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Home  /   Boat Plans & Kits Catalog  /  Hankinson Designs  /  Sabotina

Simple, Fun & Quick Build To Get You Fun In The Sun Fast...

Sabotina
An 8' sail/row plywood pram
Build in Standard Plywood or Stitch & Glue

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This V-bottom dinghy is akin to the renown Sabot, using the identical rig and rudder, and fitted with a daggerboard for the Sail Version. It's also similar in form and dimensions to the popular El Toro class. SABOTINA makes a great ship-to-shore dinghy with or without the sail rig. You can build either our STANDARD VERSION or our STITCH-&-GLUE VERSION.

The STANDARD VERSION is built upside down over the two transoms (ends) and 3 temporary formers that don’t stay in the boat. Longitudinal wood backing members back up the hull edges and junctions, and receive the planking fastenings. Many people prefer this type of construction since it's a good introduction to typical wood boatbuilding operations involved on bigger boats, hones one's skills, and therefore provides great training. Yet our basic construction as perfected by Ken Hankinson in actual boatbuilding classroom situations is much simplified over past types. And our available FULL SIZE PATTERNS option for the hull-forming members speed the process for the inexperienced builder.

But for even faster, simpler construction, others prefer our "STITCH-&-GLUE" version. This includes FULL SIZE PATTERNS for ALL panel and structural members of the boat, and results in the lightest weight boat. Hull fastenings are virtually eliminated, as are the backing members at panel joints. Seats are integral with the structure, and form closed-in flotation compartments. Whichever SABOTINA you pick, you can save hundreds of $$$ over the cost of ready-made dinghies. They're both fun & easy, and ideal starter boats.

What Makes a Good Pram

Prams should tow, row, and sail well. Yet many don’t, even costly production boats and some from competitors. Hull shape is the key. For directional control when rowing, towing, or sailing, a v-bottom chined hull is best. Flat-bottomed prams can’t do all three functions well, and those of round or multi-chined form are less stable and harder to build.

For least drag and best speed, prams need enough profile "rocker" so ends can lift. There must be just-the-right fullness in these ends (especially the bow) so it won't push up a wall of water underway.

Buoyancy must be sufficient for stability and load carrying. Yet too many prams have ends too broad or deep - you can tell them by their bow waves piling up ahead while turbulence gathers aft due to drag from a too-wide stern. This drag makes headway and directional control difficult under sail or oar, and such boats may swamp when towed.

SABOTINA meets all these demands well. It's based on the most proven dinghy hull of all time (same as Sabots, El Toro's, and others), with thousands in use world wide. We've refined the details so building is fast and easy, even for beginners.

About Sabotina's Mast and Boom

The wood mast we detail is superior and costs next to nothing compared to one in aluminum. It's stiffer, stronger, and floats too! Best of all, it's easy to make and with no need to pay any freight to get it. If a round dowel is not available, start with a 2" square section length of wood (or Glue one up from thinner laminates - Douglas-fir or Sitka spruce work well). Then make it octagon-shaped (which is round enough) by setting a table saw blade at 45-degrees, and cutting off the four corners to form 8 equal facets. That's all there is to it! Our sail simply slips over it. The boom is a 1" x 2" stick of strong wood such as fir or oak. No rocket science involved!

Andy Suhrer of OREGON sent us these comments about his Stitch & Glue SABOTINA he built from our plans and which he uses as a tender for his larger boat:

"The whole project - painting and all - took 60 hours and $400 of materials. The pram had a tremendous amount of use this summer...and has proven to be remarkably tough... I'm continually impressed with the results. Without a doubt it is the easiest and fastest to build boat I've ever come across (I've built several "stitch-&-glue" [and] "instant" boats previously)... Can't praise it enough... Thanks for the great service."

Sabotina

SABOTINA STITCH & GLUE rowing pram version above as built by Loren Palmer and his 13-year-old son in Oklahoma.  Both were first-time boatbuilding and epoxy neophytes, but did a top job in about 100 man hours.  Says Mr. Loren; "The boat is very seaworthy and tracks very well".  As a test, they filled it with water to the seat tops with both inside in deep water.  Then successfully re-boarded from bow and stern in the water without shipping any more water.



J. Grigsby Markham from Wisconsin sent these 3 photos of his SABOTINA standard version under construction.  Note the simple building form or "jig" with temporary forms in place around which the plywood planking is applied.  "It has been a fun project" says Mr. Markham



SABOTINA

...a construction photo gallery below from Jack Brix

We thank our customer Jack Brix of Washington for submitting this series of construction photos he took while building his STANDARD VERSION SABOTINA.

Fig 1. Simple jig of ordinary 2"x 4"s is set up on sawhorses or workbench.  Three temporary forms of ordinary lumber are mounted to jig so hull can be built upside down.   Full size patterns are available for these members including transoms.

Fig. 2. With the forms and transoms (ends of boat) in place, longitudinal members are bent around the formwork - these will receive the fastenings and glue used to back up the plywood planking junctions.

Fig. 3. Plywood planking panels are leaned against the framework, marked and cut a bit oversize, glued and fastened in place, and trimmed flush around edges after. The marine screws and nails specified come in our Bronze Fastening Kit.

Fig. 4. With planking complete, edges get radiused slightly, fastening holes are filled, and surfaces sanded slightly in preparaion for the application of a fiberglass/epoxy sheathing. 

Fig. 5.  Hull has been covered using our Epoxy Fiberglass Covering Kit.  Note how covering is virtually transparent, allowing a natural wood finish if desired.  The covering   adds durability and reduces maintenance.

Fig. 6. Completed hull is removed from jig, righted, and temporary forms removed so balance of interior members, such as thwarts and corners knees, can be installed.

Fig. 7.  Virtually complete, Jack made his boat from natural-finished plywood and mahogany for a striking furniture-like appearance.  Others may prefer paint.

Fig. 8. Jack's SABOTINA is ready to launch!

Fig. 9. Jack’s completed SABOTINA fits easily in the bed of his pick-up truck. Beautiful job Jack and thanks for sharing your photos!



John Doerrler's Sabotina Standard Version built in Florida looks anxious to go sailing.

Henrik Rasmussen in North Carolina built his SABOTINA Standard Version above as a rowing tender without the sail rig or daggerboard - an easy modification if desired.

SABOTINA Stitch & Glue Version results in a hull that’s the same size and shape as the Standard Version, but the construction method is different as are the plans and instructions. It’s easier and faster to build for most, is a bit lighter, and about the same cost when completed. FULL SIZE PATTERNS are provided for every component and panel. 
Stitch & Glue Boatbuilding



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Materials List - Standard

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Materials List - S&G

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About Our Kits




Characteristics
Length overall 7'-10"
Beam 3'-11"
Weight (Standard) 65-70 lbs.
Weight (Stitch-&-Glue) 50-60 lbs.
Sail area (Max) 38 sq. ft.


  • Hull type: Vee bottom pram for Stitch & Glue plywood or standard plywood construction.
  • Power: Outboard motor to 3 HP.
  •     

    Item # Image Description Price
    61-046
    Sabotina Standard Plans & Patterns
    Sabotina Standard Plans & Patterns
    $52.00
    61-046X2
    Sabotina Standard Plans & Patterns plus One Extra Set
    Sabotina Standard Plans & Patterns plus One Extra Set
    Order this if you want an extra set of Plans & Patterns included (only 1/2 price for the extra set)
    $78.00
    68-046
    Sabotina Bronze Fastenings
    Sabotina Bronze Fastenings
    Includes all the nails & screws to assemble the hull
    $105.00
    61-046SG
    Sabotina S & G Plans & Patterns
    Sabotina S & G Plans & Patterns
    $66.00
    61-046SGX2
    Sabotina S & G Plans & Patterns plus One Extra Set
    Sabotina S & G Plans & Patterns plus One Extra Set
    Order this if you want an extra set of Plans & Patterns included (only 1/2 price for the extra set)
    $99.00
    74-046SG
    Sabotina Stitch and Glue Kit
    Sabotina Stitch and Glue Kit
    For Stitch & Glue version of this design
    $235.00
    71-046
    Sabotina Fiberglass Kit
    Sabotina Fiberglass Kit
    Includes Glen-L's Proprietary Boatbuilder Epoxy
    $189.00
    85-108
    Eightball/Sabotina Sail
    Eightball/Sabotina Sail
    Sock type sail used on Eightball, Sabotina and Dinky
    $330.00
    80-046
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Standard
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Standard
    All the hardware & rigging
    $118.00
    80-046KU
    Sabotina Hardware Kit-Wood Mast-Standard with KU Fitting
    Sabotina Hardware Kit-Wood Mast-Standard with KU Fitting
    All the hardware & rigging - This kit includes our Kick-Up Rudder fitting instead of Gudgeons & Pintles to allow the rudder to kick-up when needed--for beaching, shallow water, etc.
    $151.00
    81-046
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Deluxe
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Deluxe
    All the hardware & rigging with a pivoting cam cleat for hands free operation of mainsheet.
    $186.00
    81-046KU
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Deluxe with KU Fitting
    Sabotina Hardware Kit for Wood Mast-Deluxe with KU Fitting
    All the hardware & rigging with a pivoting cam cleat for hands free operation of mainsheet.
    This kit includes our Kick-Up Rudder fitting instead of Gudgeons & Pintles to allow the rudder to kick-up when needed--for beaching, shallow water, etc.
    $219.00
    12-430
    Boatbuilding with Plywood
    Boatbuilding with Plywood
    Covers plywood and its use in boatbuilding, especially for the amateur builder.
    $32.95
    16-101
    Stitch & Glue Boatbuilding DVD
    Stitch & Glue Boatbuilding DVD
    Learn all about building a boat using the Stitch & Glue Method
    $33.95
    12-429
    Boatbuilder's Notebook-Expanded Second Edition
    Boatbuilder's Notebook-Expanded Second Edition
    NEW Expanded Second Edition! Spiral bound reference book on a wide variety of boat building subjects
    $28.95
    16-107
    Ken Hankinson Interview DVD
    Ken Hankinson Interview DVD
    Exclusive 1 hour interview of retired boat designer, Ken Hankinson
    $8.00
    16-037
    How to Fiberglass a Boat Book & DVD Combo
    How to Fiberglass a Boat Book & DVD Combo
    Save $$$ on this Book & DVD Combination!
    $45.00
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