For most sailors, the tender is more than just a dinghy—it’s the family car, our link to shore.

On March 8th, Robin set off for the Lake District to attend a two-week boatbuilding course, eager to craft our 11ft nesting Spindrift dinghy. Watching him leave was like seeing an overexcited puppy—glowing with excitement at the thought of a workshop packed with tools, new skills to master, and the satisfaction of building a boat with his own hands.

Most cruising sailors rely on inflatable RIBs for their tenders, but we wanted something different—something we could sail and row. It would give us more freedom, keep us fit, and make exploring new anchorages even more fun.  

Robin’s Diary
A Tale of Persistence and Passion
We had chosen a Spindrift 11ft wooden sailing dinghy primarily because we wanted a lightweight sailing boat that could double as a tender. Our old rubber inflatable tender was on its last legs, and the 15hp motor was increasingly unreliable.

As dinghy sailors, we often found it frustrating to arrive in a stunning bay only to launch a heavy rubber tender that needed inflating. We’d wrestle with fitting the outboard, ensuring we had enough fuel, and then motor to shore. We often wondered—why couldn’t we simply sail in? That question led us to extensive research in search of the perfect sailing dinghy.

The dinghy had to meet specific criteria: it needed to be lightweight (around 55kg) and compact (no more than 11ft) to fit on our davits. It had to carry two people comfortably and occasionally fit four. Moreover, it had to sail well, row efficiently, and be capable of taking a small, lightweight electric motor. Our search led us to the Spindrift 11, a robust and well-proven sailing tender. The fact that it could also “nest”—meaning one half fits inside the other to save deck space—was the deal-clincher. There was just one catch: only the plans were available, so we had to build it ourselves!  

Further investigation led us to Fine Boat Kits in the Lake District, UK. Not only could they supply the plans, they would CNC cut all the parts and had a 2-week course to help build it. I retired on the Thursday, and set off for the Lakes on the Saturday ready to embark on this course. 

The Build Begins
Week 1 focused on constructing the basic hull shape and the central bulkhead. Week 2 was dedicated to fitting the rear seats, buoyancy tanks, mast foot, and bow tank. Despite the precision-cut parts, the process was meticulous and time-consuming—everything had to be perfectly aligned, epoxy fillets applied, and fiberglass integrated. By Thursday of the second week, I was ready for the most critical step.

One Boat Becomes Two
With the boat fully assembled, its bulwarks sanded and rounded, it was time to cut it in half—a daunting task. A double bulkhead had been built, separated by small squares of cardboard, leaving just enough space to insert a saw and begin cutting. Ideally, the bulkhead sides guide the saw, preventing it from drifting into the bulkhead itself. The cutting starts easily along the boat’s sides but becomes more challenging when moving through the hull. You have to “feel” the process—if the saw stiffens, it’s likely cutting into the bulkhead instead of staying centered in the gap. The most difficult part came when I hit an epoxy blob at the hull bottom and had to cut through the skid. At this point, Kurt and Phil offered reassuring words, and Kurt’s strength was invaluable in freeing the saw blade when it got stuck. Completing a clean cut through both halves was incredibly satisfying.  

One Half Nests in the Other
The first test was to check whether the two halves nested properly. To my relief, they fit perfectly.

 Preparing for Greece
With the basic construction complete (painting, varnishing, and final touch-ups will wait until we arrive in Greece), I spent the final day building the shipping crate.  

Thanks to Fyne Boats
My time at Fynes Boats was nothing short of extraordinary. The workshop and course were exceptional with the entire team striking the perfect balance between expert guidance and allowing us to build our own boat. Their skill, patience and enthusiasm made the experience both rewarding and unforgettable.

A special thank you to Kurt for his patience and expertise, as well as to Phil, Tim, Ian and Mike whose support enriched every step of the process.

And of course, a nod to Tico the dog who kept spirits high and supervised the workshop with unwavering dedication!