From an editorial and Len Wingfield’s letter in the summer Bulletin, I see the old debate about safe cruising dinghies goes on. I think I have an answer to this problem in the designs of marine architect, Phil Bolger. He describes his boats as ‘instant’. They are very easy to build, much easier than Roamer or Rebell, as they are square in section and made in exterior ply. The particular design which would suit our members is the Micro, 15’ 4” x 6’, draft 1’ 9”, uses 10-12 sheets of ply.

To quote the designer, ‘Micro cruiser has 6’ 6” bunks, is self righting, self draining, self sailing with wind ahead of beam and self rescuing with prescribed flotation’. If any of our members are contemplating building, I would be pleased to give advice. For design details see current PBO advert — Moore — Instant Boats.

With an overall length of 15’ 4” it can still be called a dinghy even though it sports a fixed cuddy, two permanent bunks and room for a Porta-Potti, with provision for an outboard (2‑4 hp).

The designer says, “Micro was intended to be a day sailer with dry storage and shelter from passing showers, that could be sailed in an unstrenuous fashion even in strong winds; self-righting and otherwise able to take care of herself in open water.”

The big appeal to me is the ease of building: no lofting of lines, no jig to build and no tedious fairing off, which has to be done with other ply designs. Having built the odd boat (or two!) including Rebell, fairing off is very skilful and either makes or mars a ply hull. This hull is built by marking out sheets of ply to dimensions given in plan, then fastening them together to produce a basic hull in days rather than months. I realise someone will remark on the square bow and transom and plumb bow and stern. May I quote from Dinghies for all Waters (Eric Coleman) — ‘I have a theory that the appearance of a boat suddenly becomes of minor importance when one is out at sea in deteriorating weather.’

Others may observe the similarity to flat bottomed fishing dories that got separated from the mother ship in fog on the Grand Banks and sailed hundreds of miles through atrocious weather to land safely on home ground.

So here is a safe, easy-build boat for anyone to make — start now and cruise her next summer!