A Few Small Details (19′ Gunning Dory)
A turn-of-the-last-century sport boat originally from Massachusetts’ dory builder William Chamberlain, this light dory was designed to safely carry two hunters, dogs and gear to offshore islands in November weather. It’s a lighter version of his double-ended Surf (Rescue) Dory with rig features from his larger Beachcomber racing dory, which was in turn a purpose-built version of working dories dating back to when sawmills first began producing boards economically.
Simple, with a working man’s elegance, the boat is a great family beach cruiser in addition to a sporting boat. I tried to keep my work both true to the latter end of the boat’s period prior to WWII, and also the purpose of the boat. All painted and varnished surfaces were rubbed out to tone down the shine, and all the bronze and brass on the boat will be left to patina naturally. Marsh-grass brown-red hulls and Navy grey interiors were the typical “camouflage” of the era for duck hunting. Being a sport rather than a work boat allows me to tart it up a bit…hopefully without going overboard.
The fitting-out at the end of a project is always incredibly slow and time-consuming….but that fine detail work has always been my favorite part, whether a restoration like this one, or new work.
All major fittings are bronze or marine brass either salvaged from derelict boats of the era…
…or made from scratch.
Tiller yoke and thwart, mainsheet block, sternsheets and stern painter…
…toggle-and-eye fittings on yacht-grade manila would be more period correct than the button snaps I used on my leather work, but I’m not that much of a purist when it comes to function…where you don’t need their strength, toggles require two hands while snaps just one, and when you do, elastic cord does a much better job than manila.
A nice Leeds reproduction oil anchor lamp and laminated mast that stow away until you are caught out after dark…
…along with period bearing compass and fog horn…and some tools and spares.
Mainsheet block, swivel and served wire pennant…along with the Center for Woodenboat’s original registration number.
Hiking stick, tiller control lines, boat hook and side seats.
Hiking stick stowed beneath the thwart, Wilcox’s smallest winch and handle, Wilcox bilge pump, oar stowage…
…and hinged centerboard trunk cap with Herreshoff jibsheet cleat. It’s hinged at the thwart because I used a larger oak Beachcomber center board rather than the light plywood board John Gardner drew in his plans for the boat. One complaint about these as sailers is they are too light, with no carry in troughs…my larger, heavier, lead-weighted board and heavy false bottom seem to have corrected that, although I may add some lead shot bags along side the trunk later for solo sailing, as in 25kts and 3’ seas, the boat points surprisingly well, but it’s impossible to go to windward without a dedicated and energetic bailer.
Centerboard control rod and boat hook…
…the boathook grooved on the underside to register the location of the hook in the dark.
Oars and oarlocks.
Jibsheet comb, lashed marline side stay, English Cocker Spaniel. Side stays aren’t a usual feature of rigs this small (90sf of sail), but I use them to lengthen the life of the centerboard trunk joints. Lashed marline ILO turnbuckles is real quick to cut in an emergency to free the rig.
Jibsheet comb, wall-knotted fender and leather oar buttons.
Salvaged gooseneck with fabricated bronze mast band…
…that folds to make a neat bundle either for rowing or to stow inside the boat.
The two boom bridles are lashed for head room…
…and the mast shoulder cleats were built to hold the leathered side stay and jib halyard eyes firmly in place when stepping and unstepping the rig, which can be done safely while afloat with the board down. The mast and boom are hollow Doug Fir…the rig weighing around 30-35lbs.
Busy, but very functional. Oar, bow painter and beach hook and chain stowage, still allowing access to the storage compartment and still providing a seat.
Shucks…this boat even “motorsails”.
“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think…that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ –John Ruskin.
Replies
REALLY NICE WORK! Amazing...
B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. I have ATD (attention to detail) also. I am just learning the basics now but am trying to get everything clean, straight and tight fitting. When I get some skill I'll start to incorporate detail as I go.
Very nice boat, enjoy it.
KDM
The Bill of Rights
December 15 1791
NRA Endowment Member
LEAA Life Member
CRPA Member
LOL, didn't even have to read your name, your work is your signiture. If only you were my neighbor. ;-)
Beautiful job. In the picture below the English lamp photo there are some tools. My father has a knife just like the one in the picture, is that some type of boating knife?
Rigger's knife.
Designed to cut rope by placing the flat blade on the taped rope and hitting it with a hammer.
They come in both folding and nonfolding flavors.
View Image“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.
I was priveleged to see this boat in a nearly-finished state about a month ago. In person, it's even better.
AndyAndy Engel
Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine
An updated profile is a happy profile.
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig
None of this matters in geological time.
Hi Bob. It is a different knife. The one with a "spike" that folds out. Peter
The "spike" is a fid used in knot tying, and if you look in the center pocket of that leather sheath, you'll see a non-folding variety of fid sticking out next to the Maglite.“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.
WOW! Being a sailor as well as a woodworker, I love the blending of the crafts. Few people understand why I enjoy working with a rigging knife and making a splice in a line look just right, but it is obvious that you do. The story is in the details! Your work is superb -- enjoy.
Woody
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