UnlikelyBoatBuilder: Building the 10' Atkin Sailing Dinghy 'Vintage'

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Okay! It's finally time to get started on this winter's build!

The goal is to build the William Atkin designed "Vintage" in time for the "I Built It Myself" show at the Wooden Boat Show in Mystic, CT.

Why "Vintage"? Several reasons.

First, I think it's time I tackled a round-bottom boat. Again, I think this is a project that is way above my current skill level, but I'm a real believer in the adage that people can do more than they think they can. Just because I doubt my ability to build such a complicated boat, is no reason to not do it.

Sounds weird, right? Ah well...

Read Blog Post: Building "Vintage"




Clear lumber: John

[David_Old_Jersey]

Good Luck!

[Khagan1227]

Good luck.

Built my first boat a few years ago, didn't build another one for a couple of years, which is long enought to forget all the mistakes I made the first time. Now when I make the same mistake I made previously, I instantly know it, right after I make the final cut...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Khagan1227

Good luck.

Built my first boat a few years ago, didn't build another one for a couple of years, which is long enought to forget all the mistakes I made the first time. Now when I make the same mistake I made previously, I instantly know it, right after I make the final cut...

The trick is to keep cutting bits off - until it's long enough

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Well, I'm hoping that the second boat is going to be easier. But since it's a round-bottom, and my first was a flat-bottom, I may be just a tad too optimistic. We'll see!

[bljones]

I knew you were gonna become an addict. Welcome to the Hardwater Amateur Boatbuilding and Drinking Society. The Society's motto: "When it is too cold to sail the boat we got, we build another boat to sail when we can."

[Blue Stocking]

To walk along the small boats floats at Mystic Seaport is like--well--giving me the keys to the candy store.
A sweet little boat. 2 up

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Originally Posted by bljones

I knew you were gonna become an addict. Welcome to the Hardwater Amateur Boatbuilding and Drinking Society. The Society's motto: "When it is too cold to sail the boat we got, we build another boat to sail when we can."

Could be. I've already got my next boat picked out. Is that a symptom?

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

To walk along the small boats floats at Mystic Seaport is like--well--giving me the keys to the candy store.
A sweet little boat. 2 up

I know what you mean. I'm hoping to sail the Blue Moon up there for the show, and anchor off. I saw a few boats anchored there last summer, and thought it looked like fun.

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Now that I've cut out the two pieces of my lofting board, it's time to assemble it into one 3/4" x 4' x 13' surface. I also want to white-wash it.

The boat building books (BBBs) discuss lots of ways to assemble the lofting board. Probably the best way is to screw the various panels down on the floor. I didn't want to do this because I didn't want to drill holes in my floor, and also I wanted to be able to move the board if needed, or even lean it up against the wall to get it out of the way.

Read blog post: Lofting Board

Fair lines: John

[zoombats]

The Gillmer "Blue Moon" is one of the prettiest designs ever put down on paper and put up in frame. Screw the dinghy and get yourself south on that beauty.

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Originally Posted by zoombats

The Gillmer "Blue Moon" is one of the prettiest designs ever put down on paper and put up in frame. Screw the dinghy and get yourself south on that beauty.

Don't I know it! I just sailed 2000 miles to get her up north, though! She's a lot happier here in Long Island Sound (except for the snow), than where I found her, in the Pan Handle of western Florida. More water!

[UnlikelyVoyager]

So what is a lofting board for? For lofting, of course.

Lofting is the process of blowing up the relatively small-scale plans you get from your naval architect (in my case, from William Atkin), into full size plans.

This process is thought to be so complicated that many modern architects supply full-size plans to eliminate the need for lofting. Just roll out the plans and start building. But if you don't know how to loft, you can't build about 98% of boats, because full-size plans aren't available.

Plus, you miss out on all the fun of lofting, which really is a kind of relaxing exercise, once you have all your hair torn out...

Read blog post: The Grid

Fair Lines: John

[UnlikelyVoyager]

Battens are one of those things that professional boat builders take for granted, I think. They've seen them since their first apprentice days, know what they look like, their different sizes, which batten is right for which curve, and on and on.

Not so for we poor amateurs trying to learn boat building out of books. I must admit they are still a bit of a mystery to me. Such a simple tool. So important. So easy to break!

Read blog post: Battered By Battens

Clear wood: John

[PAR]

John, you seem to have flooded the wood working and boat building sites with links to your blog. Isn't your blog good enough? Is it necessary to seemingly shout, in a half a dozen or more sites about your issues, discoveries and newbie experiences, as a boat builder on a relatively insignificant 10' dinghy?

For example, your membership on this forum and also over at MessingAbout, BYYB, Australia's Wood Work Forum, BoatDesign.net and who knows where else, have been created solely to self promote this lapstrake endeavor of yours. I mean really, Australia too! Do you think this is just a little over the top? Maybe your enthusiasm would be best spent on your project and updating your own blog. I wonder how much more you've have done on both, had you not spent countless hours signing onto discussion forums and creating a whole bunch more little blogs, about the same thing.