Building an Outboard Trawler - Dinghy Work -
January 17th 2023:
We received the dinghy plans (download) on Friday. After examining the plans, we made a final decision to go ahead with the build. Can't think of a better way to spend a few winter weeks :)
The building method is 'Stitch and Glue'. We went over the list of materials and I ordered some things online (4"fiberglass cloth tape and a box of nitrile gloves). I walked over to Home Depot Saturday and picked up 'throw away' paint brushes, sanding discs, zip ties and masking tape. Donna found large mixing sticks (tongue depressors) and baggies at the dollar store.
As the weather was good yesterday, I walked back to Home Depot, rented their van and brought home two sheets of 1/4" fir plywood.
The only items we don't have yet are:
Epoxy Resin
Epoxy Thickener
Wood for the Seat
Paint
I got right to work, lofting the plans to full size on the plywood and cutting out the pieces.
As you can see by the darkness through the garage windows, I worked well into the evening.
All the major pieces of the dinghy were cut out by bedtime.
The design has all the parts cut from only 2 sheets of plywood. I did better because we had some large pieces of plywood in the basement left over from the trawler construction. I managed to cut 2 hull sides and both the bow and stern transoms from pieces we already had, thereby saving more than half a sheet of new plywood.
Today I cut out two 'center brace' pieces.
Next Steps:
Get some epoxy
Laminate the two center brace pieces with epoxy.
Drill holes for the zip-tie 'stitches'.
Assemble the parts with zip-ties.
Glue epoxy 'tabs' between the stitches.
Cut out the stitches.
Attach all interior seams with an epoxy bead.
Flip over and sand round edges to all the seams.
Attach all exterior seams with epoxy and fiberglass cloth tape.
Add corner braces, rubbing strakes, keel, seat and oarlock pads,
Finish and Paint.
Stay Tuned!
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