Blueys Plywood Dinghy.

This is a bit of an ongoing project that finally was completed in 2009.

It's also something that I did... because I wanted to see if I could.

Having looked around at various plans, including the PBO pup, the D2 and Apple Pie tender, I decided to make my first steps in to stitch and tape construction using a kit from Uk Epoxy resins.

The kit being to build a 7' 6" Pram Dinghy called "Jacqui" .

Having bought the kit I then purchased two sheets of good quality exterior 6mm play along with some 12mm. The Kit does imply that the whole dinghy can be built from 6mm but I opted to use the more weighty ply for the cross wise bulkheads to give it more strength.

Having now completed the project only time will tell how well the exterior ply will perform. But now I know it can be done I would attempt any future project using genuine marine ply.

Marking out and cutting the ply sheets is probably the must fiddly part. Especially for a non woodworker. But do keep in mind that the stitch and tape method can cover up a multitude of slight sins!

The Kit in theory conatins eveything you need, but allowing for lessons to be learnt you will almost certainly find you need a few extras. I also decided to sheath the whole underside with cloth for extra durability.

You need to establish a work pattern... mix only as much as you can use at one time and remember that once you start on a seam you will have to come back to it every few hours. Or be prepared to sand down between applications.

Empty DVD or CD cake boxes make good disposable mixing pots and you'l need a number of the cheapest paint brushes you can buy. Plus a load of disposable gloves to help keep your hands free from sticky epoxy!























Once the seats/buoyancy tanks were formed I filled them with closed cell builders foam.




The chambers were then topped off.. Gunnel rails added and the dinghy was then ready for a final sanding and paint. For the Blue I used International Bright Side. Inside I used weathershield exterior.