Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

If you were going to build a ships dingy what one would you chose between a PK78, N7 and a D5?

TD3

skiff needs to be easy to row, stable enough for older folks to get in and out of without getting wet and light enough to hang on davits off the stern of a 30 foot sailboat.
Dan what is a TD3?

After a summer with Odyssey, I have to say we really prefer using an inflatable vs. our fs17 for back and forth anchored in the bay here.

That's a little bit apples to potatoes for comparison, but.... Especially in calm to no winds or current anything tied behind at anchor moves differently than the biger boat and tends to nuzzle up beside. If building a fiberglass one you want to have a really good big and soft rubrail system.

That said. I would like something a little bigger than what we have now and probably a little bigger than what you have in mind as well. But you did get me thinking even if I don't have an answer for you.

For reference what we are currently using is an AB Inflatable 12VS with a 9hp motor. It can carry a huge load but only planes with 3 or less people.

Edit: I forgot what I had started out trying to say. The peace of mind and ease of holding the inflatable against the mother ship while getting people on and off is so much less stressful than with our fiberglass skiff without any soft edges/rubrail.

I appreciate the extra width in the bow of a pram, especially if someone will ever sit there.

Its almost like having a one foot longer boat without the useless part of the tip just sticking out there looking pretty.

I put a foot-wide sole down the centerline of my FB11 to encourage stepping there. Stepping beside the centerline lists and rocks the little boat as it levels.

The TD3 is Merten's pram designed dinghy that never got to print for distribution. I want to build it. Maybe next year..after my hip is repaired.

fallguy1000 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 9:37 am The TD3 is Merten's pram designed dinghy that never got to print for distribution. I want to build it. Maybe next year..after my hip is repaired.

Are the plans available some place?

Narfi I understand how the inflatable is nice for hanging off the boat so it does not beat up the hull. But this needs to be easy to row and they suck for that. My buddy is using one now and is looking for something different.
As stated the pram design is great if you can get by the looks. And if it works well the looks are not that big of a deal. And as I said it needs to be small and light enough to hang off the stern on davits.

V12 or V10

Build light.

Jaysen wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:34 pm V12 or V10

Build light.

I love the looks of the V10, V-12 but they are too long. I am thinking it needs to be 8 foot or less. Not sure if it matters how wide it is.

Fuzz wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 9:58 pm

Jaysen wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:34 pm V12 or V10

Build light.

I love the looks of the V10, V-12 but they are too long. I am thinking it needs to be 8 foot or less. Not sure if it matters how wide it is.

I think you can reduce the plan. Not sure if 20% is too much though.

Have you considered the FB11 nesting dinghy? Has to be put back together, but stows in a smaller space and at 11' assembled, it could be an answer. In the same vein, the YouTube channel "Sailboat Story" has a "Chameleon" nesting dinghy that's very similar, but also has a sail rig option. They did an extensive series on the build process a few years ago.

My buddy picked out the PK78 so some time this coming winter I will be helping him build it.