Trixie 7

Study Plans
for a 7' 2" x 4' 6" Tender

For Rowing, Sail and Short Shaft Outboard Motors

Andrew Walters
Trixie 7
Study Plans
for a 7' 2" x 4' 6" Tender

For Rowing, Sail and Short Shaft Outboard Motors

by

Andrew Walters

Copyright © 2013 by Andrew Walters

All Rights Reserved

andrew.walters.design@gmail.com

http://andrewwaltersdesign.com/
Contents
5 Introduction

7 List of Materials & Specification

8 Glue, Resin and Fixings

9 Drawings

21 Construction Sequence

30 Sail Supplement
 three people and provisions to the mother
vessel.

On the bottom are two skegs, each of which

Introduction incorporate a 4" diameter plastic wheel. The
intention here is to facilitate pulling the boat
'Trixie' began as an idea for a small and across a car park or road, and down a slipway.
simple to build plywood tender, able to get out I doubt that they'd cope on sandy beaches or
to a mooring with two or three on board, that muddy tracks! Other options are to omit the
was very light, incorporated wheels to enable wheels, or provide one central skeg (minus
transport to the slipway, was designed to the wheel), or omit the skegs altogether.
provide the maximum space from two sheets
of 1/4" plywood, and could be powered by She's not going to win on the speed stakes -
oars, a small outboard or sail. but I think that she looks cute!

Simplicity and economy have been my main Anyone with a basic knowledge of
design criteria. The side panels have parallel woodworking should be able to make this
long edges, 8' long - this ensures the least boat.
amount of wastage and makes for easy
marking out and cutting. The bottom panel is Whilst this manual sets out the construction
4' wide and of a length to suit the side panels. sequence in detail, the builder should have a
This produces a hull with a maximum beam of basic knowledge of, and ability in, working
4'6" and a length of 7'2". With proportions with wood and epoxy resins and glass fiber.
like this, she should be capable of carrying
three people and provisions to the mother Before buying materials, or starting to build
vessel. this boat please read and familiarize yourself
with the drawings and construction manual.
On the bottom are two skegs, each of which Bear in mind that the build sequence and
incorporate a 4" diameter plastic wheel. The method of construction can be varied to suit
intention here is to facilitate pulling the boat your preference.
across a car park or road, and down a slipway.
I doubt that they'd cope on sandy beaches or
muddy tracks! Other options are to omit the
wheels, or provide one central skeg (minus
the wheel), or omit the skegs altogether.

She's not going to win on the speed stakes -

but I think that she looks cute!

Anyone with a basic knowledge of

woodworking should be able to make this
boat.

Whilst this manual sets out the construction

sequence in detail, the builder should have a
basic knowledge of, and ability in, working
with wood and epoxy resins and glass fiber.

Before buying materials, or starting to build

this boat please read and familiarize yourself
with the drawings and construction manual.
Bear in mind that the build sequence and
method of construction can be varied to suit
your preference.

5
Recommended Reading Disclaimer

Two excellent books on the subjects of boat If built properly this will be a safe boat. I
building and working with polyester and epoxy cannot be responsible for the build quality, for
resins are: your boating experience, or for the conditions
of the water where you take the boat.
Jim Michalak: 'Boatbuilding for Beginners For these reasons (and because of the litigious
(and Beyond)' times in which we live), no liability,
(consequential or other) will be assumed for
and any losses arising from the use of these
documents and drawings and no warranty is
Harold Payson: 'Build the New Instant Boats' made, including that of fitness for purpose.

The West System website also has several

downloadable user guides and manuals Copyright
relating to their epoxy resin systems:
The information contained in these documents
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/ are the copyright of Andrew Walters.
Purchase of these plans and assembly manual
give the purchaser the right to build one boat.

6
List of Materials Specification

Marine Plywood: Length 7' 2"

1/4" x 4' x 8' Beam 4' 6"

2 sheets
Bare Hull Weight
3/4" x 1 1/2" timber for gunwales, inwales and (approx) 70 lbs
seat supports
about 50' Power Requirement:

1 1/2" x 1 1/2" timber for seat supports at Oars

side panels
about 7' or

5" x 1 1/2" timber for the skegs Small outboard of about 2 hp

about 4'
or
3" glass tape
about 50' Small electric outboard

or
About 3 yards of glass cloth to cover the hull
bottom and overlap
Sail
About 1 gallon of epoxy resin

About 2 pounds of resin thickening powder

2 x 4" diameter plastic wheels, plus associated

hardware as shown on the drawings

7
Glue, Resin and Fixings
The preferred method of construction is to use
epoxy resin throughout for both the gluing and
the glass cloth covering.

Duckworks Boat Builders Supply sell epoxy

resins at a price which makes the use of other
glues and resins a false economy.
(http://www.duckworksbbs.com/supplies/epox
y/index.htm)

Polyester resin can be used as an alternative

for the glass cloth covering. It is not as
durable or as waterproof as epoxy resin.

Polyester resin should not be used as a glue.

If the boat isn't going to be kept permanently

in the water, glue fixing above the waterline,
in places such as the gunwales, inwales and
seat supports, could be with a waterproof PVA
wood glue of a quality equivalent to Titebond
II Premium Wood Glue.

Any screws that you plan to leave in should be

stainless steel. I often use screws to hold
everything together whilst gluing and taping,
then take them out and fill the holes at the
finishing stage.

'Raptor' polymer composite nails, used with a

nail gun, make for a very fast way of holding
glued surfaces in place quickly and accurately.
The method is to glue both faces, put in
position, shoot a few nails in. They're strong
enough to hold things in place whilst the glue
sets and, being plastic can be sanded, chiseled
or planed over without damaging cutting
blades - and don't rust.

8
The Drawings

Page No. Drawing Title

11 Top View

12 Side View

13 Bottom View

14 Plywood Cutting Sheet

15 Bottom Panel

16 Side Panel

17 Seat Panels - Sheet 1

18 Seat Panels - Sheet 2

19 Transom & Mid Frame

20 Skegs

9
86-1/8"

48-1/16"

54-3/4"

Scale 1" : 1'0" Top View 11

 86-1/8"

transom stiffener / gunwales and inwales

motor board are each 3/4" x 1 1/2"
4" x 1 1/4" 3/4" x 1 1/2" stiffeners
Make them up by gluing
to seat edges
together several strips of
1/4" thick material in
place with waterproof
pva glue

Scale 1" : 1'0"

15"

1-1/2"
7-3/8" 5-3/45-11/16"
"

7-1/2
"
9-1/16"

horizontal line

Side View
end seat supports from 1 1/2" x 2",
wheeled skegs shaped to side profile

39-7/8" 1/4" 39-7/8"

12
The Construction Sequence
The following pages give a step by step Please note that the drawings do not show a
construction guide. tolerance for fitting components together.
Adjustments should be made accordingly
when cutting out.

21
Arrange the transom, side and bottom panels for fixing together.

Hold together with wire, or wire ties, or strong tape - or a combination.

22
Trixie 7

Sail Supplement
31
 prototype has not been completed and tested.

There are many variables to be considered

when designing a sail boat (a significant one
Introduction on a boat such as this being the size of the
person in the boat!). For this reason, these
The following pages show details of how to plans are preliminary - and supplied free of
convert 'Trixie' into a small sailing dinghy. charge to those who have purchased the
'Trixie 7' Drawings and Construction Manual.
Details are shown for a daggerboard or a
leeboard, and a 38 sq.ft. sprit sail. Bearing in mind the above, (and because of
the litigious times in which we live), no
Drawings are also included showing sail liability, (consequential or other) will be
arrangements for the Polysail International assumed for any losses arising from the use of
Standard 59-60 sq.ft. Leg O' Mutton Sail and these documents and drawings and no
the 55 sq.ft Standard Sprit Boomed Sprit Sail. warranty is made, including that of fitness for
(http://polysail.com/Finished.htm) purpose.

The arrangement of sail, daggerboard and

rudder has been designed by following Copyright
established principles but at this stage a
prototype has not been completed and tested. The information contained in these documents
are the copyright of Andrew Walters.
There are many variables to be considered Purchase of these plans and assembly manual
when designing a sail boat (a significant one give the purchaser the right to build one boat.
on a boat such as this being the size of the
person in the boat!). For this reason, these
plans are preliminary - and supplied free of
charge to those who have purchased the
'Trixie 7' Drawings and Construction Manual.

Bearing in mind the above, (and because of

the litigious times in which we live), no
liability, (consequential or other) will be
assumed for any losses arising from the use of
these documents and drawings and no
warranty is made, including that of fitness for
purpose.

Copyright

The information contained in these documents

are the copyright of Andrew Walters.
Purchase of these plans and assembly manual
give the purchaser the right to build one boat.

32
Sail Arrangement 43
The Drawings

Page No. Drawing Title

46 Rudder and Tiller

47 Daggerboard and Daggerboard Case Sides

48 Mast Step and Foredeck

49 Leeboard

50 Leeboard Top Guard

51 Leeboard Bottom Guard

52 Sail Plan

45