
Wooden Dory Boat Plans and Kits
Many boat plans are offered online. Some are free others are surprisingly expensive. Free is not always best or most economical in the end, do your homework. Some Great designs are available free though. My little Apple pie dinghy was a free design
I have a page on dories if you want more information. There are a couple of interesting video links too.

Photo from Wikipedia, presumed author: Susan Davis~commonswiki
Many old dory plans result in lines that were in use when dories were a common sight on fishing grounds. They are designed for materials in common use at the time, and ended up being heavier boats than we now build. When using lightweight materials will find that your dory might ride too high in the water for comfort and safety. Finding a couple hundred pounds of fish to stabilize your dory is not always easy. Do your homework and use plans that are suitable for the stitch and glue with plywood if that is what you are planning to use.
Many modern dory plans have been shortened to accommodate modern requirements. This further destabilizes the boat. It's a funny tradition that a 16 foot dory was not 16 feet overall but rather at the bottom. They were actually much larger!
Well worth reading is Michael Storer's article on dories.
If you're planning a boatbuilding project you might like to check my boatbuilding resources. These are articles from my website and some outside links and build diaries.
Dory Boat Plans in no Particular Order.
Email me if a link is broken or if I've missed a boat. I try to keep my links good but things change quickly on the web.
- Dory Plans Video, plans, youtube, instructions. Supplies for boatbuilding, They have a building forum too.
- Spira International has boat plans, in particular dory style drift boats. He has Kayaks, Ultralights and power boats. He also offers a FREE kayak and a Free Dory plan. Good website. He has video and lots of instructions.
- Boat Design has a Sweet Caroline Dory/Skiff design. Improved stability over traditional Dories. also Light weight Dory
- The Dory Shop offers classes. Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Duckworks Magazine has many plans from different designers.
- Kits and plans for Northeaster dory, sailing rigs and more.
- John Dory Swampscott dory from the Woodenboat Store.
- Grand Banks Dory Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Dory
From Amazon.com
- Mystic Seaport has plans for the Amesbury Dory-Skiff
- The Butler Project has several boat plans including dories
- Duck Trap Store has a nice Dory/Skiff plan
- South Haven Dory Plans Many different plans offered. You have to join.
- West Lake Boats Plans for Laurel Dory
- Honky-Dory from Montana River Boats.
- The Dory Book by John Gardner, Free to Read online, pdf Or buy the book from Amazon: The Dory Book by John Gardner, Mystic seaport museum
- Old plans from Mechanix Illustrated Free dory plan, Svensons.com
- Grand Banks dory from Selway Fisher Designs. They have several dory designs.
- South Haven Dory Plans Free plans (offsets) and instructions with construction photos from Duckworks magazine
- San Juan Dory from Nexus Marine Corporation.
- John Welsford Light Dory MK II Rowing Dory
- Manuel's Dory From Thomas J Hill Boat Design.
- Hunky Dory Design Large motor dory from GlenL This is the show and tell page but the plans are available. They also have lots of info about building.
- Jim Michalak's Sportdory Plans are available from
- Vintage Projects has free online dory plans. Row or Sail.
- Light Dory from Fyne Boat Kits
- Downriver and Grand Canyon Dories Plans, kits Custom build. High Desert Dories
- 11 Foot Plywood Dory designed by John Bell with Free PDF plans. 14 feet version
- Clark Craft Lark 12 Dory PLans He has many other versions including sail and row.
- Sea Swift and others, Sam Devlin's sailing and rowing dories
- Headwater 16 and 18 By Tracy O'Brien, Fishing motorized Dories.
- Pelin Plans for power Dories.
- Free 3 sheet dory Instructions and photographs. Hannu's Boatyard, He has several models.
- The Echo Bay Dory Skiff Dory Plans from Clint Chase. He has several models. Lovely boats.
- Stickleback Dory designed by IAIN Oughtred. Plans sold by Wooden Boat Magazine. They have other dories as well.
- Dories by Iain Oughtred Oughtred Boats has several lapstrake plywood designs. Plans and Kits
- Crocker Compass Sailing Dory from Sailing New England
- Northeaster Dory Chesapeake Light Craft has plans and kits geared to amateur boatbuilders.
- Ray's River Dories has Dories in kits, McKenzie River Drift Boats
- Tendercraft Kits Located in Toronto, Canada
- Don Hill McKenzie River Drift Boat Plans for Dories and others
- Dorycycle Plans foot powered dory plans by Philip Thiel
- McKenzie River Drift Boat Plans from Altair Industries
- Active III William and John Atkin Pirogue Rigged Dory
- River Dancer Drift Boat by Common Sense Boats.
- Boatplans.dk offers a Hjerting Pram which pretty much looks like a sailing dory.
- Swan Boat has many boat designs including some very dory like boats. They don't call them dories but ...
- Westlake Boats offer boat plans for Laurel, an inshore dory-skiff.
- The Dory Book
John Gardner compiled many plans and offsets in his books and articles. The link is to Amazon. You can also The Dory Book by John Gardner, Free to Read online, pdf
- Drift Boats & River Dories: Their History, Design, Construction, and Use
another book with plans and designs. Roger Fletcher.
- Building Badger: & the Benford Sailing Dory Designs
Benford Sailing Dory Designs another book. By Jay Benford.
- Individual plans from Benford Design GroupIncluding a St Pierre style Dory.
- American Small Sailing Craft: Their Design, Development and Construction
Howard Chapelle's book has dories. (From Amazon)
Canadian National Film Board film about building Lunenberg Dories and using them.
Video plays twice for some reason. Watch it once and if you like it watch it again.
I try to be accurate and check my information, but mistakes happen. ALSO keep in mind that not all boat plans are well designed. Old Banks Dories are particularly tricky because they were notoriously unsteady until they had some weight in them. Check the boat forums, many people have built dories. I have not built these boats and I can't recommend or proscribe any.
email me if you find mistakes, I'll fix them and we'll all benefit: Christine
Boat Plans
Building the Gloucester light dory by Dynamite Payson:Do you have too many boats already, or are a little short on ready cash, or simply want to know how a dory goes together, build a model.
The Dory Model Book: A Woodenboat Book
Grand Banks Dory Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Dory
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Water Resistant and Non-Greasy Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 45, 3 fl. oz, Pack of 2
THE HAT DEPOT 100% Cotton Stone-Washed Safari Wide Brim Foldable Double-Sided Outdoor Boonie Bucket Hat (S/M, Pigment - Grey)
Gill Marine Titanium Red Tool
Perko 1267DP0ZNC Round Type Rowlock Horns
Boat plans for many different types of boats, Wood Strip boat plans, Stitch and glue boat plans, Free stitch and glue boat plans, Canoe and Kayak plans, Many are free. Free Punt Plans
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Small Print
This information is for general knowledge and entertainment. If you plan to build a boat be careful. If you don't know how to use powertools get help.