Dinghy day....

[John B]

yaaassss, once a year about this time its kids dinghy day.. looks like we'll scratch another year out of the little one after who knows how many seasons. I can't remember for the life of me when we made it ... 6 or 7 years ago ? and 5 ish for the bigger one ?
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/img_1814_1.jpg
A bit of a sand and a light coat of varnish to ready them for another season of kid assault.

[Mike Field]

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I would have said a couple of years less in each case. But the thought of those broom-stick boathooks of yours so shocked my brain at the time that maybe I'm misremembering. :)
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[John B]

Its becoming a blur.. I have no idea how old the boats are and ... give me a minute... ah yes I have the kids ages sorted.:rolleyes:

You'll be pleased to hear that I have half of one of those extendable ali boat hooks now. Yes, and it has a plastic hook. Being only half , it doesn't actually extend anymore but why quibble, half of something is better than all of nothing.

[JC 72]

Good looking kids and boats. What is the design and size of the vessels? I let my three paint the dinghy. It was coated in about ten minutes. We had lace curtains everywhere, and white runs on her bright interior! But they had fun, and from ten feet away, she's Bristol. John

[John B]

They're boats which kind of evolved JC.. you know... tack up some mdf until it looks right and then stitch up the ply.

I went back through the old threads and Zip , the little one was made in Nov 2001, and Scram, the bigger one was made in Dec 03. So 7 and 5 . Zoe was 4 when I made hers LOL. Much better age range than I thought I'd get.Good thing she's skinny. It'll be hanging on the wall next season like its predecessor.

I forgot I had these
15 sec clip Zoe rowing when she was 4 or so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFsAt9ZfyM

and last year.. Zoe showng her mate how to row

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYwhNsJfzUg

[Mike Field]

... it doesn't actually extend anymore...

...but of course the hook will soon no doubt extend itself right off the tin bit, and then you'll have infinite extension. I think I'd better let you have Kirsty's broomstick back, hadn't I? (I know just the person who could fly it over for you, too.)

Great little movies, John.
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[PaulC]

John, you graciously emailed a copy of a plan for the Scoot II many years ago. I could email them back or post them here if you like. The date of the sketch was November, 00.

[John B]

Paul, scoot II was the #2 kids dinghy.. a little flatty....... these two came after. Its hanging on the wall in one of the kids bedrooms now along with scoot #1

I made Scoot in the 90's, it was crank and difficult but lasted a couple of years with my eldest, then scoot 2 for my middle kid which was much better and 'overlapped' #3 for two years. Then he got bigger and I made him the last one#4.

[PaulC]

Speaking of small dinghy's in NZ, are you familiar with Goodwin's Crackerjack? The two dinks in the picture above look similar.