D4 Dinghy

I build a D4 Dinghy from plans on the internet. The only internal frames were the forward edge of the aft locker, midships under the seat, and about 8" aft of the bow.  I built her switch and glue style up at my Cabin on Mt Hood. With a cordless drill, power skill saw, and hand tools. I used 2 sheets of 1/4" plywood, scrap lumber and covered with Fiberglass. 

Forward and Aft lockers were water tight and contained flotation from Swim Noodles :)

The finished product was a little heavy.  Maybe because I added a deeper skeg (to track better), swing keel trunk and (windsurfing) sail that I bought from Gorge Performance for $20.

I put pictures of the plans on my phone and laptop so I could have them while I was building.  NOTE: The plans have one little glitch (verified by another builder)

The dimension of the bottom panels is 1" short at the center-line (keel) so I had to splice in a wedge between transom and the bottom panel 1" at the center-line and 0" at the chine.  Thus all the grey goop in the locker where the bottom meets the transom.

Sheer strakes were epoxied and screwed from the inside so there wouldn't be any screw heads on the rub rail.

Under the forward seat hides the swing keel Trunk.  I rigged a line that attaches to cleats for lifting and lowering and built a mast step for the mast.

Finally I painted with One part polyurethane.  Brick red outside and tan inside.  I left the cedar strakes and cedar seats natural.









Below are some more Pics of the process.

Frames built to hold the boat when upright















Fancy gravity assisted clamps, or as we call them Rocks!


















My wood shed, the tarp was to keep fir needles for falling on the finish more than for rain, though there was a little of that too.

More Gravity assisted clamps bending the strakes.











 And my custom designed tension clamps holding the forward bulkhead in place.