COLUMBIA DINGHY

Mike Hughes had hoped to build a Columbia dinghy for himself but, "as life, family, and business crowded in I never got past the stage of milling and seasoning the keel, and laying in the New Zealand kauri." Some years late, Mark Jack contacted Mike about building a Columbia for him. Built of New Zealand timber, the dinghy has puriri for the backbone, breasthook and quarter knees, kauri for the planking, kowhai for the frames and sheerstrake, and totara for the floor. Sitka spruce was used for the oars, mast, and sprit. It was decided to use Joel White's Catspaw dinghy rig, reduced to fit the Columbia dinghy. Mike reports that the dinghy responds "perfectly" under sail and "tracks perfectly and turns easily when required" under oar. Contact Mike at mikenkirsten@easi.net.nz