Talk me out of building a wooden dink

[JPA Cate]

I have seen such gorgeous timber dinghies they make my heart go pitty-pat! It must be hard to discipline oneself in building one to keep it practical. It needs to finish out as a tough object, so you're comfy hauling it up on a beach and don't have to worry about damaging it.

Ann

[akopac]

Best dinghy I ever owned

[akopac]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I have seen such gorgeous timber dinghies they make my heart go pitty-pat! It must be hard to discipline oneself in building one to keep it practical. It needs to finish out as a tough object, so you're comfy hauling it up on a beach and don't have to worry about damaging it.

Ann

What if you did damage it. It would be simple to fix and you wouldn’t need crazy expensive glues and patches.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by W32PAMELA

I'll give it one more try at attaching a photo of my chameleon

That looks a lot like the Passagemaker dinghy that CLC sells kits for. Buying a kit is one way to make sure the project gets started & makes it a lot easier to finish.

https://www.clcboats.com/modules/cat...ooden-boat-kit

[akopac]

Nope. That’s a Danny green Chameleon. I built one just like it. The front locker, same rear floatation compartments, and bench in the rear section are exactly like mine. No question about it.

[MartinR]

Why would I want to talk you out of it? There is nothing better than a well designed wooden dinghy.

[akopac]

This is some pictures of the Chameleon I built in the bahia in Ecuador
New Dinghy Launch - Sep 2, 2006 -

[Tillsbury]

Definitely go for it! I’m in the process of building an 11’ nesting Spindrift. Easy storage, each section is light to lift and launch, row and sail, or driven with my Spirit 1.0

I sold my big inflatable last month. Have bought a new small inflatable as a secondary/spare dinghy which packs away very small in a locker.

[Simi 60]

Thinking of building another flatty like I had on a previous boat but upping the size a bit as a go ashore and drag up the beach for adult beverages and dinner dinghy. (Current 14ft tinny with 30hp is to weighty)

Last one was simply a sheet of 6mm ply , batten pulled and trimmed about 1/3rd of each side to get shape.
Screwed to a bench at around the 1600mm mark and then bent up and packed up to get shape.
Vertical bow glued in
Approx 500mm sides offered up, trimmed to curve and glued in.
Transom to suit with extra pad where OB will attach.
Epoxy coves all round and glass tape.
Full length seating out of 6mm top and 4mm sides, epoxy coves all round and glass tape.
Bulkhead around about where hull curves up, now you have an anchor locker.
50mm PVC cut and pushed over edge around perimeter and glasses
Outside given layer of 5 oz
Strategic 1/2 PVC tube on bottom for chafe, coved and glassed.
PVC tube and glass rowlocks glassed in and milk crate seat it rowed reasonably well
PVC tube and glass lifting points
Slap some house paint on.
Built in a weekend and gave near a decade of service and sold on with big boat.

Very very stable
Could carry 4 drunkards with ease
2hp worked a treat, could lock it off in centre, stand towards front and lean to steer.
Could stand at front and sweep around bow with single oar and get some propulsion.
Mcguyvered some cheap wheels on the back as well.

New one will be a 10 ft version with extra beam and 4hp