Nesting row boat

[Wherry Jack]

I am looking for plans for a nesting rowing boat for fishing or a light weight folding boat. Please comment on the performance of the boat and how easy it is to transport without a trailer.

[Frank Hagan]

Check out the Catspaw dinghy at B & B Yacht Designs. Being a pram design it has a lot of capacity in a very small size. The nesting versions do nest small enough to fit on top of a car or in a pick up bed. I have the plans, but haven't built it yet. Here's the link: http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/cpaw.htm

Transport ease depends on size and weight and what you have to carry it. Beam on the smallest nesting design is just over 4', and nested length is 4' also. That makes it a hard fit inside a mini-van, but fine for a pickup. Weight is estimated at 65 - 75 pounds, though, and that can be hard to put on top of a car.

The smallest non-nesting version has 3' 9" beam and is only 6' 6" long ... and weighs 38 - 45 pounds. That would be easier to car top. It is rated for up to 2 people; not sure if that would leave any room for fish!

[htom]

Here's a guy who makes a stripper version of Dave Gerr's Nester. http://www.gerrmarine.com/small.html

http://johndanicic.com/dingy%20building%20pages/boat_building_page%201.htm

I'm inclined to think that the smaller version would be too tippy for fishing.

[Figment]

The strip-built version of Gerr's "Nester" was also built round-bilged, which gives away even more stability.

eh, the guy had an idea he wanted to build and he built it. good on him.
A bit misguided, though. I mean come on now, if you can't find space for a fullsize "Nester" on the deck of a Cape Dory 36, you're not looking hard enough.

Piling question atop question.... Does anyone know if a "Nester" has ever been rigged for sail?

[ 05-04-2005, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Figment ]

[Trojan Dog]

I am just finishing off a 9 foot folding boat from plans I found on-line at the following link http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=RowBoats/HandyAndy I rather like the look of the thing as it's still sitting on the bench, and building is pretty straightforward. It's pointy at the bow, meaning that it is probably longer than it needs to be to do it's job, and if I build another I'll probably lobb-off the bow to get her out of 8' of ply (without the scarfing I had to do on this one) and make her a little more portable. She seems very rigid popped open, and she certainly folds down to a neat package that's light enough for one person to walk around with, and does so quickly (a lot less time than messing with an inflatable or bolting a nester together). The plans specify 3/8" ply, which I thought to be on the heavy side, so I'm using 1/4" with some reinforcing here and there and I'm pretty confident that she'll be fine. This one is fir "big-box" ply, but if she performs at all well the next one will be something better and prettier, as I think I'd like to finish one bright and see how it looks. Once the current project is in the water, I'll re-post and let you know how she performs. She's being built as a tender and fishing boat, but I think I'll have a go at putting some sort of sail on her as well. She'll be in the water in the next week or so. You might also have a look at http://www.seahopper.co.uk/

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

If you don't mind S&G try the FB 11. Nests to 6'. 70 lb. row or power (4 HP).
http://www.boatplans-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=FB11
Charlie

[shoal_draft_fantasies]

also see
http://www.microcruising.com/ding1.htm
pretty full instructions on how to build a folding dinghy

[John Turpin]

I'm currently building a B & B Two Paw 8 nesting pram. I'm documenting the build at the following website if you want to see how this one goes together.

My dinghy project (http://www.stratinsights.com/twopaw8/projectpics1.htm)

[Figment]

Nice work, John!

I'll bet you're a bit anxious to get The Big Cut behind you.

Can't wait to hear how she sails.

[Stiletto]

John, how heavy will she be when finished?, she's looking good!

[ 05-06-2005, 03:06 AM: Message edited by: Stiletto ]

[John Turpin]

Thanks for the kind comments. My goal was to find a nice project for my boys and I to work together on over the winter. It's been a blast.

I'm not sure about the final weight. The designer estimated 65 to 75 pounds, but I bet I'll exceed that. I can't believe how much epoxy I'm going through. I'm into my second, no third, gallon and each of those represents about 9 pounds. I'm also going to add some additional compartments and that will add some weight. But, it will also let me add some flotation (ping pong balls) and it's worth it.

As a matter of fact, the project has been so much fun I may quit my day job and start building wooden boats for a living. I bet I could make . . . [thinking] . . . [adding] . . . [carry the five] . . . oh. On second thought, I think I'll keep my day job.

[Wherry Jack]

Thankyou for all the ideas. Your boats look great.

[David Bixby]

Did you see this new one from CLC?

Passage Maker Dinghy (http://www.clcboats.com/boats/passagemakerdinghy.php/cart_id=974da4571547384528a6049fce900698/)

[mdevour]

I have a question... How do the halves of these nesting dinghies join to one another? Outside latches? Bolts and wing-nuts with a donut gasket trapped between?

Thanks! This thread has kept my head busy the last couple of days. :cool:

Mike D.

[htom]

There are many ways of locking the halves together, almost all with faults (although the only complaint I've heard about the mechanism Dave Gerr designed for Nester is that it's very expensive to buy or complicated to make yourself.)

[YMT]

See also.
TYD#235
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/Dinghy-1guyA_small.jpg
web page 15
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/Dinghy-2guysA_small.jpg
web page
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/Dinghy-3guysA_small.jpg
web page
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/Dinghy-4guysA_small.jpg]
web page
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/Dinghy-5guysA_small.jpg]
web page
[URL=http://www.tantonyachts.com/With_Dinghy_small.jpg]
web page

[John Turpin]

Mike, my Two Paw 8 attaches using 5 SS bolts with wing nuts. I thought about getting more inventive, but decided to keep it simple. The plans call for a rubber gasket/washer at each bolt and I still need to hunt around for some rubber that won't bake and stick to the paint. Some wetsuit material would be perfect. Mouse pad maybe?

From what I've heard, the challenge is often aligning the bolt holes and threading on the nuts from the deck of a pitching boat. Some people reportedly find it easier to put both halves in the water, climb into the most stable half, and bolt it up while floating. I can picture it, but I just don't see how it would be that much easier.

[ion barnes]

I really think that they are intended to be assembled on deck or land. Assembly at sea is an exercise in frustration or necessity.

Pete Culler's book of plans had a sail plan for his Concordia 9' dinghy that I have thought of using but he does have others to choose from too.

[rbgarr]

FWIW, plans for an 11' nesting flat bottom garvey may be available for about $40 from Richard Tate at closereach@yahoo.com. I bought a set of plans with a how-to article from him in 2001.