Portuguese Dinghy build - nearly complete.

[capt_nemo]

Managed to determine the primary oarlock positioning for a solo rower by myself.

Grabbed my neighbor yesterday and, with oarlocks temporarily clamped tightly in position, launched in my test tank behind the house to confirm my best guess for secondary oarlock positioning. Turns out I was nearly spot on for oar lock location.

Note the dinghy balance and freeboard still visible with 335 lbs. of human ballast aboard. This dinghy is a LOAD CARRYING MACHINE!  That's me on the right.



capt_nemo

[brackish]

Wow, great job, I'm impressed, that will be the next project after the FS14

[brackish]

So, now that you (and Mike Greene) have some experience with this boat, do you think it is stable enough that you could stand and cast from it?  Thinking it would be a good dink to tow out to the flats, slews, and fingers, put a small trolling motor on it and fish from it.  And I'm talking in water that is no rougher than your picture.

[capt_nemo]

brackish,

Haven't tried standing and moving about in it yet, but will soon and report back. Do not have high hopes because it is pretty tender, due to its light weight influenced by much greater body weight. However, once seated, with a much lower CG it is stable enough.

I'm just a novice when it comes to fishing, but couldn't you cast well enough from a seated position as well? Understand there is a lot of fishing being done by folks seated in canoes and kayaks.

I thought about using a trolling motor as well when building it because I have two of them. Used hardwood outside & inside cross pieces across the top of the transom for trolling motor mount which would be further protected by hard rubber or light metal cover.

capt_nemo

[Greene]

I did a little fishing from mine and found it fairly tender without way on.  Once seated and rowing she felt quite stable, but standing up was not an option.  When boarding you need to step very close to the centerline and sit as soon as possible.  She has a flat bottom that doesn't resist sideways motion or the mass to feel stiff.

That being said, we used ours for 3-4 seasons and never ended up swimming.  We loved the little bugger.

Mike and B

[wroundey]

After pondering these photos for a while, I went out tonight and bought three sheets of plywood and cut out my sides and transoms for two boats. Tomorrow I start assembling.

[capt_nemo]

Launched in flat water pond behind my house and conducted Fishing Stability Sea Trial as promised in an earlier post.

Although I was able to stand up and balance myself in the middle of the dinghy with legs spread wide apart and a foot wedged against each chine, it was not stable enough for relaxed casting. Conclusion: Stand-up casting potential - forgetaboutit.

Like Green said earlier, exercise CAUTION when boarding. Step in the center, with hands supporting and balancing your body, and sit down as quickly as possible.

Once seated, the dinghy is fairly stable and comfortable. It rowed effortlessly, quick to respond, even against a light headwind.

capt_nemo

[brackish]

Launched in flat water pond behind my house and conducted Fishing Stability Sea Trial as promised in an earlier post.

Although I was able to stand up and balance myself in the middle of the dinghy with legs spread wide apart and a foot wedged against each chine, it was not stable enough for relaxed casting. Conclusion: Stand-up casting potential - forgetaboutit.

Like Green said earlier, exercise CAUTION when boarding. Step in the center, with hands supporting and balancing your body, and sit down as quickly as possible.

Once seated, the dinghy is fairly stable and comfortable. It rowed effortlessly, quick to respond, even against a light headwind.

capt_nemo

Thanks for throwing caution to the wind and doing the test.  Still will probably build one as a dink for my 23. I can fish sitting down or maybe kneeling.  I'm using a three person inflatable now and I certainly can't stand up in it.

[capt_nemo]

brackish,

Came across this small lightweight "fishing boat" contender -  http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/bogdanof/happyhour/index.htm while looking at Kayak Plans for my next build.

capt_nemo

[brackish]

brackish,

Came across this small lightweight "fishing boat" contender -  http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/bogdanof/happyhour/index.htm while looking at Kayak Plans for my next build.

capt_nemo

Thanks, looks nice, however, I don't think it can do double duty as a tender because of the load carrying capacity.  It appears to be a one person craft.  I'm 160, the Admiral is 120 and that will put us over without any stuff.  Going to postpone any decision on the next build until I finish the Bateau FS14.  Will probably wait until I move, needs may be different when that happens. 

[capt_nemo]

Greetings to All,

Just an end note update.

Sold the "like new" Portuguese Dinghy to a nearby sailor who needs a tender for a Pearson 30.

Somewhat sorry to see it go, but happy to get it out of my garage. Need the space for boatbuilding!

capt_nemo