duck punt – brilliant little boat for filming birds

When I was in West Mersea I came across a bloke sailing this remarkable little boat

duck punt

I was out walking the dog - contemplating my winter in Wells. My sailing last weekend just as the tide turned and also filming the sharpies reminded me of this boat.

It can be made lightweight out of 3mm ply - the oars are cropped down standards - the rig is from an optimist. I might be light enough to go on the roof of the Micra. I deal for exploring the creeks and saltmarshes along the north norfolk coast.

what do you think?

 

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15 Responses to “duck punt – brilliant little boat for filming birds”

  1. 1 December, 2011 at 8:11 pmwelsford says:

    What stunning little boats! Thats seriousy close to the water and “real” sailing. I’ve a spare Opti rig sitting up in the rafters, are there plans?

    Oh yes, An Opti sail would set well as a balanced lugsail, it would have less twist in the sail when running downwind so would have less tendency to make the boat roll.

    John Welsford

  2. 1 December, 2011 at 8:18 pmDylan Winter says:

    I will have a set of plans by the end of this week

    sent to me by a bloke called Brian – he has a mate who says he can make a stitch and glue version

    so that is my plan

    although I assume it is a project you could knock off in an evening

    I plan to build the thing in the week between christmas and new year

    the essex blokes are very happy for me to try to make a car toppable stitch and glue version

    the originals are really heavy and made out of old floorboards
    or some such

    Dylan

  3. 3 December, 2011 at 11:20 amJohn says:

    This has inspired me too and may well catch on in Chichester Harbour where I sail and where there used to be sailing punts. I have just got to reduce my boat collection in the barn before I get “permission” to build another. Good luck with your build – did you see the film link from EAFA that I posted on the scuttlebut forum showing punt racing in the early 70’s?

  4. 14 February, 2012 at 4:50 amRay in Keyport: [email protected] says:

    Dylan! Dylan!

    OK OK… Uncle! I give up! You really got under my skin with this duck punt. Please send me the plans as soon as you can! This is the perfect boat for Raritan Bay New Jersey. Now I have to build one! I’ll be sending you an email about this. How much do the plans cost? My wife’s gonna kill me… another boat! Oy vey!

    Cheers, Ray

  5. 14 February, 2012 at 10:08 amDylan Winter says:

    the plans are available as jpegs on the duck punt gallery page and as pdfs on the first film about the plans arriving – Dylan

  6. 28 June, 2012 at 7:27 pmMark T says:

    hey did you get the stitch and tape version of the plans. would be really keen to build one this way.

    Mark

  7. 25 November, 2012 at 11:44 pmGriffin says:

    Awesome boat! about how much does the hull cost to make?, and how difficult is it?

  8. 26 November, 2012 at 11:58 amdylan winter says:

    took me a week to build – building videos on the duck punt pages – total cost was £100

    Dylan

  9. 21 January, 2013 at 7:17 pmRusty Knorr says:

    Hello gents,

    I just wanted to say that I just finished my Duck Punt build and had the maiden voyage. What great fun! I shot some video so you can see it underway and put it on my blog. Check it out here at- http://www.ridingonadonkey.blogspot.com Enjoy! And build one of these boats. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

  10. 23 January, 2013 at 10:15 pmdylan winter says:

    and a most excellent blog it is too

    well done Rusty

    you blokes don’t know what you are missing

    Dylan

  11. 9 February, 2013 at 4:14 pmFrank Kahr says:

    Can’t figure out how to download stitch and glue punt plans. The link from 28 June doesn’t work.

    Thanks, Frank Kahr

  12. 2 February, 2016 at 7:10 pmLarry Rumbol says:

    Hi Dylan, would you have John Milgate’s phone number in West Mersea please?

  13. 2 February, 2016 at 7:31 pmdylan winter says:

    I am afraid I do not have it – send a message to this man

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy4_wlqoiNI

    he has it

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