Update on Wide Stern Versions of Didi 40 and Didi 40cr

In February I posted about the wide stern version of the Didi 40cr being built in Australia. Read that earlier post. Amateur builder David Edmiston sent me an update photo with the deck and cockpit nearing completion.

Wider stern at deck level, with T-cockpit.

The underbody of the hull is unchanged, with the topsides more flared to give the wider deck. This allows a broader T-shape cockpit that will work with either tiller or a larger wheel than can fit into the original format.

A plywood Didi 40 being built in India uses this same hull with a different deck and longer cockpit. That boat will be used as the plug for moulds, from which series-built sandwich GRP boats will be produced. The builder is XS-Marines in Mumbai.

Plywood hull being skinned with jigsaw-jointed panels.

Stern view of the Didi 40 wide stern version.

The boats on this post are essentially updated versions of the Didi 38 "Black Cat", the boat that kicked off our radius chine plywood design range.

To see more about our full design range visit our main website or our mobile website.

Didi 26 & 40 Projects in India

I wrote in February about the wide-stern version of the Didi 40cr that is being built in Australia. That post drew good interest and has resulted in various enquiries.

In a parallel development, we have been working with XS Marines in Mumbai, India on introducing new boats to their range of sailboats. This started with the owner of XS Marines, Sheri Bamboat, buying plans for the plywood Didi 26, as well as rights to build that design in fibreglass. Construction is now starting on that plywood boat, from which the moulds for GRP production will be made.

Bill Richards' plywood Didi 26  racing in New Zealand.

XS Marines will now take a similar route with the Didi 38/40, after having signed a buyer for the first boat that they will build to that design. They have requested to be able to build their boats with the newer wide stern, instead of the original stern that I built as "Black Cat". They also wanted to build the first plywood boat as a CNC kit. That required me to develop a revised 3D model and extract the modified hull and deck panels so that their kit could be cut. Under tight time pressure, it required some compromise from both sides but the job was done and the boat is now being built.

Didi 40 plywood hull being built at XS Marine in Mumbai.

This one is being built as a Didi 40, ie with the extended stern that increases sailing length and smooths the wake a bit. These differences translate into increased performance. The hull is the same as the Didi 40cr being built in Australia but with a shorter cabin and longer cockpit.

Pat Boase's Didi 40cr "Nimrod" racing off Durban, South Africa

Out of those moulds XS Marines will offer boats to both the Didi 38 and Didi 40 designs. We wish XS Marines the best of success with their new venture.

To see more of these designs and our full range, go to our full website or our mobile website.