Home build dinghy

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samwise

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One of my sons ( a keen sailor ) wants to build a wooden dinghy as his DT (We used to call it woodwork!) GCSE project. He can't use a kit and there is a budget limit of ( I think) about £100, but that can be a bit flexible and achieved by careful sourcing of materials and fittings etc. He is looking for something like a pram dinghy about eight feet overall that can be rowed or sailed (Gunter rig possibly). Does anyone have any recommendations for designs, plan sources and possibly experience of home build for this type of craft? All information welcome.
 
I think you will find that he will have to design and build it himself. That will rule out professional designs and kits.

One boy at the school where I worked at one time wanted to do the same so I gave him some pictures of mine and I also took it in to show him (Home designed and built nearly 30 years ago)

Click the thumbnails to see mine




A sailing dinghy is a bit ambitious for a GCSE project but a simple rowing / outboarding pram is quite possible.

The boy in question simplified mine by making it a single chine. The result was not so pretty but a whole lot easier to design and build. It is built with the stitch an glue method which he will have to find out about if he is to use it . Mine is just under 8 ft long as it was cut from 2 sheets of exterior grade ply (actually 8ft measured along the gunwales) He might be able to get odd bits of iroko from a boat yard that does wooden boat building/ repairs. I even got mine all machined to the sizes I wanted.

If you are interested I can get more photos (these two are the only ones I have now) next weekend.

If I am right it will have to be all his own work but there is no reason why his research should not include asking me or others questions. He can include it all with his work.

BTW I made a couple of cardboard models as part of the design process.

Mine is on the south coast at the moment but if all goes according to plan will be at home in NE Kent after next weekend if that is any help.
 
Vic
I think you are right about the project being all his own work and as I said kits are not within scope. However, I thought it might be worthwhile having a look at some professional designs to get a feel for things and then put something together himself or, as in your example, modify an existing concept, Very many thanks for your offer of help, I'll pass all this on. I knew the Forum would come up trumps!
 
I built one myself last year, a 7' 6" pram with single chine. I looked at various designs on the internet, then designed my own. I made a 1" to1' scale model out of cardboard, then tweeked it a bit where I thought it looked wrong.

I started with two transoms fixed upside down to a rigid frame, then bent a keel piece, then the ply panels. I turned it the right way up and fitted frames, stringers etc afterwards.

It would be quite easy to make a sailing version if you just have a vertical dagger board in a box. Make the dinghy, then cut the slot afterwards.

dinghy18.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought it might be worthwhile having a look at some professional designs

[/ QUOTE ] Indeed yes. Mine is actauly based on a Jack Holt Design that was available in the 1970s. The "Jack Sprat". I did not go so far as getting plans, just the photos in their brochure.

A walk around a club or boatyard dingy park with a tape measure and notepad could well be useful.
 
My son and I built one last year as a tender for my boat....it took a long time basically cos of the learning curve....now i know what i'm doing i could probably knock it up in a couple of weekends

The most expensive part was the epoxy...again i used the stitch and glue technique....

Its a little unstable with the flat bottom but i've never cap-sized it..

I'm looking at building a larger one....something like a 25 ft cruiser....has anyone had any experience of a much larger project....

Steve
 
There is a very simple dinghy on P.104 of the latest (Oct.2007) PBO. It could be a good basis to start.
 
I have just built a PBO Pup, it sounds exactly what you want, set of plans about £20 odd from PBO, gunter rig, all out of 3-4 sheets of 5mm ply, just laminate together to get thicker bits as required, 5lts of epoxy 1 and 1/2 tall cardboard tubes of bonding fibres, some filleting blend about 12m of 50mm glass tape, few bits of wood from B&Q and there you are - 'Robert et votre oncle'
 
[ QUOTE ]
'Robert et votre oncle'


[/ QUOTE ] You miss the point. It is for a GCSE in Design and Technology. He is hardly going to get any credit for using a professional set of plans is he?
 
No I think you have not carefully read the original post. It clearly says for DT.

"One of my sons ( a keen sailor ) wants to build a wooden dinghy as his DT (We used to call it woodwork!) GCSE project"

There is a big difference between what they do these days for DT and what used to be done in woodwork.

PS my last job was in a school and I also have "O"level woodwork
 
He also says 'plan sources' read it again, it doesnt say self design or my son has to design and build a dinghy himself. It doesnt matter to me either way, just offered some advice.
 
Most DT projects these days are done with lots of help from various sources, both parents, friends of parents, internet resources and teachers. In my experience, the student normally starts out by drawing up a specification, and undertaking a review of designs which might contribute to the project. They are expected to critique the designs, explaining what can be adopted and why, and what won't work, and why. They then put the features together in their "own" design. This can be most of someone else's design, with a few minor mods thrown in. The marks are in the thought processes, the examiner is not going to sail the thing!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Most DT projects these days are done with lots of help from various sources, both parents, friends of parents, internet resources and teachers

[/ QUOTE ] Thats fair enough but they cannot simply buy a set of plans and build it as was suggested. A few trival alterations won't be much use either, they'll put masses of effort and time into the whole thing but only be marked on the alterations.

Personally I think a dinghy is too big a task for a GCSE project but as I indicated earlier it can be done. The trouble is the amount of time needed to complete anything large. I would not like to discourage someone who has their heart set on it though.

You are probably right that the examiner won't sail the thing but IIRC the finished items have to be available for assessment for some time if required.
 
It might be too big, but surely if the youngster has set his heart on doing so, then to help, or even encourage him to aim high is to be applauded? ....and indeed, if its something he really wants to do, then he'll probably end up doing a really good job of it, enjoy it, and be proud if his work... all obviously very desireable outcomes....

I'd be delighted if my son set his sights high like that.....
 
There are several web sites offering free Dinghy/ Canoe plans using one two or three sheets of ply.
When I was teaching I used the D4 dinghy which can be built using the Stitch and Tape method and is a good all round dinghy for both sailing and rowing
 
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