Nesting dinghy build

[Vincent]

I have a CD33 and I want a dinghy that will fit on the boat. I decided on a B and B Yacht Design Spindrift 11 footer. Not having a garage, I rented a 10x20 storage locker on the 4th floor. The manager is ok with the build, and was understandably perplexed as to how I would get an 11 foot boat out of his building with elevators that are only 8 feet deep. If I can post pictures from my phone, I will occasionally update if there is some interest. I am planning this to be a winter project, as with everything boat related it will take 3 times that long. But so far it is fun and keeps me out of trouble some evenings and weekends. First photo is hoped for end result.

[Vincent]

I had back surgery just after I picked up the kit in North Carolina. I got the side and bottom panels glued but then the boat sat for 3 months. Last weekend I opened the wings and the next two pics show Sat am start and Sunday afternoon quitting time. I had a few issues and called one of the guys at Band B. They are very helpful, and with a few photos sent to his cell phone, he helped with long distance diagnosis. I want the boat as close to exact as possible with the stitching before I epoxy anything.
A word about these kind of stitch and glue kits. The wood is cut very precisely from a computer driven program that runs a router on a big table. Pretty cool operation.

[Vincent]

Working alone is sometimes a challenge. Most of this was fairly easy and taking a few minutes to ponder I can usually figure a way to keep moving. Plus I can spend the time listening to music and just thinking about future plans, the kids, blue water sailing, not work.
This pile of wood on the floor was the kit I had picked up in NC in August.
And I owe John Stone a very strong thank you. The day before I picked up this kit, he had invited me to sail with him. We had a great day on the Neuse River. It was sunny, blowing 15-25, and the Far Reach sails as perfectly as she looks. I cannot wait to do what he is doing now. Two years give or take, but who’s counting.

[Jim Walsh]

I’m very impressed. At 11’ she should pull very well with a decent pair of oars. Nice work so far.

[John Stone]

Great work Vince. We had a fun time sailing together. You’ll get there. Keep hammering away.

[Vincent]

I had to delay a bit on the dinghy build. The gunnels are installed as 1 1/4 x 1/4 in x 12 ft long strips. I had to have the board ordered and the wood supply shop also ripped the strips for me. I would like to say I gotta have more cowbell, but what I really needed was more C clamps. It is true, you can’t have enough clamps. When I am waiting for the epoxy to set, I work on leather knife sheaths on a table in the back. I use a heat gun to warm the epoxy so it flows. The ambient temperature is about 55 degrees, the epoxy kicks off at that temp eventually. It’s better than having it kick too fast like the summer.

[Jim Walsh]

Nice progress. Looks like you have plenty of clamps. You won’t need more cowbell until the launch ceremony

[John Stone]

Great work Vince. You’re getting ‘er done.

[John Danicic]

Nice progress. Looks like you have plenty of clamps. You won’t need more cowbell until the launch ceremony

You can never have, "too many clamps" when building a boat.

Keep us updated on your progress.

[Vincent]

Gunnels installed and the transom is locked in. I hope to have the three corner pieces, breasthook in the bow and the stern term escapes me right now. The nesting bulkheads and the forward bulkhead I also hope to have locked in this weekend. Progress seems slow from the pictures but it is coming along.When the bulkheads are in, I can start dabbing thickened epoxy in between the wire stitches. When that hardens, the wire stitches are removed. The boat is completely locked in at that point. Right now with the boat level, I cannot see any twist. Measuring from each stern corner to the bow, I get 1/4 inch difference. To correct, I would have to rack the boat slightly. I am going to live with it as is. The nesting bulkheads at spot on dry fitted.
There is a lot of wood to coat with epoxy, and with the ambient temp of about 60F in the locker, it is still tacky 24 hrs later. But it eventually hardens completely.

[John Stone]

Looks great Vince. That’s going to be a nice dinghy. Keep posting those photos.

[Vincent]

I managed to get the nesting bulkheads tabbed in on Sunday. I had been pondering how to confirm that they were going to be vertical, when the neurons flashed. The parts are so precise, I took the daggerboard trunk side pieces and stood it up. I was only off a bit, but it was easy to adjust before tabbing with the peanut butter consistency epoxy. I had to hold the nesting bulkheads down and at the same time hold the sideswalls in. I have a light at the centerline which shows a gap. It looks huge in the picture, but it is about a quarter inch. I had a buddy stop by, he got under the boat and tried pushing up to close the gap, but all that did was create a flat spot. Once this double bulkhead was secure, and since I had more peanut butter, I started filleting in the sides and centerline. Once this sets up, I can start removing the ss wire stitches. With those gone, the boat will be a bit less dangerous. Once the fillets are completed, I can begin to glass tape the inside seams with epoxy and the 4 inch tape.
Backing into the hallway, and sighting over the transome at the line of the nesting bulkheads and the line of the forward bulkhead, I can see no twist. It all lines up. During this part of the build, I am constantly checking that, and the other measurements to make sure the boat is aligned.

[John Stone]

Nice work Vince. You’re making good progress. That’s weird about the gap. Stick built boats usually have some discrepancies and seldom does it matter. In this case I suspect it will have no effect as long as the two halves nest properly.

[Vincent]

After work yesterday, I pulled a lot of wire stitches. I did a bit of epoxy dabbing onthe seams. Remeasured the corners to the bow. And I took the sight pictures that show whether there is twist. So far looks good. I’ll be working my way thru a lot of sandpaper.
These three photos show the transom line with the line of the nesting bulkhead and the forward bulkhead.

[SVFayaway]

Looking really good! I'm following this build with interest as I want to build the 9 foot version for the CD28 I'm buying.