cheap quick crude Yacht tender.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

OK, So I bought a cheap used plastic yacht tender dinghy. A watertender 9.4

Looked ugly and rowed pretty bad, but it got me out to my boat and back.

Now I got this fool thing because I wanted a quick boat for this summah to gewt out to the boat. Summah is too short up heah anyway.

Some urchin however decided he just couldn't live without it though and made off with it.

Now I spent several weeks reading Uncle Henry's to find this one and I just don't have that much time left this season. And the though of buyiong a New plastic tender is rather unnapealing esp, since I got one stolen.

And I have plans for the proper yacht tender dinghy I want to build this wintah.

However, I still gotta get to the boat for the rest of the Summah.

Sooo, Any leads on a set of plans I can get to build a small 9-10 foot rowing dinghy quick and cheap? I* don't right care how it looks, Wood stringers and ACX ply would work out fine. Won't worry much about sealing with epoxy neither. Light weight would be a plus, Last me a few months and I will be happy if I can build it vcheap enough.

Reckopn I will get some porch and deck enamel in Maine Highway dept sign orange, and letter it in black paint "Construction Grade"

Might even letter in "Go Ahead and steal it if you dare."

Ugly would not be a bad thing, Reckon I might tape the seams with Duct tape and take a pic to send to Red Green.

Descent rower might be nice so a half decent hull form that can be slapped together right quick would be nice too.

Any suggestions?

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Cheap is good, but quick to build is bettah.

I am thinking like instant boat by Bolger of some sort.

Like cut out a few panels from plywood and smoodge on the weldwood cheap glue and screw on stainless screws or Bronze riunged nails.

Like build in under a week quick. And a quick clap on paint job...

Ugly so no one wants top take it.

Mike's boat looks too nice for that.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

That was the idea with the Watertender 9.4.

Cost me $300.00.

All I have now for it is the oars and Oarlocks.

Kept the boat at the yard as several people told me they never had any problems with their dinghies there.

Don't want to spend another 300 even now.

Darn those oars turned out to be expensive!

[mmd]

http://www.by-the-sea.com/atkin&co/atcabin2.jpg

How about John Atkin's "Cabin Boy"? http://www.by-the-sea.com/atkin&co/atcabin.html Though shown as lapstrake planked, my copy of "Practical Small Boat Designs" shows it built in sheet ply. Plans are $45.

Another easy Atkin design is "Tri-Trainer".

If you want even cheaper, I have a book containing published plans of an 8'-6" ply pram dinghy called "Shipmite" that is now in the public domain. I can photocopy the book info & mail 'em to you.

[John Bell]

If you don't want it stolen, then build a Bolger "Big Tortise" 8'x 3.5'. Too ugly to steal, but reputed to be a good little boat.

I've messed around in Bolger's "Elegant Punt" and "Nymph" dinghies. EP is the easier of the two to build and quite capable. But both have a lot to recommend.

Bolger also drew a plywood version of the Auray Punt from Brittany that is very attractive and handy.

Jim Michalak offers "Slam Dink", another variation on the Elegant Punt theme.

[Wild Wassa]

Two possible strategies Skipper. If you ring your local yacht/sailing club and have a chat to the sail training officer, there might be something there that might not be wanted. Around here there are little boats like Sabots that have been abandoned and $50 could create a boat space for the club. It will be a terrible boat that has been sitting under trees. The sail training officer will give the owner a call, or tell you who abandoned the boat or if the club has anything going.

Do you have a recycler attached to your local tip, there are often old wrecks at my local tip, they don't come with sails or rigging. At the moment there are two boats at my local, both are not pretty. The most expensive one is going for $20. Good luck. I sometimes go to the recyclers looking for old Douglas.

Warren.

[ 08-11-2004, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[htom]

George Buehler's Bainbridge Mudhen, a 9' dory -- http://www.boatbuildermagazine.com/construction.htm

Chuck Merrell's 7' Apple Pie pram -- http://www.boatdesign.com/applepie/ , also available from him as 9' Peach Pie and a 6' Apple Tart. chuck at boatdesign dot com; I don't know what he charges for the latter two.

[Keith Wilson]

Oh man, there's no contest - gotta be a Bolger Brick, 8'x4', two sheets of plywood and a couple of miscellaneous 2x4s, stable as the dock and rows easily if not fast, doubles as your pet leopard's litter box or a sandbox for the rugrats in the off season, and NOBODY will steal it if you paint it an ugly enough color. If you take more than three days to build it, you're seriously compulsive. Here are pages by a true fan. (http://home.att.net/~t.l.hansen/Brick_home.htm) Bolger's a freakin' genius.

Plans: Order 'em from Dynamite Payson. (http://www.instantboats.com)
http://www.instantboats.com/images/brickst.gif

[ 08-11-2004, 12:07 AM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[sr. jigaboni]

well, I think the brick is really a three sheet sailing boat, but the tortoise is truly a two sheeter.

built a tortoise for the kiddies; we use it at the lake, in the pool, and even on dry land (the rocker and box shape make for an excelent teeter-totter). it's smaller than the brick (which could be built as just a rower), but you can stand in it, and it rows surprisingly well for a perfectly square boat.

plans are 35 bucks, but if you want to be an ass, you can find plans free in one of his books. actually, both brick and tortoise are in books, I believe "Different Boats" and "Boats With an Open Mind."

I built my tortoise two years ago with poly glue and screws, painted with latex. It lives on the side of the house, in the elements, and aside from paint has needed no maintenence nor provided hassles. Two sheets of play and two 8' 2x6's should do ya fine.

oh yeah. took a week of afternoons, including primimg, sanding, painting and drying time; maybe ten hours of work.

[Wilson Fitt]

My building time for Bolger Tortise was 5 1/2 hours, start to launch. Mind you, I cheated a bit by omitting the short decks and the joiner work left something to be desired. Does the job though.

[ 08-11-2004, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: Wilson Fitt ]

[Dave Carnell]

I built the original TORTOISE from Bolger's book years ago. It would ferry 3 adults to the mooring. Don't leave off the after deck; it makes her reboardable from the water without swamping.

[Brian Palmer]

I second the Bolger elegant punt. I built one when I was 14 and it was quite capable. Same materials as the brick, but it probably has a better shape. Takes a little more time to lay out, though.

-- Brian

[Alan D. Hyde]

Go to Dynamite's site, and build what you like:

www.instantboats.com (http://www.instantboats.com)

The name says it all...

Alan

[Dave Hadfield]

Elegant Punt! Elegant Punt!

You can make it in a weekend, build it using construction materials, it needs no epoxy -- just nails and Bulldog glue and decent paint. 2 sheets of plywood.

And the darn thing is a pleasure to row. It's very cleverly designed.

It's also lightweight and tows dry and well.

[BrianY]

How about Karl Stambaugh's Weekend Dinghy - a little more "elegant" (cough cough) in appearance than the Brick so you won't be embarrased by it, but should be a quick and easy build.

http://www.cmdboats.com/wdk.htm?cart_id=c9ee4ea5753fbe591a0c4f69cbd3b4ec

Free downloadable plans for a 7'10" pram at http://www.bateau.com/free/freeplans.htm Also check out the rest of the bateau.com site for more

Other possibilities can be found at D.N. Goochild's web site http://dngoodchild.com - cheap plans but you might have to fiddle a bit to modify them for you preferred builidng method

[NormMessinger]

"... spent several weeks reading Uncle Henry's..."

Another advantage of attending the Wooden Boat School and hanging with natives. We now know about Uncle Henry's but I never did learn to pronounce chaht properly. :D

Can't add anything to the above posts. One of em'll do ya. Good luck.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

A hearty thanks to all who offered excellent insight and choices.

I reviewed all options and debated largely between the Elegant Punt and the Pointy Skiff.

Many other excellent choices simply suffered from needing more time to complete than these two, and the Brick while it is quicker, and I do want an undesirable boat to thieves... Well, I really don't want to go that far.

I also suspect the punt will handle towing and or rougher seas better than the brick.

I spoke with Dynamite Payson this morning discussing my needs and asking him what his thoughts were between the punt and the skiff.

His opinion was that the Punt while smaller would be better in rough seas, and also tow better. It was also his opinion that the carrying capacity between the two wasn't that great a difference.

Hopefully I will build over the weekend.

I can't tell you all hopw excited my 12 year old son is over this project as I have not let him handle epoxy as yet. I have told him he can build most of thi8s boat entirely by himself with guidance from Dad. Also I advised him he can paint it entirely by himself too.

First Boat I built was my Baby, and second one was a commission build for a client, so I limited his involvement. This one he has free reign.

[Figment]

Sounds like you have a really great weekend ahead of you. Be sure to take time to stop and snap a lot of photos along the way (not for us.... for you and the young 'un).

Thanks for relaying Payson's insight. Such informed comparisons are pretty hard to come by.

[Dave Hadfield]

I have towed an Elegant Punt on Lake Huron for about 2000 miles.

It does tow very well. It stays dry in 6ft swells and doesn't ram the mother ship when running downwind. It's also light enough to haul over the lifeline and stow on deck by yourself, with no apparatus.

It's drag on the towline, when brought up short, is far less than a zodiac, unless that zodiac has its motor removed and is hauled halfway up the transom.

Have fun.

[Brian Palmer]

Good choice on the elegant punt.

I kept mine for several years (1976 to 1981?) and then sold it to none other than Bob Douglas, owner of the schooner Shenandoah, so he could have a small boat for Robbie and Jamie to sail when they were only about 8 or 10. The kids had an easier time of sailing it than the beetle cat they also had. I worked on shore painting boats for Bob for several summers.

I hear it is still around almost 30 years later and the schooner crew occasionally use it to get back to the boat after the last yawl boat on the weekends. So much for the short expected life of a "quick and dirty" boat!

It's construction is well within the capabilities of most 12 year olds. I built mine when I was 14.

Have fun!

-- Brian

[Wiley Baggins]

Originally posted by Dave Carnell:
...Don't leave off the after deck; it makes her reboardable from the water without swamping.How about "the rest of the story?" ;)

[Keith Wilson]

Awwwww, I had really hoped you'd build a brick and paint it pink! ;) If it'll help convince you, Bolger has a design for a connector piece to hook two sailing bricks together, making an 18' schooner. The connector is named "Grout".

Seriously though, the Elegant Punt is a very nice boat. I built a Rubens Nymph for a tender, myself, not a Brick for precisely the reasons you gave.

[ 08-12-2004, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Ray Frechette Jr]

I got the plans in the mail this morning less than 24 HRs after talking to Dynamite Payson. I have to say I was impressed.

I went to Home Cheapo today and bought 2 sheets of 1/4 inch Luan, and 2 2x8 8 foot spruce boards. I shopped through the pile of 2x8's construction grade spruce and found 2 plane sawn boards that are almost perfectly knot free. I will be ripping these into 3/4 inch thick boards to use for all of the framing on the boat.

I have a Grand total of $37.00 with the sales tax included for all of the wood to build the Elegant Punt as a Rowboat.

I chose spruce for it's light weight, as well as its descent ability to hold fasteners, and also for it's low cost.

Reading over the plans in detail tonight, and will be sure to take plenty of pics of the build.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Day one of building.

Cut out both side panels, and both Bow and Stern transoms.

Cut out Midship bulkhead and cut out and beveled all frame stringers for all three panels.

Tomorrow Morning we glue the frame panels and screw them in place and once the glue is set up we bevel the ply.

Maybe by tomorrow night we will have boat 3D with Gunnels and chine logs in place and panels beveled.

Time spent so far, 2.5 hrs.

[Phil Young]

I can hadrly wait for Monday. WE WANT PICTURES!!!

[ion barnes]

The most crudest ever dinghy I have seen was in Nanaimo boat basin. It was constructed of rough-sawn cedar 2x2 glued with Liquid Nail. The sides were stepped out about a 1/4" or so and to achieve pointed ends, the 2x2s were not bent but stacked like bricks toward the midships. Had to admit, nobody would ever ownup to it and you certainly could not damage it. Did not want to waste a frame of film on it then but if I had ever thought I could win an ugly boat contest, this would have been it.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Isn't Dynamite a great guy to to talk with, Ray???

He knows his stuff... :D

And he doesn't mince words.

Alan

[Larry P.]

http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/jiffy2.gif

http://www.by-the-sea.com/archdavisdesign/davis_jiffy9.html

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Originally posted by Alan D. Hyde:
Isn't Dynamite a great guy to to talk with, Ray???

He knows his stuff... :D

And he doesn't mince words.

AlanEpitome of a Yankee. Short shrift on words. Actually our conversation was quite short as I had little time that day.

"Maine Boats and Harbors" this month has an article written by Dynamite Payson's wife talking about their first home on Matinic Island when they were first married and Harold was a Lobsterman hand haulin traps into a PeaPod IIRC. Quite an interesting time living off the Coast of Maine with no Ameneties we take for granted. Things like refrigeration, electricity, running water plumbing, or more than 1 room houses.

Definitely a reccomended read.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Spent 8 more hours today and got a bit accomplished.

Basically I have a boat right now. Hull sides and bottom is installed and should be watertight.

Gunnels installed, and all frame members and chine logs and gunnels rounded over and sanded smooth.

Longitudinal seat cut out and side rails glued and screwed together. Center frame cutout to accept rails.

Taking most of the day off tomorrow to go to Parents camps so little will be accomplished. I am contemplating coating the interior and exterior with 2 coats of epoxy, and glassing the seams with epoxy and tape and a wee bit of fairing compound to blend the tape away.

I know, getting more into it than slap and dash quick and dirty build. It's just more than I can take to just leave it there. Also going to run a bead of 5200 around the interior joins jus t to keep water from getting into the seams. Got a poartial tube open and it will go to waste if I don't finish iot off.

So far I have 11 and 1/2 hrs into the build, and $37.00 of lumber with some descent leftovers, $25.00 in bronze screws, and $10.00 for bronze oarlock sockets. Have some leftover glass tape and better part of a gallon of Raka epoxy. I reckon total build cost to be around $100.00 when done, and who knows how many hrs. Could be donme real quick or I might get carried away.

[Dave Hadfield]

I tend to suffer from the same thing: boatbuilder's perfectionism disease, in which the victim is always trying to create a work of art.

But it's pride which motivates it, so I guess it's acceptable.

[Meerkat]

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/s/articles/broken/bi-1.jpg
Here's Creamsicle dancing along behind as we leave Ucluelet Harbour.Elegant punts tow very well!

The tow boat is a Bolger Chebacco named "Wayward Lass" and the rest of the story is here: http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/s/articles/broken/ind ex.htm (http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/s/articles/broken/index.htm)

More puntage, complete with a couple of punters ;) :
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/s/articles/broken/bi-8.jpg

Just thought you might enjoy a preview of what you're in for with the punt. smile.gif

[ 08-25-2004, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Meerkat ]

[Dave Hadfield]

The Punt will tow better than in the photo if the towing eye is mounted lower on the bow transom. Then tow on a much closer line (unless running downwind under sail) with, if possible, the towline over the top of a stern lifeline rail (to give an up-pull).

Done this way, the punt just skiis along with almost no drag.

Also, for rowing with one passenger, you'll want to have 2 sets of oarlocks. That's the reason it has the fore-and-aft seat, so you can trim the boat regardless of the number on board.

How's it coming?

[Ray Frechette Jr]

OK, got about 22 hrs in so far . Sail bits take a whole lot of time to make.

Still need to sand off the epoxy drips and paint the boat, but had a fair amount of time to play with it in the water.

I guess I really failed in one major aspect of the boat.

I have the boat entirely epoxy encapsulated and have been using it for fun waiting for complete cure before painting it.

Took it on vacation upside down on the van roof and By Golly it frew an awfull lot of attention.

Lot's of people have complimented onm it and drooled over it. I think it is just the fact that it is natural wood tones luan and not painted yet. I tell people I really can do better, that it is not nearly finished yet. Lots of drips and runs to smooth and sand, also all of the lofting marks are under the epoxy as I never planned on leaving it bright.

Today as I was taking it off the roof to briing down to the water to row out to my big boat someone wanted to help me carry it to the water as they said it would be a shame to see such a beuty get scratched....!! I said thanks but I am fine. Hoisted the 60 lb boat on my sholder and tucked my arm under the seat and walked it down to the beach and left him with his jaw hanging. Awfully light boat for an 8 foot tender. Geesh, So much for a cheap crude ugly tender that nobody would want to bother to steal. I gotta get the highway dept orange and black out. And maybe a couple of crude plywood patchse with some roofing cement oozing out behind the patches and some ocopper clench nails to fasten them on with.

Here's the scoop on how it is in the water though. It is a joy to row. Tracks well with adfded skeg, and with longitudinal seat keeps crew on centerline . Handles wake well too feels nice and solid. Rocker makes so the boat moves through the water very nicely. Much nicer rower than the plastic Watertender 9.4 I owned before it was stolen, and also much nicer than the Puffin 8 the yard was gracious enough to let me borrow till I oculd make thisa one. Not as intially stable as the watertender 9.4, however it doesn't get tossed nearly as much as the 9.4 did either with boat wake.

Trim the boat fore and aft properly and it slides through the water quite nicely and trakcs well.

Built the sail bits too, however opted for a 46 square foot sprit rig as opposed to the 59 sq ft marconi sprit boom rig. I feel better with my son learning to sail without a noggin wacking boom and also with less sail area. Alsdo plans called for a 15 foot mast which is rather unwieldy to carry around when you are cartopping. Sprit rig allowed me to get away with a 10 mast instead.

IMHO the boat is a better rowboat than a sailboat as once you get off midline the boat does want to heal readily. Once the wind fills the sail you can hike out comfortably, but if in gust conditions you might find yourself swimming.

I know, everyone wants pics too. I will see what I can do. Maybe later this week.

So if anyone wants a real quick and easy to build tender that handles pretty well and can be real cheap to build the Elegant Punt has a whole lot to reccomend it self. I don't think I would bother with a sail kit for it though. And if you don't want anyone to steal it either take it home at the end of the day or take special pains to make it ugly as it looks pretty nice when done. Actually has some nice lines to it.

Also nice and light.

[Dave Hadfield]

Hey, that's exactly my reaction! I was amazed at what a good boat the EP is, considering it's cost and simplicity. Bolger got the curves (rocker and beam) just right.

You'll find that people assume, since you have no motor, that rowing it is drudgery and painful. They'll offer to tow you. You will be unable to convince them that rowing, in a properly designed little boat (at least for a mile or 2), is a positive pleasure.

I too made the large sail rig and found it was a bit overwhelming. But no problem -- I just made another dinghy, a ten-footer ("10-Spot"), to make better use of the sail.

Congratulations!

[Tom Robb]

Did the 12 year old son get to do anything?
Your log sounded like you did it all.
That age may be the last time, for maybe a decade, that he'll willingly do anything with you except ask for money and the car keys :rolleyes:
Enjoy this time while you can.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

year old cut out the panels with the skill saw and helped out in all of the loftuing down on the ply.

He also spreawd out the weldwood glue and drilled then pilot holes and screwed in the bronze screws.

I also let him use the roundover bit chucked in the zipmate.

I took over on the epoxy work. When we get back from second vacation he will help sand and do all of the painting.

Then he is buildinganother one for his opwn use and we will try leaving this one atbthe yard and hope no one steals it.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Chain it (with hardened chain) to something entirely immobile (e.g., big tree) and padlock it...

Alan