Anyone here ever built a John Gardner semi-dory?

[dmede]

Im intersted in building a Gardner semi-dory, either the 14' or the 16' version for outboard. I got his book Building Classic Small Craft from the library and went over the plans. Looks simple enough but not having very much experience I don't like the lack of detailed instructions (I need more, "put this here, now glue that..."). Or at least beter info on how to set up, what comes first, what comes second etc...

Have any pics of a finished Gardner semi-dory I can look at? This is all I found: http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=fr%7Cen&u=http://perso.club-internet.fr/egancel/Semi-Dory.htm&prev=/language_tools

Thanks,
Dave

[Venchka]

John Gardner's The Dory Book will answer building questions. Also, search this forum for advice on general boatbuilding books.

[Dave Wright]

dmede,

The Duckworks site (use a Google search) had some pictures and story of a nice Gardner semi dory built on Vancouver Island, BC last year. I believe the builder's name was Mike Ellis, and I think the boat was a little longer than what you want, perhaps 18 feet. The builder made some interesting mods for inclement conditions. Unfortunately the Duckworks site is now a "subscription" site; I'm not a subscriber so can't tell you any further details. It's an interesting site though, and you might try it for more details if you're interested. I spoke to someone else who had a helpful conversation with that builder.

Good luck.

Dave Wright

[dmede]

Is the building information in The Dory Book substantially different than in his Building Classic Small Craft? Trying to fingure out if I need both books or just the one with the plans for the semi-dory.

[Keith Wilson]

The Dory Book has considerably more detail on building methods specific to the boats covered. I'd get it if I were you. There are very detailed plans and reasonably complete building directions for a nice 16' outboard semi-dory, and less-detailed plans for a 19' version. One of Gardner's later books, I don't remeber which one, has plans for a still larger version, around 22' I think, but that one was more like an Oregon Dory than the others. I like the outboard seni-dories; I've seriously considered building the 19' boat. The pictures on the site you referenced, BTW, are all scans from the Dory Book.

Here's a site that shows some of Gardner's larger designs,a long with a bunch of other interesting boats of similar type: Skiff Designs PDF (http://www.smallboatforum.com/PDFfiles/SkiffDesigns.pdf)

[ 07-17-2003, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Venchka]

Originally posted by dmede:
Is the building information in The Dory Book substantially different than in his Building Classic Small Craft? Trying to fingure out if I need both books or just the one with the plans for the semi-dory.If you don't mind waiting for a day or two until I find my Round Tuit, I'll compare both books at home. My immediate thought, from reading The Dory Book off and on since the first edition appeared, is that it contains more dory specific information. I'll give you my opinion as soon as I've had a chance to read more of Building Classic Small Craft.

[dmede]

Sounds like I should pick up the Dory Book. Thanks Keith and Venchka. On a related sublect: what kind of waters is the 14' semi-dory ok to use on? just inland waters or would it be ok for large bays or calm coastal waters? im thinking particularly about being able to take it out in the SF Bay and even Monterey Bay (on a nice calm day).

[Wayne Jeffers]

Both books have plans for the 14' semi-dory. IIRC, the text for this boat is about the same in each book. It's a plan that I've found very attractive over the years. I've thought that this boat promised to give the best combination of rowing, motoring, and sailing qualities of any design I've seen. I would probably build it in 3/8" ply with glued laps, rather than just the first two strakes in plywood, and the others in solid plank, as Gardner shows.

The Dory Book has many more dory plans (surprise!) About the first half of that book is devoted to dory history, design, and construction methods. If you want only one book to give you guidance on building a dory as a first boat, this is probably the better one. It will probably be less expensive to buy, unless Building Classic Small Craft, Vol 1, is still available without being combined with Vol 2 at about twice the price.

Wayne

[Keith Wilson]

Well, I sailed out of Berkeley Marina for five years, so I know the Bay better than I do the boat. Depends on conditions, I guess. On a nice day in winter or any early morning in summer before the sea breeze starts to blow, no problem. Afternoons in August, no way in hell!

I presume you're talking about the 14' semi-dory as an outboard-powered skiff rather than a sailboat? I think the 16', or better yet, the 19' boat would be better for for the Bay; drier and less likely to scare you (or worse) if you stayed out a little too late in the afternoon.

[ 07-17-2003, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Dave Fleming]

thinking particularly about being able to take it out in the SF Bay and even Monterey Bay (on a nice calm day). IRRC, not too many of those out on SF Bay, though in some areas you could probably be OK..China Basin area, San Pablo Bay, up the Napa River and on the Sacramento or down by San Mateo or Richardsons Bay. But certainly not out of San Franciso near the Gate

I always shuddered when the Great Pelicans were on the water off the St. Francis!

[dmede]

Yea I was asking in terms of building it as an out board (10 -15hp most likely). I would never take a boat that small near the gate but would like to feel safe cruising around San Pablo Bay, Angel Island etc. I figure I'd spend most of my time in areas like that or in rivers. But I would like to be able to take it down to Santa Cruz on a real nice day and cruise the shoreline too. Is this design at 14' up to that? I would prefer the 16' version for the open water but a small garage and storage area are limiting me to the 14' (read: my girlfriend wont let me).

Wayne, I was thinking the same thing about using all ply and glueing with epoxy. Would that eliminate the need to create the 2 sided lap bevels as Gradner shows them? I would think you could get away with just beveling the outboard face of the lower plank along each lap and use epoxy and filler to fill in where the planks were not perfectly matched. Probably too early for these kinds of questions anyway. Thanks for all the info guys.

[Wayne Jeffers]

Tom Hill's book Ultralight Boatbuilding shows a good method for planing the laps to the correct angle. This would work where there is a bit of curvature to the hull and the planks are meeting at an angle. In one of Gardner's books (Building Classic Small Craft, Vol 1, I think) he describes taping over butt joint seams in plywood hulls with glass tape and epoxy. (Kinda like taping drywall.) This may be easier, especially where there is less angle where the planks join.

Wayne

[Venchka]

You definitely need The Dory Book. Sam Manning's illustrations are worth the price of the book.

Construction photos required!

[gdeiss]

I'd like to address a couple of comments made above. The builder of the boat mentioned by Dave Wright is Mike Hillis of Missoula, Montana. The boat that Hillis talks about in the article is a 16' Gardner semi-dory that he build expressly for a trip up the BC coast. I recently bought the boat from Mike; it now sports a transom instead of the motorwell mentioned in the article but is otherwise as described. It is a terrific boat!

The Duckworks site is now entirely free as of about a month ago. I had been a subscriber but they e-mailed me recently to say that the site was returning to "free access" status. It's a great place to get info and just hang out.

[DaveNJ]

I built the car-top semi dory in 1992 out of 1/4" douglas fir plywood, glued lapstrake. It was easy to plank. I would never use fir ply again - what a pain! It was a nice boat, but not great for my needs. I had a 6hp outboard on it and because of the tapered transom (not wide in back end like most small outboard boats), it did not plane well. It rowed OK. It was a fairly heavy, probably around 100-125 lbs. I sold on ebay about 5 years ago. I would not recommend it as a rowing boat or a small outboard boat or a cartop boat.
I can scan some pictures if you like. Email me using my profile information.

Dave