Plans for an aluminium dinghy that planes, sails and rows easily ?

[Brann-]

I've been looking for that kind of dingy for quite some time. I'm basically looking for something that will last forever hence the aluminium, and if possible not too shiny so that it doesn't attract unwanted attention.

There are quite a few that tick most of the boxes (eg the portland looks fine but is not aluminium and looks expensive. Actually, it is quite expensive, too), but I've not found one that does all this yet, so I ended up seriously considering building mine

I've found this page : Wave Dancer Yacht Design - wholesale plan sales but the guy retired and doesn't sellthe plans anymore (nor does he give them away for free)

Did anybody build such a dinghy ? and if so, do you have the plans you used ?

thanks!

[HopCar]

Never built in aluminum so can’t help you with plans.
One boat that might work for you, if you can find one, is a Grumman Dinghy.
GRUMMAN DINGHY sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

[Cheechako]

There have been companies that built unsinkable aluminum dingies like that with air chambers. Not sure how long the companies lasted. One was at the Seattle boat show maybe 8 years ago. The other is Stabi Craft, but now sure they build small like that any more.

[a64pilot]

Any Grumman boat was excellent quality.
as a kid I had a Grumman canoe, it was still in great shape a few years ago when the Oak tree fell on it, and it had never really been stored inside

[HopCar]

I used to sell Grumman Canoes and Dinghies back in the seventies. Excellent boats.

[Cadence]

If you plan on building one yourself, you may want to consider a scow design to eliminate the need for compound curves.

[oleman]

Checkout glen-l.com for a good selection of buildables and good following on aluminum homebuilts.

[Kim Gregory]

I know the Chameleon nesting dinghy has been built in aluminum.
Link: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f47/danny-green- chameleon-nesting-dinghy-156370.html
( Page 6 )

[NevisDog]

To row well a dinghy must be long and narrow, to plane it must be wide and flat, to sail well it needs a heavy centreboard case that destroys both rowing and planing abilities.

I had an elderly aluminium sailing dinghy - it was a pig to launch and sail, it rowed like a pig and when planing would try to sink with water spraying in through the centreboard case. It was ugly too (that may be a bonus) and had begun to leak where the thin aluminium had rotted (corroded) through. That's my experience of aluminium dinghies.

[ccannan]

http://http://www.oceancraft.com.au/

[jharding]

love my portland pudgy, unsinkable, lifeboat, rows and sails well, will never plane, plastic is very durable

[Pigpen Pete]

Not what you're asking for but before circumnavigating in our 42 ft steelie, we invested in a seahopper folder which outboards, sails and rows reasonably well as well as being able to be stored on the deckhead inside (good for submarining in heavy weather). We made a little stub CB to go down the slot for rowing and outboarding which worked well.
While in the UK we entered it in the annual Swallows and Amazons round the island race in the Walton backwaters. Came last of course.
But its plywood, and the hinges gradually leak and it needs TLC so not what you're asking for but it was fun and a terrific big load carrier for its size. .. a good asset for general cruising.

[Pigpen Pete]

Sorry .. here's the link
http://www.seahopperfoldingboats.com/

[skyratgunner]

Originally Posted by Brann-

I've been looking for that kind of dingy for quite some time. I'm basically looking for something that will last forever hence the aluminium, and if possible not too shiny so that it doesn't attract unwanted attention.

There are quite a few that tick most of the boxes (eg the portland looks fine but is not aluminium and looks expensive. Actually, it is quite expensive, too), but I've not found one that does all this yet, so I ended up seriously considering building mine

I've found this page : Wave Dancer Yacht Design - wholesale plan sales but the guy retired and doesn't sellthe plans anymore (nor does he give them away for free)

Did anybody build such a dinghy ? and if so, do you have the plans you used ?

thanks!

what about using a jetstream jet boat as a dingy I'm wanting to buy a sailboat and liveaboard ...I'm wondering if this could be an option
they're pretty light and would be pretty fast and serve as an option to have fun in as well the boat I'm talking about uses a jetski engine and pump they call them mini jet boats

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by skyratgunner

what about using a jetstream jet boat as a dingy I'm wanting to buy a sailboat and liveaboard ...I'm wondering if this could be an option
they're pretty light and would be pretty fast and serve as an option to have fun in as well the boat I'm talking about uses a jetski engine and pump they call them mini jet boats

The jetstream is a heavy, high cost fun boat, basically a sports car. Goes really fast but pound unmercifully in seas, trades carrying capacity for increased motor size and is heavy to put in the water or take back out.

When you are cruising you want a stationwagon.
You need a boat that can haul provisions, water and people back and forth to shore. That requires significant carrying capacity.
For easy storage you want a fold-a-bote, a RIB/inflatable or a hard nesting dinghy. All of these would be in the 60-130lb range.
If you have a large space on deck you would get regular dinghy, fiberglass or aluminum up to about 12', weight 100-200lb. You could use a halyard to hoist on deck. You might be able to hang it on stern davits, generally a mediocre choice if you are going offshore. Depends on the size of the vessel & dinghy, the vessel stern and where you want to cruise.
For going back and forth to shore at 3-4mph you would want 2.3-4hp motor, 27-50lb.
If you want to go further afield you will probably want to plane the boat (13-17mph) with at least 1 extra person and gear aboard. That means a light dinghy and a 10hp high thrust motor (100lb). Or a 15hp motor (125lb or so).