Seahopper/stowaway/flapdoodle dinghies - how good are they?

[barnaclephill]

The Stowaway and Seahopper dinghies look very classy, though a bit pricey to ship to Oz. The Flapdoodle dinghy plans look like they make a similar product, for much less cost plus one's time and some skill. Granted that they're 8 to 12ish feet, does anyone have experience in rowing and sailing them?

Do they have as good performance as rigid plywood dinghies, with the bonus of stow-ability?

I built a 6' Wooden Widget and it's reasonable, but maybe better when the outboard arrives.

 

[graham]

I had an 8 foot Seahopper with the sailing rig years ago. It stowed quite neatly on the coachroof of the 26 foot boat we had then could be assembled in about 5 minutes.

It rowed and sailed quite well. It was a bit flimsy for the abuse a tender gets also wouldnt be much use as a liferaft in an emergency .

We have an inflatable now.

 

[Lakesailor]

You can buy plans on-line for FyneBoats folder

 

[doug748]

I made one of these from plans by Kenneth Endean, published in YM years ago. It worked pretty well and rowed ok. KE (London Apprentice) sails more than most of us will ever contemplate and he seems very happy with the concept. However I would think twice before using mine on a long stretch wind over tide.

 

[barnaclephill]

Yeah thanks for the info & link to wooded widget.

Last week I rowed (the 6' wooded widget) from the new mooring which was 0.9nm over about 35 minutes (around 1.8kts) and I'd done about half a mile beforehand. I am just perturbed by the flexibility of the floor and just wanting to know if I'd row faster if it was a more rigid floor like the flapdoodle/seahopper styles.

I saw Ken's plans and he sails them. I'm just trying to assess if the more rigid floor will help rowing, and then be able to sail the thing as a bonus also. If so, I'll bother to make one of those as well.

 

[richardandtracy]

I must declare an interest:-
In 1979 my dad bought a Seahopper before the owners of Seahopper & Stowaway boats fell out. He bought a kit & as kiddies, my brother & I helped him make it (after some persuasion I may add!). Anyway, we loved it & learnt to sail in it. Brilliant, stiff boat. No deflection at the joints at all. Once it's folded out it behaves as any other rigid dingy.

Then, 4/5 years ago the company I work for got a contract with Stowaway boats to produce their dingy's and develop new ones. [Hell of a change from making metal boxes!] The result is a number of changes to the design & a great improvement in finish.
I have seen a recent Seahopper, and feel that the finish is somewhat less good. Also see for yourself if Seahoppers are still members of the British Boat Builders Federation. They used to be. Draw your own conclusions from the result.

Stowaway boats are now trying to develop a grp version of the plywood dingy. This is starting to look really good.

I personally think the ply version is over priced, but I know the company I work for can't make it cheaper due to the price of marine ply. There's over £600 in marine ply raw material costs in each 8ft Stowaway boat. That's before any other fittings, labour etc..
I am a stress engineer, and know the grp version will be stronger, but slightly heavier, than the ply version. I think it's slightly more flexible at the joints than the ply version, but having played around with a half finished one, I reckon it will be very good.

Will I buy one? No. I'm too tight. I made a dingy for £26, so don't want to spend out for a more expensive one. (see http://www.geocities.com/richardandtracy/articles/dingy.htm)

Is a Stowaway boat a nice boat? Without question. Is it a good family dingy? Yes. Do I recommend it as a folding boat? Yes. Do I recommend you get one? I decline to answer as my answer could be used in evidence against me at work.

Regards

Richard.

 

[graham]

£600 for the plywood in an 8foot dinghy? It must be extremely good quality?

 

[richardandtracy]

Ply cost

2.5 sheets of 6mm at £200/sheet and slightly under 0.5 sheets of 12mm at £300/sheet.

Good quality ply? I hope so at that cost!

Regards

Richard.