It depends on the dory, light with high freeboard is problematic. Two people are needed to row a big dory like my 17 foot Swampscott in a winter F5-6...
Don't necessarily think you have to link this boat to a particular antecedent. Old boat builders that I know also used to comment on the repairablity...
The more round bottom rowing boats I see the less interest I have in answering the question of what kind of boat it is. There are many ways to build...
Increasing the friction using a plastic insert lock nut ( aircraft nut? ) is pretty simple and worth a try. I do this with Ran Tan. Nut is tightened...
What you will need for a Penguin style rig is shrouds and a head stay to hold the mast up. These are somewhat of a nuisance in a boat designed to be...