The side car should be about the same size as a DN cockpit. I built one with 1 x 6 shelving wood (selected to be light and not flat grain) and the bottom was 1/4 inch plywood. An aluminum bar bent to a "j" and padded with carpet was bolted to the front to catch the DN boat side board and suport the front of the car. I drilled a hole in the front sideboard of the car and passed about three feet of light line through it to wrap around the DN and secured it in a jam cleat. Similarly, a line on the outboard side goes twice around the plank and into a jam cleat to hold the back and keep it from moving outboard. I put some oak 1 x 2 "runners" on the bottom so I could pull stuff to the boat. They had a gap to capture the plank and keep the side car from sliding forward and aft. The rider's CG is at her belt buckle, and it should end up on or in front of the plank.
All told, the materials cost about $40 and it took part of a day to build it, and the evening and next day to put two coats of varnish on it. Filled epoxy was used for all joints. My car's back was square, but should be angled to be more comfortable for the rider. A pillow helped. The DN can be steered and sailed from the sidecarm but it is a bear pushing and getting into the boat if starting with the car on the windward side.
Side car
Plans? You don't need no stinkin plans.
The side car should be about the same size as a DN cockpit. I built one with 1 x 6 shelving wood (selected to be light and not flat grain) and the bottom was 1/4 inch plywood. An aluminum bar bent to a "j" and padded with carpet was bolted to the front to catch the DN boat side board and suport the front of the car. I drilled a hole in the front sideboard of the car and passed about three feet of light line through it to wrap around the DN and secured it in a jam cleat. Similarly, a line on the outboard side goes twice around the plank and into a jam cleat to hold the back and keep it from moving outboard. I put some oak 1 x 2 "runners" on the bottom so I could pull stuff to the boat. They had a gap to capture the plank and keep the side car from sliding forward and aft. The rider's CG is at her belt buckle, and it should end up on or in front of the plank.
All told, the materials cost about $40 and it took part of a day to build it, and the evening and next day to put two coats of varnish on it. Filled epoxy was used for all joints. My car's back was square, but should be angled to be more comfortable for the rider. A pillow helped. The DN can be steered and sailed from the sidecarm but it is a bear pushing and getting into the boat if starting with the car on the windward side.
Ken Smith
DN4137
Ken Smith
DN4137
Ken, Recently, I was talki
Ken,
Recently, I was talking with someone else about a sidecar. Can you post up some pictures?
Thanks,
Will
Sidecar
I sold the sidecar at teh swap meet this year. Ask Pat Fitzgerald for picures. Sorry.
Ken Smith
DN4137
Ken Smith
DN4137