Godwin Dinghies
Six dinghy plans to choose from
1. Crackerjack (1.82m)
First designed in 1968 to gain as big a dinghy as possible from one sheet of ply (with seats and transom separately sourced) the Crackerjack performed so well that variations of the basic design have since been built with overall lengths up to 4m (15’). In smooth water Crackerjack carries, at a pinch, three average-size
people.
In choppy conditions she comfortably carries two people and her short length allows her to niftily deal with large waves. Restricted leg-room is the usual bugbear in a short dinghy. However, tall people rowing alone in Crackerjack will have no trouble getting the trim right if they simply place a heavy toolbox on
the stern seat.
The stern has been kept deep to boost load capacity, accommodate an outboard motor and help the dinghy plane smoothly when being towed.
As with other Godwin dinghies Crackerjack has built-in buoyancy, in this case a water-tight box at the stern and a polystyrene slab under the rowing seat.
There are two versions: MK I uses one 8’ x 4’ sheet of ply with dimensions measured in feet and inches; MK II uses a 2400 x 1200 sheet of ply with the plans in metric dimensions. After 39 years of regular use, the original Crackerjack continues to give good service and on occasion enjoys outings on a classic keeler
during passage races.
Drawings - NZ $60.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
CJ 1 Study plan
CJ 2 General arrangement key dimensions
CJ 3 Ply cutting
Supplementary Drawings
HT 1,2, 3 Building instructions
HT 11 Zig Zag splice
HT 12 Gunwale details
HT 14 Tools and techniques
HT 15 Cutting instructions
HT 24 Epoxy Resin and its use
HT 25 Flooring notes
HT 26 Rowlock and fender details
HT 27 Transom details
MK 1
LOA 1824mm 6’1”
LWL 1774mm 5’ 11”
Beam 1092mm 3’ 7”
MK 11
LOA 1976mm 6’8”
LWL 1922mm 6’ 6”
Beam 1092mm 3’ 7”
2. Flarebow (2.24m)
The Flarebow dinghy was designed as a tender for Odtaa, a 29ft Fin Keeler. Flarebow’s distinguishing feature is its ample forward flare which enables it to cope well with the steep chop that often occurs in the vicinity of Odtaa’s swinging mooring. A wide and well immersed transom boosts carrying capacity and improves the dinghy’s planing ability under tow or when lightly loaded under
power. The image shown left, has a clip on extension (currently not detailed in the plans), which houses either/or a wheel and outboard motor.
Drawings - NZ $75.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
FB 1 Study plan
FB 2 General arrangement key dimensions
FB 3 Ply cutting arrangement
Supplementary Drawings:
HT 1,2,3 Buildiing instructions
HT 11 Zig Zag splice
HT12 Gunwale details
HT 14 Tools and techniques
HT 15 Cuttting instructions
HT 24 Epoxy Resin and its use
HT 25 Flooring notes
HT 26 Rowlock and fender details
HT 27 Transom detaills
LOA 2240 7’41/8”
LWL 2000 6’ 63/4”
Beam 1220 4’ 0”
Weight 30kg 66lbs
3. Buttercup (2.72m)
Designed as a tender for Buttercup, a 26’ Lungstrom-rigged cruiser kept on an exposed mooring, the compact Buttercup dinghy needed to regularly deal with a nasty chop and handle landing duties on an exposed beach. It excels on both accounts. A further requirement was that it tow well and here again the flared bow and sloping sides enable it to tow dry.
Drawings - NZ $75.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
BC 1 Study plan
BC 2 General arrangement key dimensions
BC 3 Ply cutting arrangement
Supplementary Drawings:
HT 1, 2 & 3 Building instructions
HT 4 Wheel case etc
HT 11 Zig-zag splice arrangement
HT 12 Gunwale details
HT 14 Tools and techniques
HT 15 Cutting instructions
HT 24 Epoxy resin and its use
HT 25 Flooring notes
HTT26 Rowlock and fender details
HT 27 Transom details
LOA 2720 7’11”
LWL 2400 7’ 10”
Beam 1220 4’ 0”
Weight 32kg 70lbs
4. Shan Tung (3.0m)
The Shan Tung dinghy was designed to act as a lifeboat and tender for a yacht embarking on a Pacific cruise. In the event, the trip extended eastward round the world but, sadly, the dinghy was stolen in Turkey after just five years of hard tender use.
As a general purpose dinghy capable of handling rough water and surf, Shan Tung tows well and rows easily even when heavily laden. In smooth waters she carries up to six people, with ample room for the oarsman in the bow due to the unusual seating arrangement. Motors of up to 3-4hp send her along at good speed.
The sail arrangement detailed uses short spars and she sails well even in very shallow water. Shan Tung’s sewn construction results in a tough and long-lasting
dinghy.
Drawings - NZ $75.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
ST 1 Study plan
ST 2 General arrangement with key dimensions
ST 3 Ply cutting arrangement
ST 4 Panel dimensions
Supplementary Drawings:
HT 1, 2 & 3 Building instructions
HT 4 Wheel - wheel case - forefoot shoe
HT 5 Dgggerboard and case
HT 6 Rudder details
HT 7 Sailing gear - mast, spars etc.
HT 8 Balanced lug sail
HT 9 Central and side seats
HT 10 Hinge details
HT 11 Ply splicing
HT 12 Gunwale detail-towing painter arrangement
LOA 3.0 9’10”
LWL 2.620 8’9”
Beam 1.4m 4’ 7”
5. Seagull (3.1m)
Designed as a general purpose knockabout and sized so as to get the biggest dinghy possible using just two sheets of ply for the skin, the Seagull dinghy has proved to be a good load carrier - a load of 500kg still leaves at least 150mm of freeboard. She rows easily thanks to a raised stern, and her well-flared bow and sides make her dry in choppy seas. Seagull performs nicely with low-powered
(2-4hp) outboard motors, and under sail can really get up and go.
Drawings - NZ $75.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
SG 1 Study plan
SG 2 General arrangement key dimensions
SG 3 Ply cutting arrangement
Supplementary Drawings:
HT 1, 2 & 3 Building instructions
HT 11 Ply Splicing
HT 12 Gunwale details etc.
HT 14 Tools and techniques
HT 15 Ply cutting instructions
HT 24 Epoxy and its use
HT 27 Transom details
6. Streaker (3.65m)
Streaker is a head-turner, a particularly handsome craft no matter what the viewing angle.
The original Streaker was designed as a recreational rowboat that could be car-topped, hence the modest size. She turned out to be an ideal craft for exploring rivers, lakes and estuaries, doing all that was asked of her while keeping the rower, a companion and a picnic basket thoroughly dry. Streaker rows readily with a pair of 2.25m oars but for those occasions when time is pressing, the transom
takes a low-hp outboard motor.
The wheel option has two functions - it acts as a fin in the water and makes launching and retrieval a pleasure. It is no problem to wheel Streaker along pavements to launching ramps and beaches and the large-diameter wheel also works well on sand and pebbles. Streaker’s construction requires a minimal toolkit and can also be built in the sailing version.
Drawings - NZ $75.00 plus postage - Permits one dinghy only to be built
Drawings covering the basic boat:
RR1 Study plan
RR 2 General arrangement key dimensions
RR 3 Ply cutting arrangement
RR 4 Panel dimensions
Supplementary Drawings:
HT 1, 2 & 3 Building instructions
HT 4 Wheel and wheel case
HT 11 Ply splicing
HT 14 Gunwale details
LOA 3650 12’0”
LWL 3400 11’ 2”
Beam 1220 4’ 0”
Draft 150 6”
Weight 39kg 85lbs
LOA 3100 10’2”
LWL 2820 9’3”
Beam 1500 4’ 11”
Draft 150 6”
7. "Two-Way" (3.55m)
The Two-Way gets its name from its suitablity to be rowed in either direction. Primarily it is a rough water boat with features fitted for this purpose.
1. A very sharp high bow for dealing with steep waves
2. Flaring sides to counter broadside events
3. A pram-like stern that can become the bow for surfing down-wind
This last feature reduces the usual tendency for broaching - the real danger when out and about in rough water. A further feature is the built-in water ballast tank which confers the welcome stability and momentum of the old time dinghes, together with relatively light-weight modern construction and portability.
In many ways, Two-Way owes its concept to two proven rough water boats; the Grand Banks Dory, and the Whitby Coble.
Plans in process
