HOME BUILT SAILING DINKS

[imagine2frolic]

In the 6 years I have owned my cold molded cat, Imagine. I have had to rebuild a few items on the boat. Since the work has turned out good. I am thinking of building a sailing dink.

I have googled this, and not come up with something I want yet. I would like it to be a good rowing dink as well as taking on a small outboard. Has anyone come across this elusive item? Or am I asking for too much?

[ckgreenman]

What size are you looking for? A simple 8ft pram would fit the bill.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Imagine,
I can send you information on mine but it is 11'6". Its in one of L. F. Herreshoff's books. There are plans available for El Toros through their association. They are 8 foot. Both boats sail, motor and row well. I'm certain there are others out there.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[ckgreenman]

SkiprJohn,
Which one do you have? I'm looking to build one too but have yet to decide exactly what I want to build. I do want something with a jib though.

[imagine2frolic]

Something easy to get off the bow with a halyard. I was thinking between 8 & 12ft. I am interested in anything in that range.......THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[svHyLyte]

Take a look at Chesapeake Light Craft » Catalog » Passagemaker Take-Apart » Boats Plans Kits Kayaks Canoes Sailboats Rowing Boats Boatbuilding Supplies Accessories

Plans and manual $99.00. FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[SkiprJohn]

This is the 12 footer. I've made lots of modifications over the years but it is stitch and glue using 2 x 8 sheets of 1/2 surfboard foam with glass on both sides (foam core). As you can see before I added the bowsprit it was a sprit rigged cat. I added a bowsprit and it became what you see here. Since then I've moved the mast aft and now use Flying Junior sails which make it a real demon.
I've had two different Naples Sabots (8 footers) and they have nearly the same hull as the El Toro. Since I turned 50 (many years ago) they were a little harder for me to sail so I much prefer the 12 footer now.
JohnL

[imagine2frolic]

SkiprJohn,

Sweet l'il vessel

svHyLyte,

I am going to look now......THANKS GENTLEMEN!

[imagine2frolic]

svHyLyte,

That's pretty close to perfection.....THANKS AGAIN

[ckgreenman]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

SkiprJohn,

Sweet l'il vessel

svHyLyte,

I am going to look now......THANKS GENTLEMEN!

Here's some other sites to look at that with plans in your size range.

http://glen-l.com
http://www.dixdesign.com

[imagine2frolic]

ckgreenman,

Thanks for the heads up. Another good set of plans. I don't know why I had such a hard time finding these kind of sites......THANKS!

[ckgreenman]

Your welcome. Sometimes it just takes a second set of eyes and some highly tuned google searches

[mikereed100]

Imagine,

I have been looking long and hard for a boat that I could build that would row and sail well, be lightweight and look good. I have settled on the "Cartopper" by Ray Bolger. Dynamite Payson includes the plans in his excellent book "Instant Boatbuilding". It's 11'6" and weighs 90lbs including a weighted centerboard.
intheboatshed.net » Award-winning designer Phil Bolger’s clever but neglected Cartopper
Best of luck with whatever you choose!

Mike

[San Juan Sailor]

I built a Bolger cartopper about ten yrs. ago and two friends built one at the same time. It's a great boat. Easy to build and good sailing and rowing. One nice thing about the design is that the centerboard is far forward which means there is actually room for a person to sail it comfortably. I had a lot of fun with that boat.
Dan

[imagine2frolic]

Thanks gentlemen,

It's going to be hard to pick one. I love my inflatable, Caribe12ft. I want something to play with. This year I took my 7 yr. old nephew sailing to the Bahamas. We sailed through 30 knots on the nose the first night. He was sick as can be, but asked if he could come back on his last day.

Then he suggested to his dad. That they should join me for the complete trip next year. Just in case a storm comes along, and Uncle John needs some more help. You just got to love that kind of courage. I think a sailing dink on the boat will capture his li'l soul......i2f