Skylarks up to 13'

 

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Other Dinghies 10' to 13'

SKYLARK PRAM DINGHY DESIGNS & PLANS
UP TO 13' LENGTH

 


We have 6 designs, all for stitch and tape construction (although mould shapes are also available for the 8 & 10 footers to be built using the strip plank process). Please note that there are larger Skylark's on our other Dinghy and Day-boat pages.


Note - In the particulars for each design, the dry weight is given for guidance only and will vary depending on the grade/density of plywood and solid wood used - different thicknesses of ply are often used by builders and the dry weight figure is based on the thinnest ply specified.
Also the Guidance Use comments are given in good faith and are based on feedback from previous builders etc and based on standard weight adults - contact us if you want further clarification before ordering/building. E & OE

 

ORDERING PLANS

For each design you can order either:

 
PRINTED PLANS sent to you by post - Postage will be added to your order - see postage costs at the bottom of the page

OR

PDF PLANS sent to your email address - make sure we have your email address when you order.

 

Skylark Dinghies on this Page

Skylark 4' Skylark 6' Skylark 8' Skylark 9' Skylark 10' Skylark 12'

 

SKYLARK 4'  
Skylark 4

 

This is a 4' version of our Mark 2 Skylark series of pram dinghies with a beam of 3' (0.92m). The design was developed for "Wood 'n' Tots" toys as a safe fun boat for small children to learn basic water skills in. Construction is stitch and tape using a single sheet of 4mm Exterior plywood.  Instead of a conventional thwart the boat has a fore and aft saddle seat which can also provide buoyancy or stowage. The design could also be used as a cradle boat for a new born infant.

Above - a Skylark 4 by Ralph Woodard

and below, by Dan Darwall

Skylark 4 Particulars

LOA 3' 10" 1.17m
Beam 3' 0.92m
Hull Mid Depth 11 3/4" 0.3m
Draft 4" 0.1m
Approx. Dry Weight 32lbs 14.5kg

Hull Shape

Narrow flat bottom plank plus 3 planks per side
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 1 sheet of 4mm exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use 1 or 2 young children
Drawing/Design Package 2 x A1 drawings + 5 x A4 instruction sheets

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 4' DINGHY PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £45          

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £45          

(Approx. 54 Euros/$61 USD)


 
SKYLARK 6'  
Although only 6’ long we have given her good internal volume with a beam of 3’8’’. This gives plenty of buoyancy in the ends of the boat so that she does not exhibit the usual tippiness of craft of this size. Her overall weight will be less than 50 lbs. and could be a lot less if she were made from 4mm ply. This and her inherent stability make her ideal for fishing with one or two crew or for a first boat for the children. As with the other Skylarks, construction is simple stitch and tape using pre-shaped ply panels. Two sheets of 4 or 6mm ply are used.  Skylark 6

The 2 photos immediately above are of a Skylark 6 by Antonio G. Espejo

And the example left is by Ralph Woodard

Skylark 6 Particulars

LOA 6' 1.83m
Beam 3'8" 1.12m
Hull Mid Depth 1'2" 0.36m
Draft 5 1/2"/2'1" 0.14/0.63
Sail Area (lug rig) 22.8 sq.ft 2.12 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 50lbs 22.68kg

Hull Shape

Narrow bottom plank plus 3 planks per side (Mk 2)
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 2 sheets of 6mm exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use 1 x adult or 2 x children
Drawing/Design Package 3 x A1 drawings + 6 x A4 instruction sheets
Leg o' mutton with sprit boom main and lug rigs given

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 6' DINGHY PLANS

 

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £45         

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £45         

(Approx. 54 Euros/$61 USD)


 
SKYLARK 8'  
Skylark 8
Skylark8
The hull shape of the Skylark 8 gives plenty of room right forward making her a good load carrier as well as very stable. We have had our whole family (2 adults and 3 young children) in her for pic-nics along the canal. She has a length of 7’11’’ and a beam of 3’8’’ and weighs only 60 lbs., making her easy to carry (optional wheels for pushing may be fitted to the skeg) and car topping. A small outboard may be fitted to the transom. Construction uses 2 sheets of 1/4’’ ply with pre shaped panel and frame shapes which are simply stitched together and taped with grp tape (basic construction takes only a weekend).Her simple rig and daggerboard make her ideal for children to sail.
Below left is an example by Fink V. Walstein and below right by Natalie Turner.

Skylark 8 Particulars

LOA 7' 11" 2.41m
Beam 3'8" 1.12m
Hull Mid Depth 1'4" 0.41m
Draft 5 1/2"/ 2'3" 0.14/0.69m
Sail Area 23 sq. ft 2.14 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 60lbs 27.2kg

Hull Shape

Mk 2 has narrow flat bottom plank plus 3 plans per side
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 2 sheets of 6mm exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use Has taken up to 2 adults plus 3 small children on a canal - usually has 2 adults plus gear
Drawing/Design Package 3 x A1 drawings + 9 A4 instruction sheets - details for both leg o' mutton main and lug rigs plus leeboards and daggerboard.
Mould shapes also available for a strip plank version - please enquire.

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 8' DINGHY PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £55          

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £55          

(Approx. 66 Euros/$74 USD)


 
SKYLARK 9'  
We have designed the Skylark 9 for a Tasmanian client who needed a dinghy which was not so big that he could not handle it in and out of the water by himself and which could handle a short, steep chop and blowy conditions safely. The dinghy also had to have as much room inside as possible on a length not exceeding 9'. So we decided to use our Skylark mark 2 range as a model for this new dinghy. The Skylarks have proven highly successful for those who want roomy craft with excellent stability both longitudinally as well as athwartships.

The Skylark 9 is very much a pram version of our Stornoway 9 stem dinghy with the same generous freeboard and simple lug rig with unstayed mast. The hull uses 3 sheets of 6mm ply with a further sheet required for the sailing version and all the details are shown for simple stitch and tape construction. The standard plans show a daggerboard but details are also given for a centreboard.

 

Below is an example with Dutch type leeboards added.

Skylark 9 Particulars

LOA 9' 2.74m
Beam 4'6" 1.37m
Hull Mid Depth 1'6" 0.46m
Draft 6"/2'6" 0.15/0.76m
Sail Area 43 sq.ft 4 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 80lbs 36.28kg

Hull Shape

Narrow flat bottom plank pus 3 planks per side
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 3 sheets of 6mm exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use 2 adults plus 2 children - fishing etc
Drawing/Design Package 3 x A1 drawings + 6 x A4 instruction sheets - details for both daggerboard and pivoted centreboard given.

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 9' DINGHY PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £65           

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £65           

(Approx. 78 Euros/$88 USD)


 
SKYLARK 10'  
The Skylark 10, for her length, is a large dinghy and quite capable of accommodating a family of 2 adults and 3 children comfortably. Several 10's have been built by clients who have a spare rig (Mirror etc) and who want a simple and easily built hull to put it on. She takes 3 sheets of 1/4" (6mm) ply (we used Exterior ply for ours) and most of the materials can come from your local wood merchant. We have developed the mould shapes for a strip plank version and these are available at an additional charge of £10. Many have been built as fishing dinghies and the Malta Sailing School use a fleet for sail training. Beam is generous at just under 5'.
Skylark 10

Skylark 10 Particulars

LOA 10' 3.05m
Beam 5' 1.52m
Hull Mid Depth 1' 4 1/2" 0.42m
Draft 5 1/2"/2'9" 0.14/0.84m
Sail Area 45 sq.ft 4.19 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 80lbs 36.28kg

Hull Shape

Narrow flat bottom plank plus 2 planks per side
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 3 sheets of exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use 3 adults or 2 adults plus 3 children - will take old Mirror 11 rig
Drawing/Design Package 3 x A1 drawings + 8 instruction sheets - includes a sketch on building in 2 halves (applicable to most of the Skylarks).
There are also drawings available giving the hull plank shapes for an 11' version and a round bilged 10' strip planked version - please enquire.

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 10' DINGHY PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £65           

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £65           

(Approx. 78 Euros/$88 USD)


 
SKYLARK 12'  
The Skylark 12 is capable of having a small cuddy fitted forward for protection and shelter or simple dry storage of gear. Side benches can be fitted with storage or buoyancy under and the whole boat is big enough to be fitted out to your own requirements. As with the other dinghies of her class, the pram shape gives much additional buoyancy and volume right forward and allows the crew to move around the boat far more freely and safely. Apart from the obvious advantages for a working/fishing craft, this makes life a lot safer for small children. Beam is 5'. With a sprit boom, there is less likely hood of heads getting bumped and the gunter rig combines excellent performance under sail with easy reefing and allows shorter spars which fit inside the boat. She weighs around 100 lbs. which means that she can be car topped and uses 4 sheets of 1/4’’ ply. Construction is simple stitch and tape (or epoxy) with most of the basic construction taking only a few days and the panel shapes are given on the plans. The plans include all details for the sails etc. There are three different rigs shown for the Skylark 12 and also a 3 chine Mark 2 version.
Skylark 12

Below is a nice example of the mark 1 version by Gary Wright.

12' Skylark Particulars

LOA 12' 3.66m
Beam 5' 1.52m
Hull Mid Depth 1'6" 0.46m
Draft 6 1/2"/3' 0.17/0.92m
Sail Area (largest area with gunter main and jib on short bowsprit option) 87.5 sq. ft 8.14 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 100lbs 45.35kg

Hull Shape

Narrow flat bottom plank plus 3 planks per side
Construction Method Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 4 sheets of 6mm exterior or marine plywood
Guidance Use 3 adults plus gear
Drawing/Design Package 4 x A1 drawings plus 11 x A4 instruction sheets - 3 sail plans given including lug and gunter sprit main plus jib and similar with bowsprit

 

ORDER THE SKYLARK 12' DINGHY PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £75           

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - FULL PLAN £75           

(Approx. 90 Euros/$101 USD)


Back to Dinghies up to 13' Main Page

Post & Packing Charges when Ordering Printed Kayak Plans

The postal charges on individual items are:

  • UK - £5

  • EU/Europe - £11

  • USA - £18

  • Elsewhere - £18

All posted items are usually sent by Royal Mail International Tracked Service.

The Post and Packing charges for orders which include more than one item are combined to give a lower P&P charge than if the items are charged separately.

Note - if you wish to order both Printed and PDF (emailed) items, these orders are handled separately on different secure payment systems.

FOR DETAILS OF THE STITCH & TAPE
AND CEDAR STRIP PLANK
CONSTRUCTION METHODS SEE THE HOME PAGE