Ultralight Dinghy · new build
LaunchedI have been thinking about a dinghy for my boat. After looking around for a commercial built dinghy under 50 pounds, found that I may have to build it. So I ordered the PDF files from Chesapeake light craft to build the ultralight 6 foot dinghy. I am going to build it from scratch with no kit, maybe save a little bit of money in the process. Hopefully I can keep the weight under 45 pounds.
Flipped the boat over, filleted all the board joints. Installed the 6 ounce cloth to the bottom and the keel. Built out the seat, trimmed, continued filling, sanding, faring, and all the stuff you would do to build up the finish of the hull before painting.
This picture displays the keel after it was installed and filleted. I didn't cut a handle in my keel. Wanted to have the best tracking when I towed behind the boat.
| Item | Qty | Supplier | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake light craft digital plans | One PDF file download | Chesapeake light craft | $89.00 |
| Router bits | 3 | Amazon | $58.56 |
| Harbor freight, Palm router | 1 router | Harbor freight | $90.94 |
| 3mm door skin plywood | 2 sheets | Home Depot | $30.00 |
| 1/4 " sheets of birch plywood | 2 sheets | Home Depot | $160.03 |
| 16 gauge wire steel | 1 roll | Home Depot | $13.47 |
| 4 ounce fiberglass cloth | 3 yards | Amazon | $21.39 |
| Slow cure high UV resistant epoxy resin | 1.5 gallon kit | Fiberglass supply depot, Fort Pierce, Fl. | $217.54 |
| 2" x 8" x 8' Western Cedar Plank | 1 (picked up in damaged bin) half price | Lowes | $21.39 |
| 6 ounce fiberglass cloth | 3 yards | Family donation to project (free) | $0.01 |
| Non-waxed white gel coat | 1 gallon | Fiberglass supply depot | $76.49 |
| Rust-Oleum gloss almond enamel paint | 1 quart | Home Depot | $18.62 |
| Rust-Oleum gloss hunter green. | 1 Quart | Home Depot | $18.62 |
| Tape, paint brushes, rollers, misc. | 24 | n/a | $32.00 |