Mower Dory

Shipyard School Students Build Mower Dory For Barefoot

We've sponsored the boat school to build us the mower dory featured in John Gardner's Building Small Craft vol 2. Below is the page showing her lines and offsets. The bottom and garboard will be Three eighths Mahogany marine ply with epoxy filleted seams. All structure i.e. transom, stem, frames, gunnels, deckbeams, ect. will be yellow cedar and the lapstrake planking will be half inch red cedar fastened with copper rivets.

The thwarts and sole will be red cedar and the deck will be quarter inch plywood. The rudder will be modified to a drop down and, along with the centerboard and trunk, will also be constructed of plywood.

We're thinking of modifying the rig with a gunter yard to allow the tack to clear the head of the person at the forward rowing station. All spars will be Sitka spruce

Here's some of the first construction photographs. The first one is the strong back with the stem and transom knee. Next we have Clint carefully cutting the shoulder for a frame, and then a successfully glued up pair.

This is an 18 foot Swampscott dory that Trevor spotted moving onto the island on the ferry. Richard and I were down at the school one morning for a visit ,so we tagged along for a short field trip to inspect this new addition to the Island . Its definitely a different boat but still similar enough to be exiting. The closest match we know of locally. Hopefully her owner Ned will get a chance to complete the small amount of work she needs to get her in sailing trim by spring. As you can see in the first photo she's capable of holding water in so presumably she can also keep it out. Lets hope so ,as Sadie and the mower dory will make a fine sight in the bay.