Badger dinghy

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 
  • 11 Jan 2020 08:10
    Reply # 8541586 on 8528518
    Deleted user

    This has got me thinking about the whole dinghy thing, and the cost of a new inflatable. So for my needs I am thinking something along the lines of the Bolger Skimmer but with a little more shape in it at the bow, and maybe the stern, ie. not square. The flat bottom gives good load carrying ability and stability. It should row as well as any inflatable, and motor well with my 2hp outboard. My previous 2.7 meter inflatable keel, inflatable air floor dinghy weighed 26kg. I think I should be able to build a modified Skimmer at about that weight by using 4mm and 6mm plywood and substituting framing timber for epoxy fillets and glass tape. Cost will be at least less than half that of an inflatable dinghy and the glue joints will not start falling apart after 6 years. I just need to design it to be easily hoisted onto the foredeck.

    There is a company in New Zealand who build intelligent and sophisticated tenders as an alternative to inflatables, and they sell quite a few. (octenders.co.nz). The cost though is horrifically expensive, more than a good second hand car, so I am thinking a very poor man's OC tender.  

    Last modified: 11 Jan 2020 08:44 | Deleted user
  • 10 Jan 2020 21:13
    Reply # 8537730 on 8528518
    Deleted user

    David I also flip flopped back.  Cost, susceptibility to vandalism and frankly you just can't get a small enough inflatable to fit under 7 feet.  They are light but quite large deck footprint.

    I have Payson's Instant Boats book also.

    It's very hard to beat a Tortoise for that length.


    Heck it is almost disposable while one build a shortened Nymph.

  • 10 Jan 2020 19:46
    Reply # 8537139 on 8528518
    Deleted user

    This little discussion has given me reason to go and dig out my 30 year old copy of 'Build the New Instant Boats'. Alan on Zebedee has been through at least two Tortoise dinghies, maybe even a third. Looking at the plans it is certainly a lot of dinghy for the money and effort required to build, and you can add a sail! Looked at in terms of New Zealand money I could build a Tortoise for certainly less than $250 and a couple of weekends of spare time work. A new inflatable dinghy of the type I am talking about is $1395. I almost bought a second hand one for $650 but decided not to in the end because it was already a few years old. 

    The Nymph is also a low cost build. These dinghies are built by transferring the shapes to plywood sheets and then drawing all the cutout pieces together which is what produces the completed 3 dimensional dinghy. With the Nymph I imagine it could be shortened by cutting the dinghy off at the frame just forward of the current transom.  

  • 10 Jan 2020 18:26
    Reply # 8536572 on 8528518

    Can I put in a word for the unconventional/left field/off the wall solution of an inflatable fishing kayak? These tend to be more stable than sport and general leisure kayaks, with a beam of 3ft or so carried well fore and aft, but are still easy enough to paddle, can carry a good load, you get to face forward and see where you're going, and what's best of all - you both get to paddle instead of one person doing all the work! But if you don't want to paddle, these larger kayaks will take an electric outboard. They can be stowed along the side deck when on passage, partially or completely deflated.

    Here's one worth considering.

    I got on very well with my Mistral, similar to the KXone dropstitch single kayak, last summer. It's a good solution for we singlehanders with small boats. I've seen double rotomoulded plastic kayaks being used as tenders by two people, so an inflatable double is not out of the question.

  • 10 Jan 2020 13:16
    Reply # 8534308 on 8531818
    Deleted user
    Anonymous wrote:

     The conclusion I have reached once again is that where on board storage space is limited, a reasonable carrying capacity is needed, dinghy light enough to lift on board, and reasonable rowing capability is needed, that an inflatable dinghy with an inflatable air floor, and inflatable keel is regrettably the best solution. But forget about the aluminium and plastic paddles they supply with these dinghies. I have always replaced these with some decent wooden oars.

    David thanks for this.  You make me revisit the inflatable solution again.

    I would guess Zebedee and Badger used the Tortoise due to reliability, economy and functionality for long range remote cruising.

    My initial needs are different as I won't be so remote and have a base for now.  While inflatable is more expensive and fragile, it is easy to launch solo without damaging the yacht, can't sink if swamped (picture remote location/ 2 people/ load of stores), can be deflated for transport or storage in yacht and at a pinch is a short term survival craft.

    The inflatable would struggle to carry a kedge or second bower out though a model with a solid transom would manage this better.

    Thanks for poking my brain.

    David.

  • 10 Jan 2020 05:51
    Reply # 8531818 on 8528518
    Deleted user

    I am going through the whole dinghy dilemma once again having decided that my current inflatable is insufficient for myself, wife and 17 yr old daughter. (Flat bottom, 2.3 meter length). The Bolger Tortise works but I think has some limitations as a dinghy in terms of distance rowing and rougher seas capability, I suspect. I have known several people who have had and enjoyed the Nymph. The conclusion I have reached once again is that where on board storage space is limited, a reasonable carrying capacity is needed, dinghy light enough to lift on board, and reasonable rowing capability is needed, that an inflatable dinghy with an inflatable air floor, and inflatable keel is regrettably the best solution. But forget about the aluminium and plastic paddles they supply with these dinghies. I have always replaced these with some decent wooden oars.I have also built a Bolger Elegant Punt. 2.4 meters long, 2 sheets of 6mm plywood and a bit of framing timber. That worked pretty well. Another dinghy I have built is the Bolger Skimmer. That was a good 2 plywood sheet dinghy but really needs to be propelled by an outboard. It had great stability and load carrying ability.

    My daily dinghy for getting to and from the boat is a 2.4 meter multi-chine stitch and tape dinghy similar in shape to the Nutshell pram, built of 4mm ply and weighing only 25kg. This is a good one or two person dinghy which I can stow on my foredeck if I can work out an easy system to get it up there. But I have found the 4mm ply to not be very robust and needs to be treated a little gently.

    Last modified: 10 Jan 2020 08:02 | Deleted user
  • 09 Jan 2020 20:44
    Message # 8528518
    Deleted user

    Hi all,  I need to build a dinghy for the new boat this winter.  I don't have exact size of a Benford Badger foredeck on hand (boat is 300 miles away) but I see from Annie's book and Zebedee that a Bolger Tortoise at 6'5" fits.  Solid boat, stable and stern deck means can be lowered vertically and not take on water.

    I am told a Bolger Nymph at 7'9" can be built a bit shorter.  Lovely stitch and glue dinghy, but is it hard to launch solo?  And of course the stern goes under when launched vertically.  Has anyone done this?  How did you shorten the design?

    Nesting dinghies.  I love Danny Greene's boats but I can't see myself wrestling the 2 halves on the foredeck in a blow or an emergency.  But the larger better rowing dinghy is tempting.

    I value your thoughts on this especially those who have done this on a Badger.

    David.

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

                                                              Site contents © the Junk Rig Association and/or individual authors

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software