Minnow building

**davie_t** · 3rd September 2010, 07:22 PM

I'm just about to embark on my first building project - a Minnow class dinghy. These are a fairly popular junior class around Melbourne.

I've managed to track down the templates, and the building diagrams can be found at Minnow Association - Class Rules. But am looking for advice or guidance on the finer points of Minnow construction.

Is there a preferred order to stitch the hull panels together. I was thinking of stitching the floor panels together, then the transom, then work up the sides & finish with the bow. Is there a better way to do this ?

Are there any other traps I need to be aware of - the diagrams aren't big on detail.

Any assistance or comments would be welcome.

**davie_t** · 13th October 2010, 10:41 PM

Hmm - nothing forthcoming from the huge brains-trust that makes up this Woodwork forum.

I guess I'll just have to wing it with the construction. They say pictures tell a thousand words and all I've got to go on is a couple of pictures and the templates - no instructions as such.

I've started on the build and am documenting my progress at the URL link below.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~davie_t/MinnowBuild.html

I'd be happy to receive any feedback on next steps or gotchas from the deep pool of information on this forum.

It's only a simple boat - but hey.... I'm a woodworking novice.

**Darce** · 17th October 2010, 04:38 AM

Dave I had a look at those diagrams a while back and I'm not sure about the offsets, might be worth asking someone in the know. I'll be needing to make two of these so I'll be watching your progress closely

**davie_t** · 13th November 2010, 02:10 PM

I've made slow progress on the Minnow - unfortunately life seems to get in the way of boat construction. It does look somewhat like the plans, but with plenty of work still to go. The current weight of the shell is 7.8Kg.

I'm recording my progress at:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~davie_t/Minnow_Construction.htm

:

**davie_t** · 2nd December 2010, 08:32 PM

Construction of my first boat's progressing, but I now need some advice from the forum...

My question to the forum - how to fix width of the side deck.

I didn't want to use fasteners, but am not sure that a thickened epoxy glue will hold the spacers and therefore the curvature of the side tank. How do I stop the side tank from straightening and moving inboard ?

Can I epoxy the spacers into position to hold the correct shape, and when I epoxy the side deck on top, the large glue surface of the side deck/tank frame will take the stress?

See the following URL for pics.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~davie_t/day_10.htm

**davie_t** · 28th January 2011, 10:22 PM

Progress on the Minnow has been slow over the Christmas Holidays, with the typical family commitments.

Would you believe my kids have now started sailboarding rather than race their dinghies. By the time I finish this, they'll probably give up sailing all together and I'll have a great Minnow with no-one to sail it.

I'm only 6 foot - maybe I can just squeeze under the boom.....

Update #13

**davie_t** · 8th May 2011, 11:57 AM

I finally completed the Minnow - (finished in Feb).

I'm happy with the finished result. It looks OK and is under the minimum weight.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~davie_t/update_15.htm

**m2c1Iw** · 8th May 2011, 01:14 PM

Hi davie_t,
I only just came across this thread and by the lack of responses I'm guessing many others missed it too.

What a great result so I assume you overcame the couple of problems OK.

Cheers
Mike

**Darce** · 8th May 2011, 04:57 PM

Well done Davie, it looks fantastic.

I'm hoping to build one (maybe even two) over winter if the treasurer gets over her sailing antipathy

I hope mine turn out half as nicely

**marneeandstuart** · 26th January 2023, 07:39 PM

Hi Davie
Are you still active here?
I’ve tried to access your minnow building blog but it’s not available anymore.
Do you have any photos or YouTube that I can see ?
I’m about to build my first minnow
Cheers
Stu

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