Thread: Building the Atkin sailing dinghy "Vintage"

Welcome to the forum John. Just remember what I tell my kids.

"If you think you can't do something then you're probably going to prove yourself right."

I think I can... I think I can...

So what is a lofting board for? For lofting, of course.

Lofting is the process of blowing up the relatively small-scale plans you get from your naval architect (in my case, from William Atkin), into full size plans.

This process is thought to be so complicated that many modern architects supply full-size plans to eliminate the need for lofting. Just roll out the plans and start building. But if you don't know how to loft, you can't build about 98% of boats, because full-size plans aren't available.

Plus, you miss out on all the fun of lofting, which really is a kind of relaxing exercise, once you have all your hair torn out...

Read blog post: The Grid

Fair Lines: John

Battens are one of those things that professional boat builders take for granted, I think. They've seen them since their first apprentice days, know what they look like, their different sizes, which batten is right for which curve, and on and on.

Not so for we poor amateurs trying to learn boat building out of books. I must admit they are still a bit of a mystery to me. Such a simple tool. So important. So easy to break!

Read blog post: Battered By Battens

Clear wood: John

John, you seem to have flooded the wood working and boat building sites with links to your blog. Isn't your blog good enough? Is it necessary to seemingly shout, in a half a dozen or more sites about your issues, discoveries and newbie experiences, as a boat builder on a relatively insignificant 10' dinghy?

For example, your membership on this forum and also over at MessingAbout, Cruisers & Sailing, BYYB, BoatDesign.net and who knows where else, have been created solely to self promote this lapstrake endeavor of yours. I mean really, Australia too! Do you think this is just a little over the top? Maybe your enthusiasm would be best spent on your project and updating your own blog. I wonder how much more you've have done on both, had you not spent countless hours signing onto discussion forums and creating a whole bunch more little blogs, about the same thing.

It is OK Paul. It is just one thread of many here - so doesn't really flood.

Some might find it interesting.

MIK

I know most don't mind and a few might get something out of it. My issue is the self promotion aspect of it. On one forum it's a novelty, two redundant, several an obvious ploy to get hits on his site and possably the advertising therein.

Originally Posted by PAR

I know most don't mind and a few might get something out of it. My issue is the self promotion aspect of it. On one forum it's a novelty, two redundant, several an obvious ploy to get hits on his site and possably the advertising therein.

If you can't beat them join em Paul. It is interesting how blogs have become commercialised via Google and the returns can be surprising. Guess you've seen Dylan Winters "Turning Left". Mind you it seems easy to fall foul as well.

Anyway I don't get tired of following builds especially the mistakes, welcome John.

Cheers

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

If you can't beat them join em Paul. It is interesting how blogs have become commercialised via Google and the returns can be surprising. Guess you've seen Dylan Winters "Turning Left". Mind you it seems easy to fall foul as well.

Anyway I don't get tired of following builds especially the mistakes, welcome John.

Cheers

Thanks. I did run google ads on my blog for awhile, but the revenue was only pennies a day. It wasn't worth the space the ads took.