Modern Naples Sabot by DownEastHeart - 1:12

[DownEastHeart]

Well, this is my first post. Thanks for having me. I have a few builds in different states, including a Midwest Lobster Boat that I’m going resurrect and finish as a derelict left behind boat.

 

My build here is modern Naples Sabot dinghy that is in 1:12 scale. It’s modeled after my buddy’s son’s boat.

 

I worked off of real boat plans and then scaled things down. I wish I had captured everything in pictures from the time I made the jig and hull, but alas, I found you guys too late. So this will be a disjointed build log and if you have any questions, please ask.

 

The build has been going on for almost a year now. All of the wood and metal used was purchased at Ace Hardware. 
 

Please excuse the ramblings as I post things, I will breakdown each part of the boat as I post pictures. I still have the boom to mount, rigging and mount to the base. 
 

Here she is in the current state, I’ll post more tomorrow.

 

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

This was from my phone. I’ll type out a more detailed build log starting tomorrow, but I wanted to pull the trigger on the post.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

The model looks great, looking forward to seeing more about how you built it!

[DownEastHeart]

So, the project started with the word that a good friend of mine’s boy was trying to get into CalState Maritime Academy. He had been racing Sabots in SoCal. I wanted to do something for him and asked for pics of his boat. 

[DownEastHeart]

I researched ‘kits’ of the Sabot and found none. Thinking that these boats are primarily made by plywood and simple (some are fiberglass purpose built racing boats now, but they still need to comply with dimension and weight rules), I thought I could build one to scale. My first job was to get dimensions and possibly plans and found the Texas Win’ard Sabot Association plans online.

 

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

The Naples Sabot has the same dimensions but not a centerboard, it is a leeboard with a small keel. But this is what I started with.

[DownEastHeart]

The other issue was that 'racing' Naples Sabots are metal masts and booms, with the boom mounted with a thru-stud. 

[DownEastHeart]

The boats kids race now are a hybrid of the 'recreational' Sabots you see out there, with enclosed bulkhead seats, covered bows and modern 'quick adjustment' rigging. I wanted to make this as close as possible to the real thing.

 

As every good build starts, it needed a base. And like anyone building this boat for real, I needed to create a brace jig to wrap the 'plywood' around for the hull. Using a scrap piece of real plywood and scale wood purchased at Ace Hardware, I built a frame jig. I chose 1:12 scale because all measurements would be easy to covert from 1" on the model would equal 12" in real life. I'll post a picture of the jig on Sunday (it's at work).

 

 

Edited August 23 by DownEastHeart

[ccoyle]

Love it! If I had space to store one, I'd love to build a sailing pram to go along with my Chesapeake Light Craft lap-stitch canoe.

[DownEastHeart]

Here is a pic of the jig I created using the Win’ard plans. I do suggest if you are building a Naples boat that you order the plans through the Naples Sailboat Assos.   

[DownEastHeart]

The hull being the foundation of any boat, the construction followed many trials and tribulations that you all have fought. First, was how to get the stock ‘plywood’ to bend where I needed it to in order to get the shape. There was a lot of hand fitting the transom and bow, but this boat being so small, it was straight forward to get the scaled down pieces from the plan into the right position.

 

This model is created based on the real boat having a plywood base with a thin fiberglass layer,  boxed seating and covered bow. On the model, due to scale, paint became my ‘thin fiberglass’. Sanding and ‘trueing’ were done before several dusting layers of spray paint occurred. The paint was first brushed/sanded, then rattle canned.

[DownEastHeart]

[DownEastHeart]

I did not use any material for chine strips, due to the scale, I butted and cut and sanded the joints

[DownEastHeart]

I missed the slant of the forward bulkhead on the real boat and set it a little too vertical.

[John Gummersall]

Really nice paint job.   And even smooth gloss finish...  not easy to do.   

[DownEastHeart]

Life caught up with me along with trying to figure out modern sailing pulleys in scale. I ended up getting a mini electric miter saw to cut slivers of dowels to make my own pulleys. More to follow.

[DownEastHeart]

Cutting pulley wheels….