PBO Pup and LIBS

davidfox

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12 Jan 2004
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Went to boat show keen to look at PBO Pup being made from a kit as I have been thinking of getting one (this was as anounced in PBO) , I already have a set of plans, but thought that the precut kit sounded a better idea, went to PBO stand and asked where it was, one girl eventually pointed me in the right direction, arrived at stand, asked what did kit include? didnt know, sent me to Robbins timber, what did kit include? sorry dont know but I could buy one at a special boat show price! yes but does it include spars? dont know ' my boss gave me this piece of paper but didnt explain anything'. - looked a piece of paper, ' why dont you ask at the PBO stand', went to PBO stand, sorry dont know. needless to say I didnt buy the kit.
shame really.
 
This is interesting. I too bought the plans. They looked ok, but the instructions are woefully inadequate. So I thought was it worth risking the money on materials, and then making a mistake! I had heard that the pre-cut timber would be around £300. Add to that say £70 for Epoxy, and another say £50 for other bits and pieces, the money for the rigging, mast and sail and you quickly have an expensive boat to build, mostly on your own initiative (the instructions are less than two sides of A4 from memory). Building tenders is fun, but you need to know you can do it right to justify the money. In the end I shelved the Pup plans and bought a kit from Fyne Boats - where the build instructions are very detailed and step by step. Maybe one day I'll build a Pup....
 
For what it is worth, I had never built a dinghy and hadn't done any woodwork for about 30 years but I built a Pup from the plans 3 years ago. I took my time and spent about 4 months on the project. The total cost was around £250 that included wood, epoxy, paint and fittings. I went for a balanced lug sail arrangement and cut up an old dingly sail just to see how it worked - 2 seasons later it is still there, so much for temporary.

I originally built it for the grandkids but it now doubles up as the tender for the yacht. It is easily rowed, sails reasonably well and we use 3.3 outboard on it as well. Carries 3 adults with ease. I like the offset dagger board arrangement as it leaves the centre area free from obstruction. Its light and the children can handle it easily both afloat and on shore.

If you can handle the usual DIY chores around the home, I am sure building it is within your grasp. Plus there is plenty of helpful advice available here on the forum - I know quite a few formumites have built them some even have built 2.

Go for it
John
 
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