CNC files for Welsford Pathfinder - FREE

If you're unfamiliar with CNC files, they are 2d vector (.dxf) files that you can bring to a CNC operator.  He will use these files with his CNC machine to cut your parts out of 4x8 foot sheets of plywood, thus creating a partial kit for your boat build.  Below, you can see which parts will be cut out and produced by your CNC operator for this boat (click to enlarge).

This will save you a tremendous amount of time, material, and possibly mistakes vs drawing the parts full size and cutting them out yourself.  Note however that not all parts are included.  Parts such as bulkheads, centerboard cases, transoms, doublers, lower panels, planks (on some boats) and other parts that are defined on John's drawings are included, but parts that are cut-to-fit parts usually are not.  Cut-to-fit parts include parts like seat tops, decking, and usually planks. Those parts are made by clamping an oversized piece of plywood to the boat, tracing the outline of the part, then removing and cutting out the part. Also, some parts may be intentionally oversized by design so that they may be trimmed to the exact size on installation.  Better they be too big than too small.

These CNC files are licensed by John Welsford and provided free of charge under the following conditions:

1. You must purchase one set of plans from John Welsford per use of these files.
2. I take every precaution to ensure the content of these files is current and accurate, nevertheless the files are provided "as is" and without warranty.  Use them at your own risk.
3. Minor alterations may be needed to the files for things like hatch sizes or other customizations.  Contact me if you need assistance with that.

Click this link to download the CNC files for this boat

Full size paper templates are also available for purchase from Duckworks.  Click here for more info.

 

CNC files for Welsford Navigator - FREE

If you're unfamiliar with CNC files, they are 2d vector (.dxf) files that you can bring to a CNC operator.  He will use these files with his CNC machine to cut your parts out of 4x8 foot sheets of plywood, thus creating a partial kit for your boat build.  Below, you can see which parts will be cut out and produced by your CNC operator for this boat (click to enlarge).

This will save you a tremendous amount of time, material, and possibly mistakes vs drawing the parts full size and cutting them out yourself.  Note however that not all parts are included.  Parts such as bulkheads, centerboard cases, transoms, doublers, lower panels, planks (on some boats) and other parts that are defined on John's drawings are included, but parts that are cut-to-fit parts usually are not.  Cut-to-fit parts include parts like seat tops, decking, and usually planks. Those parts are made by clamping an oversized piece of plywood to the boat, tracing the outline of the part, then removing and cutting out the part. Also, some parts may be intentionally oversized by design so that they may be trimmed to the exact size on installation.  Better they be too big than too small.

These CNC files are licensed by John Welsford and provided free of charge under the following conditions:

1. You must purchase one set of plans from John Welsford per use of these files.
2. I take every precaution to ensure the content of these files is current and accurate, nevertheless the files are provided "as is" and without warranty.  Use them at your own risk.
3. Minor alterations may be needed to the files for things like hatch sizes or other customizations.  Contact me if you need assistance with that.

Click this link to download the CNC files for this boat

Full size paper templates are also available for purchase from Duckworks.  Click here for more info.

 

CNC files for Welsford Longsteps - FREE

If you're unfamiliar with CNC files, they are 2d vector (.dxf) files that you can bring to a CNC operator.  He will use these files with his CNC machine to cut your parts out of 4x8 foot sheets of plywood, thus creating a partial kit for your boat build.  Below, you can see which parts will be cut out and produced by your CNC operator for this boat (click to enlarge).

This will save you a tremendous amount of time, material, and possibly mistakes vs drawing the parts full size and cutting them out yourself.  Note however that not all parts are included.  Parts such as bulkheads, centerboard cases, transoms, doublers, lower panels, planks (on some boats) and other parts that are defined on John's drawings are included, but parts that are cut-to-fit parts usually are not.  Cut-to-fit parts include parts like seat tops, decking, and usually planks. Those parts are made by clamping an oversized piece of plywood to the boat, tracing the outline of the part, then removing and cutting out the part. Also, some parts may be intentionally oversized by design so that they may be trimmed to the exact size on installation.  Better they be too big than too small.

These CNC files are licensed by John Welsford and provided free of charge under the following conditions:

1. You must purchase one set of plans from John Welsford per use of these files.
2. I take every precaution to ensure the content of these files is current and accurate, nevertheless the files are provided "as is" and without warranty.  Use them at your own risk.
3. Minor alterations may be needed to the files for things like hatch sizes or other customizations.  Contact me if you need assistance with that.

Click this link to download the CNC files for this boat

Full size paper templates are also available for purchase from Duckworks.  Click here for more info.

 

CNC files for Welsford Light Dory - FREE

If you're unfamiliar with CNC files, they are 2d vector (.dxf) files that you can bring to a CNC operator.  He will use these files with his CNC machine to cut your parts out of 4x8 foot sheets of plywood, thus creating a partial kit for your boat build.  Below, you can see which parts will be cut out and produced by your CNC operator for this boat (click to enlarge).

This will save you a tremendous amount of time, material, and possibly mistakes vs drawing the parts full size and cutting them out yourself.  Note however that not all parts are included.  Parts such as bulkheads, centerboard cases, transoms, doublers, lower panels, planks (on some boats) and other parts that are defined on John's drawings are included, but parts that are cut-to-fit parts usually are not.  Cut-to-fit parts include parts like seat tops, decking, and usually planks. Those parts are made by clamping an oversized piece of plywood to the boat, tracing the outline of the part, then removing and cutting out the part. Also, some parts may be intentionally oversized by design so that they may be trimmed to the exact size on installation.  Better they be too big than too small.

These CNC files are licensed by John Welsford and provided free of charge under the following conditions:

1. You must purchase one set of plans from John Welsford per use of these files.
2. I take every precaution to ensure the content of these files is current and accurate, nevertheless the files are provided "as is" and without warranty.  Use them at your own risk.
3. Minor alterations may be needed to the files for things like hatch sizes or other customizations.  Contact me if you need assistance with that.

Click this link to download the CNC files for this boat

Full size paper templates are also available for purchase from Duckworks.  Click here for more info.

CNC files for Welsford designs

CNC files for many of John Welsford's designs are now FREE to download!

Working with John Welsford, I have been creating CNC files for many of his designs.  John has granted license of these CNC files to me, and I have decided to give them away for free.

If you're unfamiliar with CNC files, they are 2D vector (.dxf) files that you can bring to a CNC operator.  He will use these files with his CNC machine to cut your parts out of 4x8 sheets of plywood to make you a partial kit.

This will save you a tremendous amount of time, effort, material, and possibly mistakes compared to drawing the parts full size and cutting them out yourself.

CNC files or a partial kit of parts alone are not enough to build one of John's boats.  You will still need to purchase a set of plans from John Welsford, Duckworks, or one of John's other licensed distributors.

I believe these are a win-win for everyone.  Their availability will help John sell more plans so that he can design more boats.  We will get to see more of John's fabulous designs on the water.  They will help builders build their boats more quickly.  I enjoy making them.  And hopefully all of this will contribute to the home boat building community by expanding the comradery we all enjoy.

For more info, and to download the free CNC files, click the following links:

Welsford Light Dory

Welsford Longsteps

Welsford Navigator

Welsford Pathfinder

Welsford Pilgrim

Welsford Sei

Welsford Tender Behind

Welsford Walkabout

Welsford Sherpa

Welsford Houdini 

Welsford Rogue 

Welsford Tread Lightly 

Welsford Scallywag (coming soon - currently in work)

Others will follow.

Full size paper templates are also available for purchase from Duckworks.  Click here for more info.

If you have any questions or need minor changes to the CNC to customize them for your build, you can e-mail me at j_bergen@yahoo.com and I may be able to help you.

Sherpa Templates available now

Full-Size Template Kits and Roll-Form patterns for John Welsford's Sherpa dinghy are now available from Duckworks. 

The kits are PDF files, in various paper sizes, that you can print yourself on an ordinary inkjet or laser printer and then you assemble the pages to make full size patterns.  They are accurate and save the builder considerable time, effort and possibly costly mistakes.  Also included in the downloads are roll-form versions that require no assembly.  They are 3' wide by up to 8' long.  You can have them printed at your local printshop, or you can have Duckworks print them for you.  They look like this:

Next up will be Templates for Welsford's upcoming new design - Scallywag.  I'm very excited about this new design and I can't wait to create templates for it.  Scallywag takes Welsford's blockbuster design SCAMP to a whole new level by enlarging it, adding a cabin, inboard motor well, anchor locker, mizzen, folding main mast, and probably more.

If you're unfamiliar with my Template Kits, more info can be found by clicking here.

Template Kits are available for several other of John Welsford's designs too.

Super Simple Jam Cleats

Legend has it that Einstein once said “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler”

In truth, the quote isn’t actually Einstein’s, but he did agree with it.

And so do I, especially when it comes to jam cleats.

Years ago, I became frustrated with the cam cleats and horn cleats that I used for my halyards, roller furler, and centerboard lift. Cam cleats can all too easily be released accidentally. Horn cleats take longer to tie off and usually require two hands to make fast (unless you’re some sort of one-handed horn-cleating ninja). They require too much attention for too long when things get hectic.

What I really wanted was a cleat that would hold a line fast by simply and quickly wrapping one turn around it, using only one hand.

But I also wanted the ability to secure the line to the cleat with no possibility of it accidentally releasing.

And I needed two sizes, but wanted the option to swap one size for the other without having to drill more mounting holes.

I also wanted something I could make myself because, well, that’s what I do.

And of course they had to be “as simple as possible, but no simpler”.

This is what I came up with.

These jam cleats are made from a scrap of 3/4” hardwood (1/2” for the smaller cleat). I used white oak and painted them black. Pretty much any type of hardwood and finish will do. For best results, use a strong wood, with the grain running lengthwise, and a finish that’s not too slippery. I suggest bare or oiled wood, painted rather than varnished for example. Simply cut them out, round over all but the bottom edges, drill two countersunk mounting holes and that’s it.

Here are the cleats with a single turn around them. One wrap plus a tug to jam the line under the horn is all it takes to make them hold securely. I haven’t had an unintentional release yet.

 

For ultimate security, add a hitch around the horn like this.

I do both. When things are hectic, I do the one-handed wrap-and-tug. After things settle down, I go back and add the hitch. Then I can relax.

I made two variations of this jam cleat which I'll dub the Single Jammer and the Double Jammer.

With the Single Jammer cleat, you route the line around the aft end of the cleat, pull the line forward to tighten, then wrap around the forward end of the cleat to secure.

I prefer the Double Jammer cleat if the line already has a lot of tension on it.  Wrapping the line around the aft end of the cleat secures the line instantly.  Then, wrapping the line around the forward end of the cleat secures the line even more.

I’ve been using these cleats for several years now, and I absolutely love them. Here are the plans if you would like to make some for yourself.  Download .zip