Just Ordered a Kit for a Passagemaker Dinghy

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by montenido

Hello everybody. Wow, I had no idea that people would be interested. I did order the take-apart version, and yes, I will post pics of the build, along with tips (if any) on how to make it easier. The bad news is that they make these kits to order, which I did not know, so I may have to wait a month or so to receive my kit

So now I am back at square one, which means working on my house until the kit shows up, or I get back down to La Paz.

Cheers, Bill

OK... You stay on the friends list then...

Get your shizzit house stuff done so you don't have any Calabasas woes interfering with sipping margs in La Paz....

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by montenido

The bad news is that they make these kits to order, which I did not know, so I may have to wait a month or so to receive my kit

So now I am back at square one, which means working on my house until the kit shows up, or I get back down to La Paz.

Cheers, Bill

I wonder if they are willing to sell you their blueprint and you get to supply locally.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by keepondancin

I have built two kayaks from CLC, and am amazed by their business model. Good design, good products, friendly staff, and over the top customer service, along with a forum that is one of the best, all at a good price. The kit isn't Legos, it does take some finesse and tweaking, the more careful you are, the better the end result. Wish many more marine businesses could be like them. The Kayaks perform beyond expectation.

Do you have some picture links of your kayaks? How long did it take make one from start to finish?

[La Porte Rouge]

CLC sells the plans as well, and it comes with an instruction manual.

[montenido]

Hello folks,

I finally received the dinghy kit today. Yay! Took over 6 weeks, so if any of you want to build one, keep this in mind. The bottom and side strakes all come in two pieces which must be epoxied together before assembly. I am doing that now. I'll take some pics as things progress.
I am really psyched to finally have the kit, its like Christmas morning . Standby for future updates.

Cheers, Bill

[mpatter894]

I have done one of their kits they come out pretty nice if it involves laying glass over the wood I would suggest you get a pro to do it or practice a lot I got mine glassed by a surfboard shaper he did a great job cost me 200 bucks plus materials

[JPA Cate]

montenido,

Even I am somewhat interested, I like the boat building and restoring threads.

There is another nesting dinghy, plans available through a friend of ours, that actually nests! It comes apart into two separate dinghies, either of which can be rowed, so you have "two cars," as it were. But joined together, it goes very well. Two sets of friends used theirs for years here in the South Pacific.

Ann

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by montenido

Hello folks,

I finally received the dinghy kit today. Yay! Took over 6 weeks, so if any of you want to build one, keep this in mind. The bottom and side strakes all come in two pieces which must be epoxied together before assembly. I am doing that now. I'll take some pics as things progress.
I am really psyched to finally have the kit, its like Christmas morning . Standby for future updates.

Cheers, Bill

SWEET!!!!!

I can't wait to watch your build....

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

montenido,

Even I am somewhat interested, I like the boat building and restoring threads.

There is another nesting dinghy, plans available through a friend of ours, that actually nests! It comes apart into two separate dinghies, either of which can be rowed, so you have "two cars," as it were. But joined together, it goes very well. Two sets of friends used theirs for years here in the South Pacific.

Ann

Ann,

Is there a picture of this "nester"?

Always interested in innovative designs...

[montenido]

Hi all,

Here are few pictures of the early stages of construction. The kit comes with the long pieces in two parts, which must be epoxied together (first picture). Then, most of the parts must get a double coating of epoxy, with sanding in between coats. This takes a while, as each coat is supposed to sit over night. Then, there is the issue of room. I am doing all my coating on my sports court, which allows lots of room, but no refuge from leaves, bird sh#t, bugs, etc. Oh well, all that stuff will sand out, right?

I have the first row of side slats (there are four on each side) stitched to the bottom, so it sort of resembles a boat. Tomorrow I will finish installing the sides and the front and rear transoms.

Cheers, Bill

[HopCar]

That's looking good. I love those puzzle joints. Much easier than trying to scarf them. I guess if you build from plans instead of a kit, you would have to use a scarf joint.

[Potatohead]

No thread drift intended but CLC also makes an Eastport pram nesting dinghy that is smaller. I've built a slightly modified(strengthened) version and even a wood butcher like me can build from their kits. Good stuff.

[montenido]

Potatohead,

I looked at those also. What sold me was how fast the Passagemaker rows. The guy in La Paz that has one, you can literally hear him coming, he is moving so fast. How did you strengthen/modify yours? I would be open to some strengthening tips.

Cheers, Bill

[keepondancin]

Originally Posted by rockDAWG

Do you have some picture links of your kayaks? How long did it take make one from start to finish?

I think the pics will show up. Strip kayak is about 300 hours. The stitch and glue/strip deck hybrid, about 150 hours.

[Potatohead]

HI Bill, First off, I'd love to have built a PM instead, just don't have the space to carry it, my loss. I put an extra layer of cloth on the bottom, added cleats at the transom/hull joints fore and aft of both sections, enclosed the bow under the thwart, enclosed the center thwart, added a 3/8 inch rib around the entire gunwale (inside) strengthened the keel, added rubstrakes screwed through to matching interior rub rails on the floor ,and trimmed down the contours fore and aft to eliminate the nice cutout handles. Hated to do that but they would take the brunt of contact with walls, other high sided dinghies, etc. Looking forward to your series on your build, I have dinghy envy already. Ray

[HappyMdRSailor]

Sports Court???

What are you... The Calabasas Gatsby clan???

She's looking fantastic Bill !!! Don't worry 'bout them bug, dirt n leaves... Those are "character enhancing"