Description
The Gremlin is a compact, general-purpose pram dinghy designed by British naval architect and boatbuilder Percy W. Blandford in the mid-1950s as an affordable, DIY project for novice builders with limited resources, time, and space, serving as a precursor to popular postwar plywood designs like the Goblin, Cadet, and Mirror dinghies. Measuring approximately 7 feet 9 inches LOA with a 4-foot beam and weighing just 60–80 pounds, it features a hard-chine plywood hull with a V-section forward blending into a shallow curve aft for improved wave entry and stability, a pivoting centerboard, and a simple lug or gunter sloop rig offering around 40–50 square feet of sail area for gentle planning speeds up to 5 knots in light breezes—ideal for solo adults, juniors, or as a yacht tender. Kit-built from three sheets of marine plywood using basic stitch-and-glue or nailed-frame methods (plans marketed via Light Craft magazine), the prototype debuted at the 1957 Earls Court Boat Show for £15.50 including sails and oars, enabling single-handed lifting, roof-rack trailering, and versatile use for rowing, sailing, or fishing in sheltered waters. Production was limited and plans are now scarce (available via Clark Craft or Blandford enthusiast groups).
