterduck]

Have a talk to a manufacturer of truck tarpaulins; you could be quite surprised at what fabrics they have. There are also silicone treatments for canvas to make it water-repellent. Try the mountaineering shops for that. One other thought; have you ever used it? Do you know how it performs? I'd hate to think of you spending lots of dosh on the thing and then find out that it is as handy as a coracle.
Peter.

 

[Mukes]

Fyne boat Kits sell the rubberised canvas material for the woodenwidget (folding boat):

http://www.fyneboatkits.com/trolleyed/4/98/index.htm (scroll down toward the bottom of the page)

 

[Roach1948]

If it is an old Prout dinghy, then I would definately restore it. They are rare things indeed. The Prout's successor, the Origami, suggest using PVC fabric from Kayospruce www.sailcloth.co.uk between 400 and 600grams per square metre.

 

[Richard Shead]

Question is, will it get you to the Swan and BACK again without going in? if the answer is yes to both then give it a go!

 

[Roach1948]

[ QUOTE ]
Fyne boat Kits sell the rubberised canvas material for the woodenwidget (folding boat):

http://www.fyneboatkits.com/trolleyed/4/98/index.htm (scroll down toward the bottom of the page)

[/ QUOTE ]

Mukes: Same boat. I did not realise the plans for the Origami were with Fyne Boat Kits. FYI, the plans from the designer direct are much cheaper http://www.woodenwidget.com/

 

[Mukes]

I bought one from ebay last winter but have yet to try it out! Mrs Mukes refused to be the Guinea Pig when I asked her to leave her life jacket ashore - re-arming kits are not cheap you know!

 

[Forbsie]

[ QUOTE ]
Question is, will it get you to the Swan and BACK again without going in? if the answer is yes to both then give it a go!

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't even WALK past the Swan without going in!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Forbsie]

[ QUOTE ]
One other thought; have you ever used it? Do you know how it performs? I'd hate to think of you spending lots of dosh on the thing and then find out that it is as handy as a coracle.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never used it as it's full of holes but reckon that it would be a bit of a dog. If I had kids, I think it would be great fun for them to muck about in but the only use I could see is for our Boatyard Olympics when we have various events such as synchronized beer walking (walking across the Thames from the Barmy Arms to the yard with a full pint of beer, barrel balancing, and a rowing race to Twickenham Yacht Club and back.

I'll have a look at the truck tarpaulin route and get some costs.

Thanks for your advice, gentlemen.