This is where I will post details of the first boat I plan to build.
Right now, the plan is to start building a "Dink". This is a
7'10" pram designed by Mertens-Goossens.
The plans for this boat are freely available from their web site.
The boat will be built using the simple stitch-and-glue construction method,
and I plan to start building it in April 1999.
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This is the work area, prior to being cleared to make room
for the boat. |
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Ready to start! Plans neatly tacked up, work table
ready...
I wonder how long it will stay this clean?? |
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The first frame (the bow transom) has been cut, and the next
one is laid out on the wood. Even though I have full-size patterns
for the frames, I am finding it easier to loft them myself. |
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All the frames are cut, and stacked ready for the next step. |
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Lofting the side and bottom panels. Fortunately I
already had the lead ducks to bend the batten to the desired curve. |
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Here I have attached the two side panel to the mid-seat
frame. It is beginning to take on a familiar shape... |
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Now the bow and transom are attached. |
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All the frames are in place. It does actually resemble
a boat. How about that... |
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The bottom panels are now in place too. |
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Now all I need is some epoxy. That will have to wait
until next week... |
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In the meantime, I can start on the rudder, daggerboard and
casing. |
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10/12/99 |
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This shot show the bottom of the hull mostly expoxied.
The chines are yet to be completed. |
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More detail of the port-side chine. The dark area near
the bow is a hollow that I needed to fill with expoxy/microballons. |
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Inside the transom. |
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10/17/99 |
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Now that the bottom is completely expoxied, I decided to
"float the boat." The pool seemed a good place... |
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Hey, it floats! How about that |
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Samantha tries it out... |
| 11/30/99 |
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I cut a hole slot in the bottom and in the forward seat
frame. This is where the centerboard casing will go. |
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Here I am gluing up the centerboard casing. |
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The centerboard casing is dry-fit into the slot, and it
appears to fit very well. |
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12/2/99 |
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The centerboard casing is now epoxied in place. Here
we see it from the bottom where I have trimmed off some excess. |
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All that remains for the centerboard casing is for it to be
faired into the hull, and I'll do that when I do the rest of the fairing. |
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12/14/99 |
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I created a laminated rub rail down the port side of the
boat using three 8' battens epoxied together. Here they are clamped
in place. |
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Now the clamps are gone, and I have started to smooth it out
using a rasp and sandpaper. I plan to route the edge using a
1/4" round-over bit. |
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12/16/99 |
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Getting ready to laminate the starboard side rub rail. |
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The strips are now epoxied in place and clamped. |
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Clamping detail at the bow. |
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