Christine DeMerchant is having a great time building an Apple Pie plywood and epoxy dinghy from plans drawn up by Chuck Merrell. The aim is to use it as a tender to her sailing cruiser.
Follow her progress here. The plans she’s working from are here, and there’s a nice article explaining how Chuck came to draw the plans here. Merry Christmas everyone – and if you read the last link, you’ll know why I say that.
The Apple Pie is about as small as a boat can go and still be useful, and I think it makes a great quick get-afloat summer project; a couple of winters ago I suggested it would also make a good mid-winter kitchen-table kind of project.
Either way, if you haven’t yet taken the plunge and built your own boat, and don’t know if it’s an activity you would enjoy, this could be the way to go.
PS – Check Christine’s message in the Comments link below. She has completed and launched the boat, and is as pleased as punch with it. There’s a YouTube clip showing just how well it works.
I've just about completed the little Apple Pie Tender. Its getting launched tomorrow, weather permitting.
Its been a great project and the dinghy is cute as can be. I'll report on its handling tomorrow.
Christine
Thanks Christine – I look forward to hearing more! Gavin
The little Apple Pie was launched yesterday and I posted a video on youtube:
It handles really well.
It is easy to row. I think longer oars would work better, but I have these and they fit nicely in the boat. I think the oarlocks might be better slightly more aft, maybe.
It tracks flawlessly and turns quickly, in fact it is extraordinarily responsive and easy to manoever. It is stable and easy to get in and out of. Even if I stand on one side of the floor it has a good lot of freeboard left.
It took a while to figure out where to put my legs, but finally I just crossed them and that works well.
This is a great success and I'm tickled pink. There is no feeling like finishing a boat and taking a spin in her.
I built a 6ft pram dinghy just like this when I was 13, using plans from PW Blandford (‘Pete’ design). It is still sound, 47 years later! what an adventure. I can really understand your pleasure at the success of this project!