How to Build a Wooden Dory Boat

Building a wooden boat is one of the most rewarding projects a craftsperson can take on. And among all the wooden boat designs in history, few are as elegant, proven, or satisfying to build as the Grand Banks Dory.

This guide walks you through what's involved in building a wooden dory from scratch - from selecting your lumber to launching your finished boat. Whether you're a seasoned woodworker or picking up a saw for the first time, this overview will show you exactly what to expect.

What Is a Dory?

A dory is a small, flat-bottomed fishing boat with high, flared sides and a narrow bottom. The design originated in the fishing communities of Atlantic Canada and New England, where it was used by cod fishermen on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland - some of the richest and most dangerous fishing grounds in the world.

The dory earned its legendary reputation because of what it could do: carry enormous loads, survive rough seas, stack neatly on the decks of schooners, and be rowed for miles by a single fisherman.

It is one of the most seaworthy small boats ever designed. Today, the dory makes a superb pleasure craft. It rows beautifully, handles a small outboard motor, and turns heads everywhere it goes. Building one connects you to a tradition stretching back hundreds of years.

What You'll Need

Lumber
The traditional Grand Banks Dory is built from white pine planking, oak timbers (ribs), and a birch stem:

• 8 pieces of white pine for planking - 16' x 9" x 5/8"
• 5 pieces of white pine for the bottom - 12' x 7" x 1¼"
• 5 pieces of oak for timbers - 6' x 12" x ¾"
• 1 piece of birch for the stem - 39" x 2½" x 2"
• Pine for the counter, apron, gunwale casing, risings, thwarts, and runners

Tools
Table saw with ¼" dado blade, jigsaw, electric drill, 4+ wood clamps (35"+), measuring tape, hand plane, electric sander, handsaw and skillsaw.

Fasteners
Stainless steel screws in several sizes, six tubes of marine glue (#920 or #2000), and a tub of pine wood filler.

The Build Process

1. Build the Bottom - laminated from five pine planks using tongue-and-groove joint and marine glue. Once cured (24 hours), mark and saw the bottom into the dory's curved shape with a 5/8" bevel.
2. Post Your Dory - set up on floor blocks with center 2 inches lower than each end, creating the “rocker.”
3. Build the Counter and Apron - transom at stern and apron at stem, both cut with 5/8" bevel.
4. Install the Timbers - five oak timber bends form the skeleton, each in three pieces, glued and screwed into U-shape.
5. Install Battens and Bevel the Planks - battens establish the sheer line, planks cut with overlapping 2" bevels (lapstrake planking).
6. Plank the Hull - four planks per side bent around timbers, glued and screwed one strake at a time.
7. Interior Fit-Out - risings, thwarts, gunwale support blocks, casing, and birch stem installed.
8. Finish and Paint - wood filler, sanding, bottom runners, then Marine Green and Dory Buff Yellow.

How Long Does It Take?

A first-time builder working on weekends can complete a Grand Banks Dory in approximately 8–12 weekends. The most time-consuming stages are the timber bends and the planking.

Do I Need Plans?

Yes - a wooden boat requires precise measurements, bevel angles, and a clear sequence of steps. Improvising leads to structural problems, leaks, or a hull that doesn't float correctly.

Why Build a Dory?

• A wooden dory is beautiful in a way fibreglass cannot match.
• Building your own boat is a deeply satisfying accomplishment.
• The Grand Banks Dory is part of Newfoundland's cultural heritage.
• A well-built dory will outlast its builder if properly maintained.
• Every person who sees it will ask about it.

The Grand Banks Dory is not the easiest boat to build - but it is one of the most rewarding.