OK, I do not want an inflatable dinghy cuz they row poorly. My
original dinghy was 8' of fiberglass and very heavy and took up too
much space. Portaboats (folding dinghy) is both heavy and makes too
much windage leaning against stanchions, my Two-paw-9 nesting dinghy
is also too heavy and a pain to assemble in spite of my advanced L
bracket and clamp system replacing the original bolts.
SO, what I want is a dinghy that works like a modern backpacking tent,
held "up" by tension of strong but lightweight poles. Two
longitudinal ones at gunwales, one at the keel, one across transom ,
one across center and then all joined at the bow. This should have
light weight fabric over it with reinforcing at stress and wear
points. The center crossbeam should hold a seat for good rowing
efficiency and another at the rear for a passenger. Does such a thing
exist? Is any design available?

In article
,
wrote:

OK, I do not want an inflatable dinghy cuz they row poorly. My
original dinghy was 8' of fiberglass and very heavy and took up too
much space. Portaboats (folding dinghy) is both heavy and makes too
much windage leaning against stanchions, my Two-paw-9 nesting dinghy
is also too heavy and a pain to assemble in spite of my advanced L
bracket and clamp system replacing the original bolts.
SO, what I want is a dinghy that works like a modern backpacking tent,
held "up" by tension of strong but lightweight poles. Two
longitudinal ones at gunwales, one at the keel, one across transom ,
one across center and then all joined at the bow. This should have
light weight fabric over it with reinforcing at stress and wear
points. The center crossbeam should hold a seat for good rowing
efficiency and another at the rear for a passenger. Does such a thing
exist? Is any design available?

D.C. Beard's 1911 book _Boat-Building_and_Boating_ describes an
"Umbrella Canoe" along these lines on pages 43-47. Dan Beard was the
founder of the Boy Scouts of America, if I have my history right, or at
the least one of the earliest Boy Scout leaders, and so his books are
aimed more at Boys than at experienced mariners. That said, the design
is interesting and suggests your ideas are at least somewhat practical,
for what you desire sounds more or less like one-half of this boat,
scaled up a fair bit.

A reprint of the book is available from Lee Valley tools for around
$10.00. A good library may also have a copy, or be able to get one from
inter-library loan. (The "plans" are more suggestive illustrations than
complete lines-and-offsets affairs.)

--
Andrew Erickson

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot
lose." -- Jim Elliot

On Sun, 3 Feb 2008 16:28:53 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

OK, I do not want an inflatable dinghy cuz they row poorly. My
original dinghy was 8' of fiberglass and very heavy and took up too
much space. Portaboats (folding dinghy) is both heavy and makes too
much windage leaning against stanchions, my Two-paw-9 nesting dinghy
is also too heavy and a pain to assemble in spite of my advanced L
bracket and clamp system replacing the original bolts.
SO, what I want is a dinghy that works like a modern backpacking tent,
held "up" by tension of strong but lightweight poles. Two
longitudinal ones at gunwales, one at the keel, one across transom ,
one across center and then all joined at the bow. This should have
light weight fabric over it with reinforcing at stress and wear
points. The center crossbeam should hold a seat for good rowing
efficiency and another at the rear for a passenger. Does such a thing
exist? Is any design available?

I haven't seen a rowboat like that but folding kayaks are out there.
check out

http://yostwerks.com/

wrote in message
...
OK, I do not want an inflatable dinghy cuz they row poorly. My
original dinghy was 8' of fiberglass and very heavy and took up too
much space. Portaboats (folding dinghy) is both heavy and makes too
much windage leaning against stanchions, my Two-paw-9 nesting dinghy
is also too heavy and a pain to assemble in spite of my advanced L
bracket and clamp system replacing the original bolts.
SO, what I want is a dinghy that works like a modern backpacking tent,
held "up" by tension of strong but lightweight poles. Two
longitudinal ones at gunwales, one at the keel, one across transom ,
one across center and then all joined at the bow. This should have
light weight fabric over it with reinforcing at stress and wear
points. The center crossbeam should hold a seat for good rowing
efficiency and another at the rear for a passenger. Does such a thing
exist? Is any design available?


I have tried every kind of dingy I can find.
And just like you, they are either too big, tip too easy or just a pain in
the but.
I needed something that would fold easy and sit on the wing nets on my
trimaran.
So here is what I found, even has a sail adaptation if desired.
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/or...dex.htm#Videos
I just started mine, all cut out and just waiting for warmer weather so I
can epoxy coat and paint it.
Have had it dry assembled and it is amazing.
I am using clear fabric, so I can see below.
Has partial wooden floor boards, so you do not sit on the fabric.
Folds up nicely (less than 5 minutes).
Only problem I had was one misprint in the plans and the weight.
Most builders are coming in at 40pds or so.
Mine is 40pds without paint or epoxy.

On Feb 5, 5:48*pm, "us" wrote:


I am so sick of these "designers" selling boats and plans with illegal
non-flotation configurations.. Just my opinion...

wrote:
I am so sick of these "designers" selling boats and plans with illegal
non-flotation configurations.. Just my opinion...

Remember that you are posting to an international newsgroup. What is illegal
in your end of the world may well be legal somewhere else. The safety rules
can be quite complex, and do differ a lot around the world. Also, some
rules apply to selling boats, boats you build yourself often have different
requirements, and selling plans may be totally unregulated.

That said, flotation is a good idea, especially if it was practically
possible. Boat design is always a matter of compromise; you can never get
all the things you want in a design.

Here is a simple idea: Add some straps to the fold-out design, and tie your
fenders under them when you use the dinghy. They give at least some
flotation, and may be easily available while your boat is on anchor
somewhere... Probably not living up to the legal requirements in some
places, but might work.

- Heikki

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:47:51 +0100, Heikki wrote:

Here is a simple idea: Add some straps to the fold-out design, and tie your
fenders under them when you use the dinghy. They give at least some
flotation, and may be easily available while your boat is on anchor
somewhere... Probably not living up to the legal requirements in some
places, but might work.

Sufficiet flotation would have obvious safety benefits, but even a
little would make the thing easier to find if ,you happrn to swamp it.
My dad lost my favorite boat when I was a kid. In twenty feet of frest
water.

Casady

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:47:51 +0100, Heikki wrote:

Here is a simple idea: Add some straps to the fold-out design, and tie
your
fenders under them when you use the dinghy. They give at least some
flotation, and may be easily available while your boat is on anchor
somewhere... Probably not living up to the legal requirements in some
places, but might work.

Sufficiet flotation would have obvious safety benefits, but even a
little would make the thing easier to find if ,you happrn to swamp it.
My dad lost my favorite boat when I was a kid. In twenty feet of frest
water.

Casady


Well I've finished mine, and it floats, completely full of water, even with
me sitting in it.
Did not surprise me, as plastic and plywood usually floats.
So I guess it does not need added floatation.
If someone was real worried about it, you could add foam water pipe tubing
to the top of the plywood sides.
2- 6 foot pieces of foam would easily hold 200 pds afloat.
We only use one in physical therapy, and it keeps my 180pds afloat.
Also foam would protect sides from dock rub.
If you used an outboard, then yes extra floatation would be needed, but I
row.

On Thu, 7 Feb 2008 03:43:49 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

I am so sick of these "designers" selling boats and plans with illegal
non-flotation configurations.. Just my opinion...

I was under the impression that you could build whatever you want for
your own use.

On Feb 8, 12:37*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 7 Feb 2008 03:43:49 -0800 (PST),

wrote:
I am so sick of these "designers" selling boats and plans with illegal
non-flotation configurations.. Just my opinion...

I was under the impression that you could build whatever you want for
your own use.

The USCG regulations for small boats apply equally to home built boats
made for personal use, as for retail sales..

Safety Standards For Backyard Boat Builders - COMDTPUB P16761.3B

If you do a quick google you will find this document handy..