Argie 15 by Dudley Dix

• Attractive & versatile , Argie 15 offers fun for the whole family.
• Multi-purpose, can be rowed, motored or sailed, space for camp-cruising on lakes and rivers.
• Simple stitch and glue method, build with minimum of tools, no previous boatbuilding experience & little space.
• Step-by-step instructions included in plans.
• Ideal quality time project for Dad with Junior's help or practical winter project to fight off cabin fever.
• Build as a school project then use for training young sailors in the school sailing club.
• Built-in flotation compartments & simple sail plan make her great for learning to sail at any age.
• Drawings include optional full-length side seats.
• Optional full size paper patterns available.

The ARGIE 15 was designed to be a versatile family fun boat. Essentially a 3 in 1 dinghy, she can be rowed, sailed or powered by an outboard motor of up to 7,5kw output. She is more than the normal 3 in 1 dinghy in that it was considered from the start that she may be used as a camp cruiser. Most dinghies have no areas long enough for an adult to stretch out full length for sleeping but the ARGIE 15 has 1,9m of clear length, sufficient for most people. The addition of removable slatted floorboards to your boat will lift you out of any water lying in the bottom while sleeping. A canvas or plastic sheet over the boom and tied to eyes along the gunwhales will give protection from the elements. The result is a minimum cruiser for use on protected waters.

She has also been designed to make maximum use of the advantages of plywood to give a light and easily managed boat which is well within the capabilities of the average DIY enthusiast. The construction method used is stitch and glue which eliminates most of the framing normally used in boat construction and results in very light structural weight. The weight of a completed hull is approximately 60kg, making her suitable for car topping on extended roof racks. She will, however be more easily handled with a trailer.

By normal dinghy standards, the mast is robust and fairly heavy. This is because the sailing rig has been designed to be uncomplicated to set up and easy to control, using a minimum of fittings. The mast tube comes from one extrusion, cut in half so as to fit inside the hull for storage.

The whole concept of the ARGIE 15 is simplicity, both in construction and use. For those wanting to customise their boats to suit their own use, there are numerous possibilities. These include floor boards, customised tent, foot straps and extending the side seats right round the hull (these are not covered in the drawings). As drawn, she is about as much boat as can come from six sheets of plywood. The extension of the side seats will need an additional sheet and will limit the sleeping width a bit. However, the extra bouyancy which results will make for easier righting in the event of a capsize and make her more comfortable for sailing.

The ARGIE 15 is a good family construction project, with surprisingly good sailing performance and the ability to take a lumpy sea. It has also been built with thicker plywood to produce a robust little boat for small scale commercial fishing or working lobster traps.

If the Argie 15 is too large for you, look at the Dixi Dinghy and Argie 10 stitch and glue dinghies. If you are looking for a smaller yet more challenging project, see the Challenger 13 lapstrake dinghy.