Forrest,

Congratulations, I have built a modified version of the cradle pram in the same book. I eliminated one transome and made it look like a drift boat. I built it fo my nephew -- his father is an avid fly-fisherman. I plan on eventually building a Bahama Dingy when my wife and I have kids. So far we have lost two to miscarriages. I am hoping this next year to start again on building the cradle boat. I do rejoice with you in your wonderful news.

I recommend going with glass, find a nice light glass for it, Raka's 3.25 oz satin weave would be great. Raka has excellent prices on high quality glass and epoxy. A satin weave glass will be easier to get a smooth finish. My wife says to go all out, this is for your child, and will probably become a family heirloom. You may want to glass the inside too, due to the inevitable leaks, no not from the boat, but from the baby.

Mike

: Hello Everyone,

: My wife is pregnant with our first, and, instead of feeling a little left out
: of the whole process, I've begun building a baby cradle boat for our new
: arrival. It is a 42" strip-planked Bahama-style dinghy. The planks
: are 1/4" thick, 3/8" wide clear white cedar, with an occasional
: accent strip of Honduran mahogany. The transom, gunwhales, keel,
: inner/outer stempiece, breasthook, knees and floorboards are mahogany. The
: inside is to be finished bright (Epifanes or Z-Spar over West System
: epoxy). The outside will be Interlux (Endeavor Blue). My question
: (finally): the hull is obviously quite thin. In addition to the many coats
: of epoxy (thickened) on the outside, I wish to add a single layer of
: 'glass. My loacal shipyard (Martha's Vineyard Shipyard) only has 8 oz. and
: heavier. I'd like to find 2 oz., but would settle for 4 oz. The Shipyard
: offered me a huge bag of Dynel scraps for free (easily enough to do
: several baby boats). I have never used Dynel, but my understandings are as
: follows: Dynel is lighter than fiberglass (especially 8oz.), wets out as
: easily, doesn't dissappear when the weave is filled (which isn't a problem
: as the hull isn't to be finished bright, and drapes much more manageably
: than fiberglass. Does anyone have any reasons why hunting down and paying
: for lightweight fiberglass would be preferable in this situation? (My
: intention would still be to fill the weave, build up the surface and fair
: it)...Not exactly a kayak question, but sentient nonetheless, I hope.
: Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

: Cheers,
: Forrest