Bumble, an SFD Surf 8' dinghy, 4 photos

[mike160304]

The plywood is 5 mm Okoume marine 3-ply, the transoms similar but 5.5 mm.
 
The stitching is finished. The temporary hardboard frame is 110 mm aft of the real frame position, with the dimensions supplied by Paul Fisher. Its shape is more accurate than the laminated, Douglas Fir real frame which has rounded corners and will go in a little later.
 
The gunwale line (= sheer) was drawn as a straight line on the plywood, so it has a touch more dip than the gunwale line shown on the plans. As there is lots of hull depth, I may dip the sheer line a little more when I fit the outwale and inwale.
 
I shall use a lifting leeboard, not a centreboard or dagger board, so the middle of the boat will be very spacious.

Mike

[Nesting Ray.]

Hi Mike. Glad to see something happening on the forum, seems to have died lately. The boat looks nice and tidy, as do'es your workplace l hate working in mess. I agree with you about reshaping the sheer and gunwhales, you have plenty of depth on the sides to get a nice sweep, to get away from that boxy look. Good luck with the build, keep the photos coming. Ray.

[Alan]

Looking nice, and I agree - would look better with more curve in the sheer. And you have far too much space!

[mike160304]

Ray and Alan - thanks. Yes, more curve in the sheerline would be more usual, but my present curve is already a little deeper than on Paul's plans, and the firm sheerline, vertical transom and deep hull are components of the "8-footer with attitude" look intended, I think, by Paul, and based on my brief. So I may dip the line a little more, but without necessarily going as far as the conventional look of dinghies of this size.

Re space, yes, this time I told my wife that I was looking for a double garage with a house attached as a fashion accessory, and she thought I was joking . . . .
Regards,
Mike