Another Dinghy Project on the horizon ??

A recent posting on the Albin Vega Yahoo Forum has stirred my interest. This always seems to happen right about the time the present project is about two thirds done.


The posting was a link to Duckworks Boat Builders Supply, Origami Dinghy page.  Boats should be pleasing to the eye, all curves and roundness, with beautiful sheer lines, but this little dink has to be one of the ugliest boats I've ever laid eyes on.

What intrigues me is that, judging by the videos, it performs amazingly well. Coupled with the fact that it weighs only about 30 pounds is it's amazing ability to be folded into a very flat stowable package. It would probably fit in the forepeak of our Vega ... right up there with the folding bike.


More research is needed before I buy the plans, but I have a gut feeling I'd better clear another space in the workshop!

The "BLACK FLY" Dinghy 2: Centerboard slot and case.

The centerboard slot is cut into the keel.

Because of my concern that the slot may weaken the keel's strength, I extended the designed side supports on either side for 4", to help spread the load.

The "BLACK FLY" Dinghy 1: from Plans to Framing

Left: a "Black Fly" built by Maury Madden

The Black Fly is a Platt Monfort-designed Geodesic AiroLITE skin-on-frame dinghy that is 8' long and only weighs about 28 pounds.

My present dinghy, an Eastport Pram, weighs about 75 pounds, so this new one should be a lot easier to lift on deck. The Eastport Pram costs about 1/2 knot in boat speed when towing, so maybe the new 'Fly will tow more easily!

There is also a Yahoo Group for Geodesic AiroLITE Boats.

The build:
Before I started to build, I read over the plans and instructions carefully. The plans included full-size layout  half-templates for the building frame stations. The plans were tacked over a 1/8" piece of plwood, and very small holes drilled at each point along each building frame station (and the transoms), then the 'dots' joined, showing the frame outlines.

The frames were sketched in on the back of the plywood also. This gave me a 'left' and 'right' template for each frame, ensuring symetry was kept.