Row what you sew
A traditional boatbuilding technique gets a modern makeover with the release of a locally-designed kit-set dinghy that’s stitched and glued together.
DIyers looking for a fun parent/child project should take a serious look at the new Stitchbird dinghy, an attractive, inexpensive, rewarding and easy-tobuild entrée to the boating lifestyle.
The brainchild of Auckland mechanical engineer Charlie North, the 2.2m Stitchbird’s various pre-cut components are literally held together by stitches while the glue sets. The stitches, in this case, are standard plastic ‘cable ties’ – easily unpicked once they’re no longer needed. No need for nails, screws, clamps or fibre-glassing.
“Building a boat in a garage,” says Charlie, “can be quite an undertaking even for experienced craftsmen, let alone novices. Stitchbird kit-sets make the process simple. They come with everything you need and the entire boat can be built in about 12 hours.”
Each kit-set comprises some 30 components – all pre-cut with a CNC router. Construction material is predominantly marine grade plywood in three thicknesses – 4, 6 and 9mm. The keel and stem are shaped from solid timber, usually iroko.
The all-timber construction gives the Stitchbird a natural buoyancy, but this is easily enhanced by inserting inflatable bladders or foam within the thwarts, or even sealing the thwarts.
Equipped with nylon rowlocks (oars are an optional extra) the dinghy is easy to row – and it goes particularly well with a 2.5hp outboard engine hooked on to the transom. Oars (Australian ash) are made by Palmerston North company Pelco Joinery. The transom’s fitted with two rod holders, and the bow with a stainless steel tow hook.
Completed boats weigh around 28kg and are easily lifted on to a car roof-rack or the deck of a yacht. They make excellent tenders. So far, 10 Stitchbirds have been built. Charlie says glue application is particularly easy. “I use a West System (Six 10) glue, and it comes in a tube that fits a common, hand-pumped sealant gun. It’s a very strong, two-part epoxy glue, but rather than
Stitchbird 0274 130 654, email charlie@stitchbird.nz.