Build the Flapdoodle folding dinghy

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David Brinker unfolds and rows his Flapdoodle folding dinghy Barquita

David Brinker’s post at the wonderful Duckworks ezine and website reminded me that I’ve been meaning to post something about the Flapdoodle folding dinghy, plans for which are available from designer Bill Weller’s website.

Folding boats have obvious attractions, particularly in terms of their convenience as tenders, and I was very struck recently that one or two appeared in the wonderful photos that Jeff Cole recently sent us of racing yachts of 100 years ago. If the owners of those 40ft-plus boats of long ago found them useful, smaller boat users can find them even more so – and so I thought I should draw intheboatshed.net readers’ attention to this one, which looks good to me.

But still I worry, just a little. Would I feel secure with a folding boat underneath me? Would my children or my partner? Will I ever be able to forget my anxieties and build one? Only time can tell, if I ever give it an opportunity.