Doc's Boat Building Projects

Opus 2, The Nymph
Constructed 1/2004 - 4/2004

In January of 2004, I started my new career as a boat builder. Because I am me, I started two at once, the Nymph here and the Dug. The maiden voyages were within 24 hours of each other.

This design comes from Dynamite Payson's Book 'The New Instant Boats". The specific design page is here.

The wood for this boat is 1/4" Luan, which is supposedly just as good as marine grade plywood but cheaper. It cost me $22/sheet. and I used 3.5 sheets for the whole shooting match.

This boat is ~7.5' long and just over 3' wide so I built her entirely in my basement, which only has a narrow staircase for an exit.

She started life as rowboat at first, just to get her into the water. Then she was finished off to be a sailing vessel.

The cutouts of the bottom and sides:

Two of the frames butt-blocked and hardening:

The bigger frame hardening:

Frame taking shape: Little girl is size reference:

Bottom face on, ready for epoxy:

The Bottom and sides are all glued to the transoms. Time for one of the bilge panels:

The outside gap is filled, the inside gets glassed. The boat sits at an angle to prevent epoxy from running the wrong way. For the record, right before I did this portion, I double checked to make sure she could fit up the basement stairs. She can :)

With spring break here, I got a few days to commit to the project. The other bilge panel cut and installed:

If she is to be a rowboat, she needs some oars. When my friends John Singer and Jon Powell saw the unorthodox design, we decided to say that they were the 'new wave' in oar shape and have been banned from the Olympics because they were TOO efficient.:

The inside has been all sealed, as well as the outside seams. Time to glass the outside:

Gunwales being installed, you can see the 'darkened' epoxy'd interior:

'Launch' out my basement door:

Two boats in one picture, in case you didn't believe me. :) Salacia is ready to go, although she doesn't realize she is in the one boat she won't be riding in.

.Launch Day April 18, 2004:

First day commentary:
~She can move fast, that's for sure. Once you get a nice even rhythm, she flows great.
~Salacia was an angel in this first trip. She had a lot of fun playing with a stick in the water and seeing orange fish in the lake.
~There was a stiff wind this day and her high sides made her a sailboat without a sail. Just wait until I put a sail on!

May 04: I finally have the time and effort to added all the stuff to make here the sailboat she was meant to be. Here she is before her maiden sailing voyage on Vandercook Lake.
My neighbor Wendell and I took it out one day so he could try it. Since he was nice enough to lend me the sail from his old optimist pram, I could not refuse :)

The proud owner later that same day:

I have been doing some reading of other people's experiences with the Nymph, and most say that she is crappy as a sailing vessel. For a guy who has not sailed in 15+ years, it is a great learner craft. I did spill he once when I pushed her to hard on Lime Lake and a gust of wind tipped her. I learned that recovery in deep water is pretty much impossible. Being an educator, I like learning :)

Updated 29 Aug 2004 07:04

The cutouts of the bottom and sides: Two of the frames butt-blocked and hardening:	The bigger frame hardening: Frame taking shape: Little girl is size reference:
Bottom face on, ready for epoxy:	The Bottom and sides are all glued to the transoms. Time for one of the bilge panels:
The outside gap is filled, the inside gets glassed. The boat sits at an angle to prevent epoxy from running the wrong way. For the record, right before I did this portion, I double checked to make sure she could fit up the basement stairs. She can :)	With spring break here, I got a few days to commit to the project. The other bilge panel cut and installed:
If she is to be a rowboat, she needs some oars. When my friends John Singer and Jon Powell saw the unorthodox design, we decided to say that they were the 'new wave' in oar shape and have been banned from the Olympics because they were TOO efficient.: The inside has been all sealed, as well as the outside seams. Time to glass the outside: Gunwales being installed, you can see the 'darkened' epoxy'd interior:	'Launch' out my basement door: Two boats in one picture, in case you didn't believe me. :) Salacia is ready to go, although she doesn't realize she is in the one boat she won't be riding in.
.Launch Day April 18, 2004:
First day commentary: ~She can move fast, that's for sure. Once you get a nice even rhythm, she flows great. ~Salacia was an angel in this first trip. She had a lot of fun playing with a stick in the water and seeing orange fish in the lake. ~There was a stiff wind this day and her high sides made her a sailboat without a sail. Just wait until I put a sail on!
May 04: I finally have the time and effort to added all the stuff to make here the sailboat she was meant to be. Here she is before her maiden sailing voyage on Vandercook Lake.	My neighbor Wendell and I took it out one day so he could try it. Since he was nice enough to lend me the sail from his old optimist pram, I could not refuse :) The proud owner later that same day: