About

Godwin dinghies are for the connoisseur who delights in a shapely and useful dinghy.
The dinghies range in size from 1.82 to 3.65m and are tried and proven in all kinds of sea conditions over fifty years. Designed primarily for easy rowing – especially when heavily laden – the dinghies can also be used with outboard motors.

The designer

Julian Godwin has designed gates for hydro dams as a living, but has

built boats in his spare time since his youth. His largest project was a

8.8m conventionally constructed kauri keeler, the Odtaa, built in

1949 which he still owns, but since 1968 he’s been dedicated to making stitched-together dinghies. In total he has designed and built over 15 various flarebow models. He is a lateral thinker combining his expertise in engineering principles, design aesthetics, aerodynamics and has an affinity with the elements.

Shown above is Julian with passengers Kate Greenaway and Polly test-rowing the Streaker at Little Bucklands Beach, Auckland.

The designs

The various dinghy shapes derive from both cylindrical and conical

surfaces with no tight turns. The ‘soft’ design curves not only make

for easier building and sound hydronomics but lend themselves to

handsome and attractive models with distinctive profiles and sweet

sheers. At a practical level, the unusual flared bow section makes

for a spray-free boat in choppy water and an exceptionally dry boat

under tow.

The idea of the stitched together boat derived from the British boatbuilders. Godwin experimented with making hulls from a new construction material, marine plywood, stitching it together with terylene thread and covering the seams with fibreglass.

“The big advantage was that you could dispense with the internal

framing onto which you usually nailed ply, thereby making the craft

much lighter and more durable”. he says. “Nails or screws are the

weakest point in conventionally constructed boat. They either

corrode or water leaks through the puncture holes and that’s where rot

starts”.

The range

Crackerjack, the first to be built in 1968 was followed by a family of dinghies ranging from 6 foot (iota) to 14 feet (streaker). The seagull, 10x5, fitted with a dipping lug (2 sheets ply) - and the buttercup (double ended) have all been built along the same lines, exhibiting the same virtue of giving a dry ride, thanks to the ingenious concept of the flarebow.

Six of the flarebow dinghies are available with extensive drawings and detailed 'How To' drawings covering the various features unique to each dinghy. They are, from smallest to biggest: Crackerjack, Flarebow, Buttercup, Shan Tung, Seagull, and Streaker. Plans for the Two-Way dinghy are not currently available.

The designs

Simple sewn

construction

The sewn form of construction is straightforward and long lasting. It

needs few tools and little more than beginner’s skills, though some

patience is necessary. If a novice builder lacks confidence it can be

helpful to first sew up a cardboard model. Alternatively, build the

baby of the series - Crackerjack – a good place to start; it doesn’t

take up much storage space, can be made out of one standard

sheet of ply and has a ready resale value.

Godwin dinghies are for the DIY dinghy connoisseur. Select the

dinghy best suited to your needs, follow the clearly laid out plans

and accompanying instructions and your enjoyment of the finished

product will be all the greater for having built it yourself.