| The Dory Fishing off the Grand Banks of | | | | boat. It is light, yet very sturdy in the water. They can |
| Newfoundland has always been a dangerous | | | | also be equipped with a small outboard motor for |
| business. Especially so, before the advent of modern | | | | trolling. Depending on the size of the dory, various |
| navigation and boat building technology. | | | | engine sizes can be used. |
| Grand Banks Fishermen had to rough some of the | | | | The Banker Dory, located in Little Bay Islands, |
| toughest seas in the world to harvest their living from | | | | Newfoundland, Canada is still carrying on with the |
| the sea. They needed the strongest, most seaworthy | | | | great Grand Banks Dory building tradition. Although the |
| boats known to man. They therefore came to rely on | | | | days of hundreds of massed produced dory's each |
| one boat. The Dory. | | | | year is a thing of the past, they custom build dozens |
| The dory is a small flat-bottomed fishing boat with high | | | | of dory's each and every year for customers all over |
| sides that is narrower aft then she is a front. Seamen | | | | North America. They build each dory, made to order, |
| swear by the dory's stability and maneuverability. The | | | | depending on what their varied customer base |
| convenient shape of the dory made it easily stackable | | | | requires. |
| on the deck of schooners where they would be piled | | | | Their most popular dory is a 16 foot Grand Banks |
| high during transport to and from the banks. | | | | Dory. It measures 16' from stem to stern with a 12 foot |
| Once at the banks, fisherman would cast out in these | | | | bottom. Their dory's are carefully lapstreak planked |
| dory's by the dozen to hand-line for cod fish. The Dory | | | | with pine planks and have a spruce and birch stem |
| could cover many miles by oar and/or sail and survive | | | | and stern. Marine grade caulking and stainless steel |
| the sudden gales that frequent that area. And the | | | | screws are used to ensure complete water tightness. |
| ability of these small vessels to carry the heaviest of | | | | If required, the counter is widened and cut for a small |
| loads and still maintain it's seaworthiness was | | | | outboard engine mount. They also have very popular |
| astounding. | | | | 12 foot and 18 foot models. All models can be |
| The Dory fulfilled its role in the Grand Banks Fishery | | | | equipped with a center board, rudder and sail for sailing |
| until the 1940's. Today, you have to look hard to see a | | | | if desired. |
| dory used in the fishery. Although they are still | | | | The dory makes an awesome purchase and pleasure |
| sometimes used as life rafts on some fishing vessels, | | | | craft. It represents an era long gone and is simply |
| the most common use today for the dory is simply as | | | | wonderful to see moored in a quiet harbor or lake. |
| a pleasure craft. The dory makes an awesome row | | | | Dory, you gotta love it. |