The Wooden Dory

To Well, Or Not To Well

That is the question of the day. Whether or not to build in an engine well in your dory is a question that I get asked regularly. Almost weekly in fact. And my answer is always the same…….

First off, let me admit before we go any further that I prefer a transom cut down for the outboard motor on my bankers dory, as opposed to an engine well. Before you start arguing with me now, beware that this is my opinion, just my play 7 card stud onlinewww poker netpoker regeln,poker razz regeln,www poker regelnpoker stars bonus codeseven card stud spieleonline spiele pokerpoker freewareparty poker 2www online poker netparty poker bonus codespoker gratis downloadstexas holdem wahrscheinlichkeitenwww poker spielpoker downloadpoker game downloadenpoker 2007 pc gameflash game poker texaspoker live spielenpoker regeln full house3c texas holdem pokerparty poker reload bonus codepoker spiel downloadentexas holdem detexas holdem rangfolgepoker spiel freewaretwo feet texas holdempoker spiel regelnpoker spiel download texas holdtexas holdem poker pctexas holdem poker handsstrip poker pc spielonline und kostenlos poker spielentexas hold poker spieltexas holdem strategieonline geld gewinnenpoker handy gratistexas holdem poker softwarenoble poker bonusholdem poker spielregelnpoker spiel download texastexas holdem kostenlosonline poker deutschkostenloses poker spielrealdice multiplayer poker texas holdemonline poker paypalpoker spielen mit spielgeldpoker net depoker sofort spielenparty poker regelnregeln von poker opinion, and by god, I am entitled to it!!

Now, whether or not YOU want an engine well or a transom mounted outboard is purely a matter of choice. Your call, up to you. There are certainly pros and cons for either choice, and we shall touch on a few of them here.

The biggest con of a built in engine well in your wooden dory is the space it takes up. This is why I personally prefer the transom mounted outboard engine. The outboard hangs off the counter, and you do not lose the leg room that you do when you put an engine well in the bottom of your boat. My favorite is the 16 footer as it is big enough for a couple folks, but small enough to row easily in a pinch..or if, god forbid, I get the urge to exercise. In a smaller boat, walking space is at a premium and I just prefer to keep all I possibly can.

The biggest pro I see to an engine well in your dory boat is the stability and weight distribution that having an outboard engine down through the bottom of your boat provides. It puts the engine weight closer to the center of your dory so that all of the weight, plus your body weight is not jammed in the tail end of your dory. With the transom mounted engine, you usually have to ballast your dory in the front to even out the weight distribution. This is not the case with a motor well, or at least not to the same extent.

Plus, there is a coolness factor to having your engine down through the dory bottom…Did I just say the words “dory” and “cool” in the same sentence? I believe I did.

Either way, time spent in your dory is time forever remembered!

Fraser

“Sure You’re Nuts. Everyone Knows Ya Can’t Row A Dory”

Title of this article got your attention huh. It got mine too, when I was told those very words from an ornery old man whom I would have though had better sense.

One glorious Sunday afternoon, after an hour or so of rowing around our little harbor, I pulled up to my modest wharf and was hooking my 16′ banks dory to her mooring when an old fellow shouts at me from the road, “Sure you’re nuts. Everyone knows ya can’t row a dory. If ya wants to row, you should buy yerself a rubber dingy.”

A rubber dingy? After checking to see if the voice was coming from a real body, or if maybe I had gotten too much sun, it was clear that sure enough, it was a real person. Now, I assume he had seen me rowing for the past hour since the harbor is small and can be seen from almost any where within 3 miles. So, I am not sure what part of my actual rowing gave him the idea that a dory can’t be rowed.

My first guess was that he was blind, so I held back my response. Then, I realized that if he were actually blind he would not have seen me on my wharf. So, it was obvious he could at least see. “Tell that to my arms” I yelled back, hoping he would simply walk away and be happy that he straightened me out. Not so lucky. He instead came walking down to where I was, fully determined to inform me that I was indeed nuts.

He went on to explain that I should put an outboard motor on my little boat since rowing was hard work, especially in a boat that was meant for what he called “slavery”, back in the day when everyone worked too hard and too often. My rowing this little boat for pleasure made about as much sense to this man as biochemistry…which, by the way…makes no sense to me either. I told him that rowing was great exercise and that I could use every bit that I could get these days. In fact, I explained, the dory rows rather well. Smooth as glass actually. A little sweat and enthusiasm makes her zip along quite well.

Personally, the time spent rowing my dory around is pure bliss….

I have owned a “rubber dingy” when I was a kid and I didn’t much care for it. Will take my 16′ banks dory any day. After 10 minutes of such banter, he turned and walked away muttering something about fools and horses, or something like that.

Oh well, my point here is that you CAN row a dory. I do it a lot, as do many of my wooden boat loving comrades. If you do not..yet…then I think you should try!

Check out this little video clip that was sent to me by Carl Salzman. This was filmed in 1971 when Carl was just 11 years old. The dory, the Salty VII, moves along just great. As Carl shows, a little energy and enthusiasm goes a long way in dory rowing.

http://www.WoodenDory.com/video/Dory1.mov

Thanks for the clip Carl!

Well, it finally happened. We had our first snowstorm of the season. Got about a foot of the white stuff and I can’t say I am too impressed. Wind, cold, snow, and a little rain thrown in for good measure. Makes me sad to think that not so long ago I sad happily in my 16 foot banks dory just soaking up the sun. Seems like a lifetime away now as I try to thaw my hands from the last hour I spent running the snow blower.

We got snow in early December. That means a long and snowy winter. It gives me plenty of time to gather up my summer pictures on the computer and sort through the best dory photos. I will be sure to post some here as I get a few good ones picked out. As always, we had a blast in our dory this past summer. Spent many an hour lying back just listening to the waves splash against the hull. That noise was occasionally interrupted by the sound of the odd beverage drifting past my lips, but I digress……

I spose the joy of all of this is that everything does indeed have its season. I spent hours on the water this summer and now I get to reflect on that and look forward to the spring when I can get back out there in my little wooden boat. In the mean time, I will have plenty of snow to shovel and lots of coffee to warm my insides as I dream of the time spent in a little dory.

I was once asked the question of why one would put themselves through all the sweat and effort of building a dory when all they have to do is buy a small wooden boat that would suit their needs. At first I was offended a bit by the fact that someone would have the audacity to question the exercise of creating something out of a pile of wood. But after a while I came to understand that it was in fact, a legitimate question.

I mean, why would someone do-it-yourself when the easy way is so….easy? Just go buy yourself a boat. Fact is, times have changed. People microwave hot dog buns because it takes too long to steam them. Most of us eat takeout more than we should simply because we don’t have time to cook anymore. It is a busy world where we want things when we want them, and not weeks down the road. You want a wooden boat; just buy it. To some, building things yourself seems old fashioned. I guess that was where this individual who asked me the question was coming from.

Now, as far as I am concerned there are two huge reasons why one would build their own dory boat. The first is because a dory is simply an amazing boat. I love everything about them. The lines are great, she is very stable, and draws very little water so is great for shoal water fishing. I have spent many hours sitting in a dory on a bright sunny day and I wouldn’t trade that for all of the fiberglass or aluminum boats in the world. So, you build a dory because a dory is one hellova boat. Secondly, you build a dory because there is something about taking a pile of wood and crafting something from it that will last. We are at our core, a species that were born to use tools to advance ourselves. Those tools have become computers and technology these days, but the hammer and saw are still a large part of who we are as a people. To sit back once your dory is complete and look at the accomplishment of your own craftsmanship is a feeling that is hard to beat.

In short sir, you take the time and effort to build your own dory because its something you can take pride in, in a busy world where folks no longer take the time to stop and create something with their own two hands. It keeps us in touch with our past and lets us enjoy the present a little more.

Buying A Used Dory – What You See Is Not Always What You Get

One mans junk is another mans treasure. We have all heard that phrase, but it can take on a whole new meaning when dealing with wooden boats. You can get a great deal by buying a used dory boat and save hundreds of dollars over the cost of buying new. Especially when you account for the fact that buying a new dory often entails having it shipped halfway across the country, or continent. But if you are going to buy a used dory boat you had better take a long hard look at what you are buying before you lay down your cold hard cash. What you see on the surface might not be what you will get underneath all that paint.

A lot of folks simply neglect their possessions. It’s a fact. They have to have them, then once they use them a couple of times they promptly “forget” to take care of them. Nowhere is this more the case than with small wooden boats. I have known a lot of people in my time who fall in love with a wooden boat only to let it sit out in all weather and never cast a second thought on it until they go to use it again and wonder why the planks have cracked or she now suddenly leaks. A wooden boat needs regular maintenance. Without it, she will very quickly go the way of the dinosaur.

Now, a well maintained, and cared for wooden boat is a thing to behold. A beautiful creature like no other. There is just something about a wooden boat that is graceful both in and out of the water. That unfortunately, is what leads to the boat being purchased by folks who have no intention of giving her the regular maintenance she deserves.

After a few years of sitting out in the hot sun, or cold weather, or combination of both without any maintenance whatsoever, the owner decides to sell. One good look clearly indicates that she needs some touchup before the sale. The owner, who couldn’t be bothered before, now decides to apply generous amounts of wood filler in the cracks, nicks, dings and rot, gives her a hearty coat of paint and puts up the for sale sign. And along comes an unsuspecting person like you who can’t believe the great price on this good looking dory. If you suddenly happen upon a great buy like that, be sure to look closer before you go any further.

Take a long, hard look at the boats stem. Does it feel soft and spongy underneath that paint? Could be an indication of rot and neglect. Are there all sorts of humps and bumps so that the stem no longer looks smooth and straight? This could be an indication that the owner slapped it full of wood filler and did a bad job of sanding. If the dory is on her bottom, ask the owner to turn her over so you can see the dory bottom. Look for cracks or gaps or dark and spongy wood. Run your hand along the garboard plank and feel how it is secured to the bottom. And ask as many questions of the owner as you can about how often the boat was used, where it was used, how often it was painted (she should be painted yearly), how many days per year was she in the water, etc.

When buying a used dory, information is key. Make sure you get as much as you can from the current owner and don’t just take his/her word on it. Look for yourself at the dory inside and out, and both topsides and the bottom. Feel for soft or spongy wood or excessive wood filler. When you find a well maintained used dory, you will know, and you will have found a treasure that can bring you many hours of joy on the water.

Fishing off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland has always been a dangerous business. Especially so, before the advent of modern navigation and boat building technology.

Grand Banks Fishermen had to rough some of the toughest seas in the world to harvest their living from the sea. They needed the strongest, most seaworthy boats known to man. They therefore came to rely on one boat. The Dory.

The dory is a small flat-bottomed fishing boat with high sides that is narrower aft then she is a front. Seamen swear by the dory’s stability and maneuverability. The convenient shape of the dory made it easily stackable on the deck of schooners where they would be piled high during transport to and from the banks.

Once at the banks, fisherman would cast out in these dory’s by the dozen to hand-line for cod fish. The Dory could cover many miles by oar and/or sail and survive the sudden gales that frequent that area. And the ability of these small vessels to carry the heaviest of loads and still maintain it’s seaworthiness was astounding.

The Dory fulfilled its role in the Grand Banks Fishery until the 1940’s. Today, you have to look hard to see a dory used in the fishery. Although they are still sometimes used as life rafts on some fishing vessels, the most common use today for the dory is simply as a pleasure craft. The dory makes an awesome row boat. It is light, yet very sturdy in the water. They can also be equipped with a small outboard motor for trolling. Depending on the size of the dory, various engine sizes can be used.

The Banker Dory, located in Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland, Canada is still carrying on with the great Grand Banks Dory building tradition. Although the days of hundreds of massed produced dory’s each year is a thing of the past, they custom build dozens of dory’s each and every year for customers all over North America. They build each dory, made to order, depending on what their varied customer base requires.

Their most popular dory is a 16 foot Grand Banks Dory. It measures 16′ from stem to stern with a 12 foot bottom. Their dory’s are carefully lapstreak planked with pine planks and have a spruce and birch stem and stern. Marine grade caulking and stainless steel screws are used to ensure complete water tightness. If required, the counter is widened and cut for a small outboard engine mount. They also have very popular 12 foot and 18 foot models. All models can be equipped with a center board, rudder and sail for sailing if desired.

The dory makes an awesome purchase and pleasure craft. It represents an era long gone and is simply wonderful to see moored in a quiet harbor or lake. Dory, you gotta love it.