Pauling is a diehard fan of aluminium as a building material. Thanks to CNC (computer numerically controlled) cutters, it can be accurately cut to shape for sale as a kitset, which saves labour and vastly improves the result. The tools required are inexpensive and found in most home workshops. Unlike timber, aluminium requires no gluing, fibre-glassing, sealing, fairing or painting so, once the aluminium boat is finished, it’s finished, making for a much quicker build-time. Pauling says a couple of good keen builders could put this boat together in a couple of weekends.
If you are not confident about doing the final welds, you can tack-weld the pieces together and call in a more proficient welder to do the seams. Mostly, the DIYNO is a one-man job, but certain stages require two pairs of hands. For that reason, it’s a great father-son project.
We met Pauling on the water to see how the finished DIYNO stacked up. The base boat weighs 125 kg and Pauling recommends a 25-30 hp outboard which adds another 60-80 kg, plus a 25-litre tote tank for fuel. He says it can carry a payload of 225 kg and will do 27.5 knots with 30 hp.
The warped vee hull form has enough angle forward to cut through the chop but softens to 12 degrees at the transom for stability; with Pauling and myself on the same side, the boat definitely heeled but settled at a stable attitude.