"Albert P. Belle Isle" wrote:


Doug,

Have you ever evaluated the Niccolls Lite NN10?

http://www.niccollslite.net/page3.html

I'd be interested in your comments on it.

Never seen one in person. Looks lke it's a nce boat, but it's too heavy for my
personal taste. The boat that I intend to build will weigh far less than either
half of this one.



If you haven't looked into the NN10, specifically, can you tell me the
things about the nesting dinghies you were unimpressed with that led
to that conclusion?

Usually it is a PITA to connect the halves, the connection goes loose in a short
time and then the two halves are always banging together and eventually break at
the connecting link. Also I have a short attention span, I like boats that are
quick to get into action and a nesting dink takes more than twice as long.



I'm looking for a row-only dink that'll fit on the foredeck of a
Hunter 310, and the NN10 looked like a nice alternative to a Walker
Bay 8 or a Dyer Dhow Midget; smaller to store, but larger to use - all
at no more cost than the Dyer or a Fatty Knees.

I have absolutely no experience with nesting dinghies, however, and
would appreciate any guidance I can get from more experienced folks.

The two things I'd like to try in person with the NN10 is the reserve bouyancy of
the bow sections and it's initial stability.

Looking at the top picture on

http://www.niccollslite.net/page1.html

the bow is awfully low and doesn't look like it has a lot of flare. About
stability, it's true that initial stability & easy rowing (or paddling) are
supposed to be opposites so what you lose in stability you gain in 'rowability,' or
at least that's the theory. I have a pet theory that with CAD design, it should be
possible to tweak the midsections for better stability and keep good rowing
characteristics in a short boat. When I get my own boat finished (unfortunately
it's on a back burner right now) we'll see. My main objection to most rowing dinks
is that they are 'way too heavy.

I certainly don't want to be discouraging about the NN10, I just don't know much
about it. It looks like a better tender for rowing use than many others I've seen.
Hopefully somebody who has (or has had) one will chime in.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King