How Big Is a Grand Banks Dory?
16 feet stem to stern, 5 feet wide at the beam, about 24 inches of freeboard, roughly 300 pounds, and a carrying capacity of around 1,200 pounds. Can be completed in a garage workshop.
The Numbers
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall length (stem to stern) | 16 feet |
| Bottom length | 12 feet |
| Bottom width | 3 feet |
| Beam (widest point at gunwale) | 5 feet |
| Side height | ~24 inches |
| Rocker (stem and stern) | 2 inches |
| Finished weight | ~300 pounds |
| Carrying capacity | ~1,200 pounds |
What That Means in Practice
At 16 feet, this is a proper boat. Two adults can fish from it comfortably. You can row it, motor it with a small outboard, or rig it for sail. It handles lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Fishermen worked these boats on the open Atlantic in conditions that would swamp most small craft.
At 5 feet wide, it fits through a standard garage door. At 300 pounds, two people can move it on a trailer or a set of rollers. It is not a canoe you throw on a car roof, but it is not a project that requires a boatyard either.
Workshop Space
You need a space at least 18 feet long and 7 feet wide to build comfortably, plus room to walk around the hull. A two-car garage works well. A single-car garage is tight but doable if you build along the length. Some builders work in carports, barns, or covered outdoor spaces. You do not need a heated shop, though it helps if you are building in winter.
The plans include every dimension, every angle, and 12+ hand-drawn diagrams. Nothing left to measure twice.
See the Full Plans