Work has begun on the first Cabrillo dinghy for kids

I was finally able to squeeze enough time out of my schedule to get the parts cut out for the Cabrillo Dinghy design. Things have been hectic around here ever since the start of the new year. There are something like 6 boats under construction right now in some very interesting locations around the world.

 I have been able to quickly move along on the Cabrillo over the last few days. The plans were printed out as full sized templates on a continuous roll architectural plotter. The templates were then cut-out and  taped in place on two, end joined sheets of 4 mm marine ply. I used a can of paint to spray around the edges of all the templates and then removed the paper so I could cut-out the various hull panels.

The identical panels were clamped together and sanded to the final outline as a matched pair and set aside.

I started wiring the bottom hull panels first and then added the transverse bulkheads and the major longitudinal form. The bulkheads all fit together with opposing slots so that the whole thig just slides into place correctly.

With the bulkheads wired, I added the side panels of the hull and set it aside for tomorrow, when I will fillet the whole assembly and take out the wires. If everything goes as hoped, I could have the boat ready for this weekend and the annual Messabout at Utah’s Starvation Reservoir.