nesting dinghies

[balthazor]

Some time ago there were several postings on choosing a dinghy.
I suggested that one might want to investigate a nesting "hard"
dinghy. Well, I got plans for such a dinghy from David Gerr, NA
in New York. If I had time and some help, I might just barely
be competent to make this simple plywood dinghy, but I don't see
myself doing it. So I asked a local wooden boat builder for a
bid--$3600 for a 11 foot dinghy out of 1/4 plywood (and that was
at reduced hourly rates). I have also discovered a glass
nester, made in British Columbia, although I have yet to see one
except in photos. It looks like it has some advantages and some
design flaws. $1700 for standard, $2500 for sailing version.
So, given these costs, perhaps my suggestion was not such a
good one. Anyone out there know where I can get a decent
nesting dinghy, about 11 feet long, for a reasonable price?
Thanks much.

 

[billh7]

<div>Terry,
I don't know where you can buy an inexpensive nesting dink but there are plans which you can get showing how to cut a hard dink in half and make it inti a two piece nester. If I'm not mistaken there was an article in an issue of Wooden Boat magazine a few months back that showed how it's done. Sorry I cant tell you exactly which issue but I recall that it didnt look all that hard to do. I'm sure the boatbuilder you have already talked with could do the job if you didn't feel up to it. I've called the folks at Wooden Boat for various things in the past and they are always very helpful. Their toll free # 1-800-273-7447.
Hope this helps.Regards,
Jeff Donnelly
M-382 Tir Na Nog

</div>

 

[barefoot]

One really nice design is the Spindrift in the 10 foot nesting version. It's available by plans, stitch-and-glue method. I should think you could get one built for much less than $1700. Check out http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com