Building a nesting dinghy

6/1/2016

For a few years, we have sailed around Puget Sound with "Marvin", our trusty Minto dinghy, but there is a big appeal in being able to store a dinghy upside down on VELELLA's flush foredeck, so we decided to build a nesting dinghy.

Marvin the Minto

We really like sailing the Minto and usually rig it up in every anchorage, so a boat that could sail was a must. We also wanted a boat that could take a small engine and that we could do a bit of fishing from. The Bieker designed PT11 was a contender, but the Danny Greene designed Chameleon won out. I think it will be a little better load carrier and the fact that VELELLA's prior owners had one didn't hurt. You can order plans direct from Danny for $35.

Lofted panels

Stitched up

Cut in two!

Tanks installed and epoxy coated

Primed with epoxy

Painted and in the water!

10 Comments

Paul D link

4/24/2017 12:49:10 pm

Very nice build. I'm planning on building the Chameleon myself and it helps to see other builds.

Ryan

4/24/2017 02:09:17 pm

Thanks Paul, happy to answer any questions. Danny Greene was also very good about a couple questions I had. We really like the boat, it functions very well.

Ben Clardy link

11/6/2017 01:59:01 pm

Yo -

Could you explain to me what the purpose is for cutting the long slot op the forward bulkhead is?

That's the spot where the daggerboard trunk attaches to the forward bulkhead.

Why the slot?

Much thanks amigo.

~ Ben

Ryan

11/6/2017 02:06:52 pm

Good question... it is basically just there for the purposes of aligning the two halves when you are assembling it in the water. There is a block on the aft section that slips into the slot. Think Tetris. It works pretty well.

Ben Clardy link

3/11/2018 10:41:24 am

Yo -
Follow-up question...

Have you experience any leaks coming in from the center bulkhead bolt hole?

Ryan

3/30/2018 09:08:58 am

Ben - sorry for the slow reply. No, I haven't had any leak issues but I want to say I drilled the hole a bit higher than the location in the plans. Yours leaks?

Andrew

10/14/2020 07:25:15 pm

Very nice build. I noticed in some photos you have the aft seat and in others you do not. Is the aft seat removable?

Ryan

10/15/2020 11:53:36 am

Yes, the aft seat is removable so you can nest the two halves together. I suppose you could make the forward seat permanent but nice to have it removable to save a little weight.

Russel Brown's seat arrangement on the PT 11 is pretty elegant in that it's all built in. But it is nice to be able to move fore and aft on the removable seat on the Chameleon to distribute weight. You just have to store it somewhere.

patrick twohig

10/16/2020 03:49:41 pm

your sail looks taller then stock and I like it alot, sprit with a boom too. Can you tell me about it.. I would really appreciate the input

Ryan

10/16/2020 05:23:55 pm

I bought a sail kit from Sailrite. I don't remember exactly what boat it was for, but it's about 20% larger than Danny Green's sailplan. The boat sails well with it. A little overpowered in over 8 knots.

Building a nesting dinghy

Leave a Reply.

Velella

Archives

Categories

​

Building a nesting dinghy

Leave a Reply.

Velella

Archives

Categories