Nutshell Pram Plans Turning 40

 29 Apr 22:

The Nutshell Pram plans by a Joel White will turn 40 next year, we better pick it up a notch to get finished in time!

Ladder Frame aka Strongback aka Building Jig

20 Jan 22: 

We decided to build the Nutshell Pram, 7' 7" and think we can use the Ladder Frame that we built for the Pascagoula Catboat. A ladder frame is the backbone for the building molds, on which a new boat takes shape. Ladder frames are also called strongbacks or jigs. Our ladder frame was built so that it could rest on our finishing dolly, a roll around cart that we use to hold small boats while we work on them. The ladder frame and dolly were goofing off back in our conservation area, aka back yard, and Skipper used her John Deere mower named WILEY to tow the dolly and ladder frame up to the Carriage House.

Next we went up to our builder's supply house and picked up a 1/2 inch thick 4x8 sheet of exterior grade ply that will be used to make the molds for the Pram. The little trailer HUEY had an easy day, we  also grabbed some clear white pine boards while we there.

In the background are some materials for a fence that will be going up. A contractor is scheduled to do it, we think sometime this year, but if it is not up by the time the house is near completion next door, I'll give Skipper the post hole digger and turn her loose.

We'll document the little Pram build as we go along, and will be writing an article for Small Boats Magazine (SBM). As such there may only be a few peeks as the build progresses for our Usual Visitors , but we promise a full report after the article is published. SBM is a digital publication of WoodenBoat, with articles on Reader Built Boats, Boat Profiles, gear and tips for intrepid mariners. There is a great search  function on the website, with articles dating back to Sep 2014. If there is a boat you are considering buying, building restoring or mucking about in, grab a cup of coffee and take a trip over to SBM on the digital highway. Also, if you have some tips on Nutshell building or sailing to share, please post in the comments.

Cheers

Skipper and Clark

FMI: Small Boats Magazine 

Joel White's 7' 7" Nutshell Pram

 20 Jan 22:

In our search to find small boat plans that would be easy to build and fit in the back of a pickup, we came across Joel White's Nutshell Pram, the 7' 7" model. It would be a good boat for many purposes, as a tender, sail trainer, fun rowboat for kids. The plans and builder's guide was ordered late in 2020 from the WoodenBoat Store, then the project was postponed by our punt build and a homeport change. 

We're reviewing the plans, considering a build.