John Gardner's 20 ft oyster dory?

[SaltyD from BC]

I've found bits on the net here and there about this boat, along the lines of a pacific city power dory but designed for a big wet load it has a raised watertight deck and scuppers. Apparantly he designed it in '84 no mention of it in the couple Gardner books I have. Looking for any further info that anyone might have Thanks

[Spokaloo]

Classic Small Craft You Can Build pp 173

Whatcha need to know?

A PC dory has a more bluff bow to keep from rooting in the backs of waves when running up the beach, but Gardner's boat looks to be okay to slide up the sand if you don't try to over muscle it.

E

[SaltyD from BC]

Classic Small Craft You Can Build pp 173

Whatcha need to know?

A PC dory has a more bluff bow to keep from rooting in the backs of waves when running up the beach, but Gardner's boat looks to be okay to slide up the sand if you don't try to over muscle it.

E

I need to know why I don't have that book! lol Have the Dory book and Building Classic Small Craft, looks like I need to firm up the collection. Any lines drawings or photos other than in the book that you know of E? I'm noodling on a build of some Type of Pacific Power dory - trying to devour all the info. And I don't need to beach launch but I'm back on the west coast so the big briney is calling. ..

D

[Spokaloo]

What do you want to do with it? I'd think it'd be a good inside passage/desolation/Salish Sea boat, no doubt. Simple, clean lines, designed with a little trunk cabin on it, neat boat. I actually just got my copy of that boat when I was over at Mystic last fall. That boat has a nice setup if you want an open boat with a self bailing sole. There's also the 22 foot work dory that's based on the lines of his semi-dory that's in another of his books that you need to buy. That boat is a 2 plank per side semi-dory, so she might be a little more sea-kindly and less likely to trip, all for a slight increase in building effort. You can do the same sealed sole in it as well, but that's up to you.

Wooden Boats to Build and use, pp 181 has the lines and info on the 22 foot semi dory.

I decided to buy all of Gardner's books a while back, and have finally filled out my collection. Not a single edition stays on the shelf very long, as I end up researching various boat types whenever an idea, a question, or a need arises.

A Pacific City dory has a very, very precise design parameter of landing on the beach at Cape Kiwanda in 2-4 foot breaking swell. Unless you need to do that, these other types are excellent boats, no question.

E

[SaltyD from BC]

I just moved from the inside passage - north end of Johnston straight back to the west side of the island - Quatsino sound so the boat nut side of my brain sees a dory that would be comfortable fishing off shore say 10 miles when the weather is right. i like the looks, tradition, ability to nose in to shore and lower power requirements of the Pacific power dory style. I'm not sure the oyster dory is the answer with an on the narrow side forward, but damn it I need to have a close look just because.

I have an (ahem) aluminum skiff, a 20 footer kind of Panagaish style which is a good sea boat that wears a Honda 90 that will fit the bill. But I'd prefer to loose that puppy down the road and be able to fish lots (read less fuel dollar$) and be in a boat that look the part and is made of wood. So many trade offs in this class hey E? I like the much fuller bows in Spira and Glen L's offerings in this class to fend off digging in or broaching when sliding down a big wave but find some of them turning out less than what I'd hoped for in the asthetics dept. seeing photos of them. But it appears in discriptions I've read there's a wack of flare up front on the oyster dory to help out with the narrower bottom? Just wading through the maze, and wanting a good look at this one.


And ya, I need to get this book I see its out of print but there's used copies out there. I'll get advice from the very booky SWMBO on the best site to trust and hopefully get one ordered tonight.

Edit to add: the other thing that I like about the OS design that caught my attention is the raised deck and scuppers idea. I have silly ideas about harvesting seaweed. And smaller freight delivery gigs that I'm thinking bout...

[Spokaloo]

Pick up both of those books above, you won't regret your decision.

If you're concerned about rooting (and you should be up there), I'd lean towards the 22 foot outboard work skiff in the Wooden Boats to Build and Use book, as she has a much better anti-trip shape being a semi-dory, while retaining all that efficiency and flare. She'd ease up on the beach just fine also. She's got a narrower bottom, but a much fuller shape in the bow with the semi-dory style planking, so you get more lift with far less trip hazard.

E

[SaltyD from BC]

Pick up both of those books above, you won't regret your decision.

E

Well low and behold our host still stocks Wooden Boats to Build and Use and a copy's on the way. I'm going to order a used Classic Craft You Can Build as well. Thanks for the help E.

[Spokaloo]

Anytime I can help, just let me know. Makes me feel less useless now that I'm not in the shop nearly as much (boy kids slow ya down on building!)

E

[gstanfield]

Just wait until you have three kids running around E!

[BrianM]

Spira International has a slightly harder to build version of the Pacific Dory known a their "VEE BOTTOM" series.

I'll be launching off a ramp, never a beach, but will be roughwater fishing off the Sonoma/Marin/San Francisco Coastline. I like this solution and improvement (for pounding) on the Pacific Dory.

http://www.spirainternational.com/hp_ches.html

[TerryLL]

Classic Small Craft You Can Build pp 173

E

Dang!
I thought I had all the Gardner books. Somehow I missed that one.

[Spokaloo]

You can borrow mine if you like Terry, just let me know next time you are here in town.

E

[TerryLL]

You can borrow mine if you like Terry, just let me know next time you are here in town.

E

Thanks Eric, very generous offer. But I gotta have my own copy, so I'll be placing an order. $28 at Amazon.

[SaltyD from BC]

Dang!
I thought I had all the Gardner books. Somehow I missed that one.

I hadn't heard of CSCYCB either, or maybe had it confused with another... So on the subject of Gardner's books, the list of them is given in the back cover Editor's notes which is also somewhat of an eulogy for John, of his last book "Wooden Boats To Build and Use" (1995). The list:

-"Building Classic Small Craft"

-"The Dory Book"

-"More Building Classic Small Craft"

-"Classic Small Craft You Can Build"

and last and far from least "Wooden Boats To Build and Use"

So there are five John Gardner books in total. And, he was a significant contributer to "The Adirondack Guide Book" written by Kenneth and Helen Durant if one wants to complete the collection of his writings. Which I do, so now I just need "More Building CSC" and the "Guide Boat" book.

OK E, I just got WBTBAU and on your suggestion checked out the 22 foot work boat. Very interesting, already have those pages dog eared. LOL Still looking forward to seeing the Oyster skiff, book should be here next week.

[Spokaloo]

I have the combo edition of Building Classic and More Building Classic, and the main editions of everything else. I wouldn't have known about the last two had I not been at Mystic last fall while we were visiting some of SWMBO's relatives (one of whom was performing at the GoodSpeed).

You'll dig the Oyster Skiff I'm sure, but I bet your sensibilities lean toward the 22' work boat when you weigh those bilge panels against the single chine shape of the OS.

E

[jclays]

Eric
Saw the drawings of the Oyster Skiff 20. More on the path I was going when I ordered my plans from Walter. Was wanting to modify his 20ft LYS to be something close to the 16 LYSS however just looking at the drawings of the 20ft oyster skiff I think is more what I was trying to find. Ordered the books from the library to borrow. Will be here in a few days. Id like to see or buy some plans of his oyster skiff to review. Are they available anywhere aside from the book??
Thanks
Jim

[Spokaloo]

Mystic probably has them, but you'd be a fool not to just get the book. So much valuable information in there, and at a cheap price.

E

[jclays]

Eric
You've fished my neck of the woods ie: Dana Point and San Clemente. How do you think that design would work in So Cal?

[Spokaloo]

I'd say the OS isn't that far off of Walt's boat as far as how it would fish. Given the choice for short range offshore, I'd still lean towards the Outboard Work Skiff, I just prefer the multichine shape for running down swell.

E

[jclays]

I'll check it out when the books come in.
Thanks

[jclays]

Got the books from the library not the ones I wanted. Bought them used on line less than 30 bucks each. Is the information on page 173 of his book enough to build the boat?

[Spokaloo]

Definitely.

E

[jclays]

Has anyone ever seen this boat in person? Cant even find a real picture on the net.

[jclays]

Got my books the other day. I Like the looks of the Oyster boat Id like to build her with Walts construction methods of placing the internal frames after the sides and bottom are on. Looks like i'll be building a few models first. Walters 20ft boat if build just like his 16ft LYSS would be pretty darn close.

[Spokaloo]

I think you could build Walt's 20 as designed and be happy with it. No need to reinvent the Oyster Skiff, you'll get similar characteristics.

E