The elegance of traditional workboat construction. 150 years ago there was hardly a cove or harbor along the New England coast that did not have at least one dory ready for a day s work. These craft are designed for efficiency and are quick to build, requiring only readily available stock and simple hardware. In short, though a simple boat, the dory is nonetheless a highly refined one. Swampscott dories are round-sided boats that take their name from the town in Massachusetts that was the home of the dory builders who developed the type.
Dory construction has a number of advantages for the amateur builder.
The sawn frames double as the building molds, which saves time. And the planking is usually uncomplicated and straightforward. In this two-week course, students will focus on constructing a traditional Swampscott dory for sailing and rowing. Then she will be planked and trimmed out. Throughout the entire two weeks, instructor Rob Barker will emphasize the use of traditional hand-tool work.