Thread: Building a dinghy - WIP

Bryan,

Joining this conversation part way as I have been out of circulation for a bit.

I am the builder of the Puffin "Miss Mouse" you refer to in post No.9. Good to see another Puffin in build, and glad you have got your keelson spring sorted out. Happy to assist with any further questions that may arise!

Looking at your photos, it appears you have cut the moulds as fair curves rather than as a series of flats to take the planking like you have done (correctly) on the transom. You will need to draw straight lines between the lap marks on each mould and trim the curves back to these, otherwise you will have a lot of trouble getting the planking to sit properly on the moulds.

Am I mistaken, or is there a particular reason why you have done it this way? If as I suspect you need to trim the moulds, it would be easier to pull them off the strongback one at a time and do it on your workbench before refitting.

Let's just clarify this point before you go too far!

Cheers, Cameron.

Hi Cameron

You make me a little nervous. I have seen your puffin, and in fact have several pictures of it on my computer to look at and admire every now and then. The quality of the build is astonishing. I can honestly say I havent seen better workmanship anywhere on the woodwork forums, not just in the boat section.

I will be happy if mine floats, and do not expect to get anywhere near the quality of yours, but it something to aim for I suppose.

You are entirely correct in saying that I should have cut flats between the lands on the moulds. It was not something I thought of as the plans showed rounded moulds, and I followed them to the letter. After installing them and checking with a batten, it became pretty obvious the mistake I had made, however I read somewhere that they can be flattened as you go.

Your idea is far better and I will take your advice I think.

Dont suppose you did a photo WIP did you? As mentioned before, based on the quality of the build, I couldn't think of a better reference on how to do things.

Cheers

Bryan

Bryan,

You are too kind! I am just an amateur wood worker. "Miss Mouse" does have a couple of mistakes in her that are pretty obvious to me, but I know where to look of course.

There are photos of the completed boat in the Oughtred builders forum on Yahoo, and some of these I have posted in this forum as well so these are probably the ones you have seen. There are photos of her on the US Wooden Boat forum taken at the 2011 AWBF too but I didn't put them there!

Sorry, I didn't do a WIP photo spread but do have a few pics stashed away somewhere. I will see if I can find one equivalent to the same stage you are at now, but it might take a day or two. In the meantime, if there is anything you need to know just ask!

In terms of reference material the best thing to do if you haven't got it already is to get yourself a copy of Iain's book "Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual". He describes the process well and there are plenty of diagrams and photos. I made good use of photos of a Puffin build in the UK, but sadly the link to this is now broken and I am not aware of another one specific to the Puffin.

Register for the Yahoo forum as there is plenty of good advice and photos on all sorts of Oughtred boats. There are also builders blogs and other things around the net for Oughtred designs that I have seen, e.g. Tammie Norries and Caledonia Yawls. Whilst they are different designs, the construction methods are very similar so you will still get good tips from these.

I am currently building a Paul Fisher design in clinker ply - see the "Suffolk Beach Punt" thread in this forum. I have included plenty of WIP photos for this one so you might get some tips re the construction method, and should show clearly the flats on the moulds I am talking about.

Cheers, Cameron.

Bryan,

Here are some photos of Miss Mouse at early stages of construction.

Hope they are helpful.

Cheers, Cameron.

Re cut away bit on the Auk, yes it is to fit the 2hp Honda. Big mistake though, I doubt if I will ever use the outboard on Ripples. I have plenty of other rubber and plastic tenders. It is easier to put the Admiral in the inflatable and tow the Auk to the beach or big boat.