Radius Chine Plywood method?

[Cyberjag]

I'm looking to build a large sailboat sometime in the next decade. Currently I'm in the R&D stage, and have just about decided on a build technique. As I've researched boats, I find that I'm really interested in Dudley Dix's designs and his building methods. His radius chine plywood method seems fairly do-able to me, requiring only modest carpentry skills and just a careful attention to detail. I can do that! http://www.sailnet.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

What I'm wondering about is your impressions, if any, of his building method and boat plans. I'm thinking of doing the Didi 40cr (thicker skin than the 38) in a couple of years. That's not written in stone of course, but it's starting to become my point of comparison when I look at boats and plans on the web now.

This winter I want to make a dry run on the method by building a small and hopefully fun dinghy/sailboat in my garage. I'm looking for something to sail and row about, mainly in the canals off the ocean in North Myrtle Beach, SC (we have a family place there). That seems like a good way to test my aptitude with the build method, not to mention a last chance at discouragement if things don't go well!

I have two questions that you may be able to answer. A asked these at the Sailnet forums and they directed me here, for which I am grateful. First, does anyone have experience or good knowledge about Dudley Dix's designs (what little I've found of him here and other places is positive), and is he the only one who uses the Radius Chine Plywood method of construction? Second, do you know/can you recommend a good small open boat design (no more than about 13-14 feet) that uses a similar method which I can practice with? It's ok if the plans cost money, I just want to make sure I get a good feel for the overall method with the first attempt.

Thanks in advance! http://www.sailnet.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[paladin]

If Dudley Dix doesn't have an existing design that fits your needs I would suggest contacting him directly, tell him what you want, and he can draw it for you for a relatively modest fee to get you going....all it takes is a phone call...

[Thorne]

Why not build a row/sail tender for your larger boat, using the same method of construction if possible? That way you get the experience and have a very necessary addition to the larger boat when it is completed.

[Cyberjag]

Why not build a row/sail tender for your larger boat, using the same method of construction if possible? That way you get the experience and have a very necessary addition to the larger boat when it is completed.That's exactly what I'm hoping to do. I contacted Dix and he recommended the Argie 15 (http://www.dixdesign.com/argie15.htm). This is a stitch-and-glue plywood boat, and I would like something that gives more of the chine flavor. After reading other threads here my eye has caught the Glen-L 15 (http://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=443) as a candidate. It looks to have some of the elements with which I want to gain experience. Not done looking yet though, and all opinions are very very welcome.

[JimD]

If the radius chine method refers to a type of cold molding a chined hull with plywood veneers then I think you'll see it quite commonly in power boat hulls such as Glen-L's and others because it can provide a very shapely hull and retain the very hard chines common to power boat hulls. One sail boat designer who uses it is John Welsford. From his website http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/ see the construction of two of his designs. Swaggie, now in the water by Luis Nin Estevez: http://www.swaggie-uruguay.com.uy/eng/proyecto.html (http://www.swaggie-uruguay.com.uy/eng/proyecto.html)

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/projects/luis/Luis-1.jpg

And Charlie Whipple's Welsford design Sundowner, currently under construcion: http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/sundowner/updates.htm

http://www.jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/sundowner/images/06-03-28b.jpg

Both these boats are far too big to 'practice' on but you'll hopefully get some good ideas and tips on the method.

Dudley Dix holds classes on the method but obviously it's not very practical for most of us to attend: http://www.dixdesign.com/TLY-lessons.htm



http://www.dixdesign.com/Tly_04.jpg

[PVanderwaart]

As I understand the Dix radius chine method, it is really only suited to boats too large for the sort of "small trial" that you have in mind. The radius of the bend at the chine would be too small. Here are a couple of suggestions. 1) Buid a small round-bottom boat e.g. the Joel White Marsh Cat cold molded. The curve from gunwhale to keel would stand in for the radius chine of the larger boat. 2) Get the plans for the boat you want and build a test section including small amount of the chine for th educational value. You might also read Reuel Parker's New Cold Molding which is a very clear description of a somewhat similar method.