Dinghy Launch

[lbrewer]

Launched on Saturday.  This one has been on the back burner for a while. 

[lbrewer]

Oops....I don't know how I posted double pictures. 

[P Doug (WA)]

double pictures makes double the fun.  Nice little boat. congrats.  Really, who's having the most fun, you or the boy?

[lbrewer]

It might have been the dog having the most fun.  She started swimming after me when I dropped the kids off and I had to turn around to get her.

[capt jake]

Looks great!   What design is it?

[lbrewer]

Jake, its a N7 Nutshell Dinghy,  one of Jaques Mertens from bateau.com.  I had built one earlier that I donated to a charity auction and really liked it.  Never got to use it so I thought I might build another.  I emailed Jaques and told him I wanted to build another and I would be willing to buy another set of plans or pay somehow for the second build, but he let me off the hook.  In fact he sent me another set of plans.  To be only 7'9" LOA...it rows better than I thought it would.  Its pretty stable too....I don't think I'd want to walk the gunwhales or anything...lol  but it handled the boat wakes pretty well.  This weekend was the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, so there was powerboat traffic everywhere.  Nice, simple, functional design and a quick build (if you don't get tied up making a living and remodeling your house). 

  The kids have come up with a tentative name:  The "Roll Tide Bama Boat Crimson Canoe".  I don't think I can fit all that on the stern.  They probably came up with that because my wife is an Auburn fan. 

[Greg Luckett]

Congrats on the splash.  It looks like you and the kids had a ball!!

[dale]

Congrats! She's a cute little dinghy.  I thought I recognized her from the photos.  I built a dinghy a couple years ago and though I didn't buy the plans, I drew my own from the pics of the Nutshell of the Bateau website.  Here's my version with a link to the build process.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552552831bfgnrG?vhost=good-times

[lbrewer]

That's awesome dale!  I'd be interested to know more about her and her sailing characteristics especially.  Is the LOA the same 7'9"?  Bateau didn't have a sailplan for that design when I got it and I was a little nervous about trusting my own judgment in that regard.  I'd like to try it though.

[dale]

Thanks.  The LOA is 7'7" with a 47" beam.  The project grew as it went along.  I originally planned just a  rowing dinghy but decided, why not make it a sailing dinghy.  I designed the rudder and daggerboard after the free Bateau D4 plans and just made a square mast.  I bought a Dyer Dow dinghy sail off ebay.  It is 45 sq. ft. which is just a bit big for the dinghy according to what I see for other similar sized dinghies.  As for sailing, I have never sailed a dinghy before so I have nothing to compare it to; but she is very quick.  The boat is too light for me to sit on the side seats and it is very tight sitting in the floor with those side seats taking up so much space.  And the tiller sticks in my back; even after making a shorter one than the original.  Someone suggested a push/pull tiller which I believe would work fine.  I believe she would be very difficult to right and bail if she ever went over.

[dale]

I was having trouble getting a pic to post the other day; so here is a single for anyone interested.

[lbrewer]

I sure do like the look of the side seats, though I can see why it may not be practical on a boat that size.  I am thinking I might leave the side seats out and sail from the center seat and slide the ole butt port or starboard as needed.  Have you sailed from the center seat?  The fore and aft trim looks better in both your photos and mine when sitting there.  Thats also the beamiest part of the boat and could be less tippy there and keep the tiller out of your back. 

[dale]

I haven't tried, but I imagine I'd have to really duck when the boom came across.