Califbill wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...

On Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:31:58 -0500, HarryK
wrote:

I get the idea he's going to launch one half with him in it, and then
row over to the other half for assembly.

It wouldn't be that different from launching the present dinghy except
for the reassembly. The small section would go in first with the bow
painter on it, then tie it off on the stern of the big boat. Next
you'd launch the big section with a stern line on it. Next step
would be to get into the big section, line it up with the small one
and bolt them together. It would be difficult in windy weather but we
try to avoid that even now.


Reply:
Actually sounds very doable. Just make a bulkhead at the front of the
large section and bulkhead at the back of the front section. Make it
two boats. Then merge them with some large tapered alignment bins and
instead of all bolts, a zeus type fastener. Or on second thought, the
alignment pins are only tapered on the front and have a course Acme type
thread to spin on large nuts quickly. Then a couple more bolts if
needed.Maybe need a rubber plug in the bottom bolt holes while
launching. The bulkheads would allow both sections to float and with a
rubber washer on the connectors, no or little water entering the skiff.



Some years back, Phil Bolger built a somewhat similar kind of boat -
the Folding Schooner. http://www.instantboats.com/fschooner.htm

It hinged in the middle and had bolts to lock it in place.

It is an interesting concept, but had a serious problem.

The loads on the mating and LOCKING mechanisms are exceptionally high.
Early on, the bolts were pulling through the structure.



--

Richard Lamb
email me:
web site: www.home.earthlink.net/~cavelamb