which home build dinghy for beginer?y

[jay_cumbria]

hi all, im new here! im just wanting some advice on building a sailing dinghy in my garage, im a complete novice to boat building but am a time served fitter+turner so have the common sense! could any one recomend a good boat for me to begin with? the simpler the better and the smaller really. thanks, hope someone can advise me!
.jay.

 

[BarryH]

You can't really go wrong with a mirror, I biult one years ago. Stitch and glue method dead easy to master. Or theres the barrow boat company, loads of diddy little sailers there.

I would stick with a 'known' design as when it comes to sell you'll have a readily identifiable product to sell. Had loads of fun in the mirror and am now looking for one to teach my two kids sail. Prices seem to be stable and around 350-400 for a decent one. Loads of sites out there where you can find all the info on different kit and plan suppliers. Do a search on google, it comes up with loads.

 

[martinb]

How about PBO's Pup, at only £25 for the plans it represents good value. I'm tempted to build one myself on the garage is emptied of all the other half built projects!

Martin

 

[parm]

I built my fifst dinghy last year for the kids. I choose a selway Fisher design - a skylark 8 which i found very easy and enjoyable to build. there are loads of designs on the net, some american ones are very cheap but i chose selway because they are only a phone call away and very helpfull. Here is a link to there web site and also a yahoo group which is intresting

http://www.selway-fisher.com


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFD_builders_sailors

 

[barebones]

The best piece of advice I ever had regarding building was... Buy one and just add water.

 

[drawp]

Re: Home builds

As BarryH recommended, stitch & glue is an easy method. From your local library, get hold of a book by the American, Herb Payson, "Build the New Instant Boat". There is a lot of good stuff in there on amateur boat building. You can even build a small dinghy from the plans given in the book.

 

[tr7v8]

Go to Yahoo groups and do a search on Wooden boats & also boat building, also go to Duckworks.com, there'll be so much knowledge and even free plans floating (sic) around.
The other book is "Boats with an open mind" by Bolger or anything by him.

Jim
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[richardandtracy]

Tortoise or Brick

I suggest a Tortoise (small) or Brick (larger) by Phil Bolger. They've got vertical sides, simple framing & can take 2 or 4. Harold Payson (www.instantboats.com) reckons they take 10-12 hours to make. Pete & Annie Hill highly recommend their Tortoise in their first book.

If you've got access to a CAD package that can take AutoCAD R14 drawings I can send you a drawing set I've done for my one (loosely based on a couple of pictures of the Brick). I haven't got any further than turning the metalwork on my lathe, so I can't really commend it yet.

Regards

Richard

 

[snowleopard]

mirror...

a) easy to build
b) easy to sail
c) safe
d) lots of clubs have racing fleets
e) easy to re-sell
f) row/motor/singlehand options