BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Ironmule
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 08:50 PM

Willie, the wood is the cheapest kind of shelving grade white pine. You can see in the picture two vertical bars of oak by my dog. They stiffen that side where I found the board flexing badly as I started to install the seat. The pith from the very center of the tree ran through the board there and weakened it severely. I used it anyway, because I had too much effort invested in the boards by then, and I wanted to know just how strong it really has to be. In those photo's I had a single coat of varnish on the outside.

If you haven't done the carving of the dugout's shape yet, put it off a little till you can get the library to see some of the designs they used with narrow pine logs. I'm going to try a couple of URL's since I'm not sue which one will take. This is the "dough dish" design that may work best with your log. This was the page at the archives   and this is the actual .jpg

I googled "dugout canoe" and "native american" using the quotes. Interesting, I also just tried googling in their image files, and they have 696 "dugout canoe" images! I quit about 280 pictures into the list, but I saw some interesting links and photo's.

Jeff Smith

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: dianavan
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 08:59 PM

You might be interested in a boat builder by the name of Allen Farrell. He and his wife Sharie built many boats using hand tools and mostly drift scavenged on the high tide. I was lucky enough to know them because we lived on the same island. Amazing people, beautiful boats. There are a couple of books about them "Salt on the Wind" by Dan Rubin and another book by Dag Goering. The last boat was a beautiful Chinese Junk called China Cloud. Lots of boat plans in those books, including the dory that was widely built by the locals. Writing this makes me cry. I miss seeing the China Cloud under sail or peacefully at rest in Cocktail Cove. Alan and Sharie have both died. Good luck with your boat building.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Gurney
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:33 PM

You could check out a guy local to me, John Wellsford. his designs are Kiwi, not Texan, but he likes a flat bottom (on a boat) and the web is free. His site seems to be WWW.baysidewoodenboats.com.au (strange, he's a Kiwi.) Another site to check is WWW.woodenboat.net.nz 'Designs Welsford' comes up on Google, and it seems to make no difference how many 'Ls' there are.
I've skimmed through his book, and it has much practical advise on scarfing ply, and torturing it into shape. His designs seem intended for practical people, and are not flashy.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:31 AM

Interesting JPEG Jeff. Not sure I'd be standing up in a tippy boat next to a six-foot hammerhead--they're notoriously grumpy. The log shown is probably twice the width that I'm working with. I decided to start shaping the hull with a 10o tumblehome, then flip it over and do the rest, multichine. Except since I'll be adding a couple of planks above the tumblehome level, which will be flared, basically so I can fit my butt into them.   

Brett, good to hear from you. I'm dying to see some of those pics!

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Ironmule
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:36 AM

Gurney, John Wellsford is a frequent poster on the Woodenboat Magazine Boatbuilder's Forum. NZ has a strong presence in the "Building & Repair" and "Design" section.

They often post beautiful pictures of their wooden boats under sail, that we refer to as "Boat Porn" ;^)

Jeff Smith

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 06:43 PM

By the way, back on the 26th Stilly River sage mentioned the Adirondack chairs that Norm Abrams made. Several years ago I made one and liked it so much I made a set of templates so I could build a bunch of them. I used simple pine (or spruce) from the hardware store and made up a bunch of them as Christmas presents that year. They are still going strong though only one of my siblings uses hers outdoors. The rest have become indoor chairs, I have mine in the living room now. They are very comfortable, easily the best Adirondack chairs I've ever used.

Does someone have an address for a boating forum for boats that are NOT built of wood? Wooden boats here in Guam do not last long and I know very little of plastic, steel, ferrocement, and aluminum.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 12:09 AM

Naemanson,

At the risk of starting a big debate I'll tell you this. Building a hard chined boat out of steel plate is not greatly different from building a boat of plywood. Be realistic tho'. Don't try building an 8' pram out of steel.

Oh yeah. They fasten together a little different too.

Weight and displacement are the issues. One square foot of 1/4" mild steel plate weighs 10 lbs. One aquare foot of 10 guage mild weighs about 5 lbs. I would have no problem building a 26' St Pierre Dory out of 3/16 plate with longitudinal braces.

Some years back I helped build two different Ferro-Cement sailers. A 65' Samson designed Schooner and Jasy Benford gaff rigged sloop.
In both instances the designer stated that after 24-26' any boat building material is lighter than a wooden hull. Wood requires barcing that the other materials don't.

Good luck

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Willie-O
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:28 AM

Any material is probably lighter than a log, too. I figured I had taken enough material off the project that I could move it, so I put a rope on it and dragged it out of the woods (by myself), stopping for frequent huffing-and-puffing breaks. I was tempted to just roll it into the creek and yank it out at the highway, but I really didn't want it covered in ice...so I did it the hard way.


Now I've got it in the shop, ha ha, where I can apply all types of electric power to it...yessir. I know where I'll be today.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 07:42 AM

Don, the reason I asked the question is that I had a chance to buy a 42' aluminum catamaran last week but I know nothing about them. I need to contact the owner but I want to do some research first.

It's a scary prospect but it has also been a life long dream.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Willie-O
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 11:23 AM

Wow, that sounds great Brett...when your contract's done you can cash in your return ticket and sail home?

Of course you would be well advised to ignore the enthusiasm of armchair adventurers like me when considering this purchase, and what to do with it if you do buy it...

W-O
go work on my log now.   I really mean it this time.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 04:06 PM

Aluminum is a diferent deal entirely Naemanson. That takes some skill I don't have and some tools that aren't easy to use.

42' Cata is quite a ship. Be sure and have it surveyed if you are considering it. Catamarans have some stresses on them that don't effect pther boats but can prove fatal on a catamaran

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Ironmule
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 07:55 PM

The Mother of All Boating Links is a place to go hunting info about anything maritime.

But if you're looking at a specific boat, what you really need is a qualified yacht surveyer, and I wouldn't think there'd be a lot of them in Guam.

Jeff Smith

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 10:58 PM

"Catamarans have some stresses on them that don't effect other boats but can prove fatal on a catamaran"

I hadn't considered that. There are no boat surveyors here on Guam but I do have a boatbuilder friend and a sailing friend who would probably do the job for me.

Willie-O, advise from an armchair sailor to another armchair sailor is pretty much harmless. The dream back in Maine was to live on the boat and then sail home when I retire in 4 years. I figure by then I'd have enough experience to try it. However, the reality is that I am too large to live on a boat. I am 6'3" tall and weigh in at 340 pounds. Right now I am trying to reduce the poundage but that doesn't fix the tallage. I spent my first year in the Navy bumping my head on the overhead on a WWII destroyer.

It occurs to me we have drfited away from the original question on the Texas Dory Plans. Did the original poster ever get his answer?

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 12:35 AM

Naemanson,

That was me as the original poster. And I got my answer ages ago.
John Wayne bought a WWII surplus navy Destroyer Escort for a yacht. He paid a fair price for it and then began a major conversion to civiliain use. He paid another small fortune to raise all the decks to match his 6' 4" frame. You are not too tall to live aboard. Most boats are too short.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Willie-O
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 12:16 PM

Ah yes, I remember the fuss when John Wayne invaded Vancouver with his destroyer yacht...during the Vietnam war. He was not much of a diplomat and didn't make a lot of friends with the locals.

May have raised his decks but not his consciousness...

W-O

actually I don't get it--why would a destroyer need an escort? I thought that was what they did.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 12:59 PM

Insects that have little fleas and smaller fleas to bite 'em.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Ironmule
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 04:13 PM

Sometimes it's worse to have headroom that's almost enough, because you keep trying to straighten up. Headroom that's just enough for comfortable sitting is better then, because instinctively, you stay down.

You could wear a hard hat!   ;^)

Jeff Smith

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 04:30 PM

Jeff,

Read SEnsible Cruising Design's by L Frances Herreschoff and learn what he has to say about head room. Then remember that my brother Peter's complaint was head room in the head.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 04:52 PM

Having rolled this issue over and over, I agree with LFH about headroom. If you know that the only places you can stand fully upright are in hatchways, you will will like a cat, not bang your head and be ready to move as the boat does to keep yourself from falling. If you are fully upright, you tend to lose the concentration that makes you aware of all the movements of the boat and the sea. Nettie K had just enough room on the center line for me to stand erect, the rest of the time it was "watch yer head, there!"

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 10:48 PM

BTW, a destroyer escort is a just smaller version of a full size destroyer. It's used for slightly different operations than a full size destroyer, patrols in harbors, escorting single ships or small convoys along a coast, etc. It does not escort destroyers.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 11:52 PM

Yes, that's always what I understood his boat to be, a small destroyer. We used to see it going up and down Puget Sound in the summers. It was painted completely white.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 12:16 AM

My understanding was that the boat was a converted Admiral's barge.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 01:40 AM

So... it wasn't a vast ship but a half vast ship?

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Willie-O
Date: 09 Feb 04 - 09:33 AM

Hey, Naemanson, bless his heart, just sent me a whole mess of pics of his club's rather substantial outrigger proa. Very interesting and useful stuff.

You can get anything you want at the Mudcat RestauRaunt.

W-O
gradually getting a hull shaped with skillsaw, 2" chisel, and electric planer (the traditional Ontario woodbutcher's tools)...

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,W. E. 'Sonny" Clower USN Ret.
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:59 AM

I build several boats using Capt. Jim Orrell's Texas Dory Boat Plans. Tried to get in touch with him about a year or two ago to no avail. There is only one way that I know of that may work. He mentioned who the designers were of many of his listed rigs. One name that I remember is Boyer and another with the first name of phil. these names may be found in some of the present boat plans books. In any boat plan book with dory type plans advertised check the designer and get in touch. They man be able to help with Texas dory type plans and designs. Give me an e mail add and will send you a couple of pictures of completed dorys, Jim style. Bill Clower

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Lady Hillary
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 09:48 AM

Is 'Phil' Phil Bolger?

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 11:55 AM

"The Mariner's Catalog," first volume, 1972, mentions that Texas Dory information can be gotten through Harold H. (Dynamite) Payson, Pleasant Beach Road, Thomaston, Maine 04858. If you have not used this source, go for it. I assume you are still working on the boat.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 08:16 PM

The current resurgence of this thread has nothing to do with the appearance of Rita?

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 08:23 PM

Sorry, Foolestroupe, it's about boats, not storms.
by the way, the copyright should have said 1973. Eric

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,I have a saint peir texas dory four cyclinde
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 10:53 PM

HI guy's I'm not a sailor ,but my dad was he would have fit right in with you guys,He and I baught the boat 25 years ago it was old then ,We built a trailer for it spent years reduing it every detail never got to set sea in it he would want some who would know how much work he put in to own it .My mom needs a better car she wants to sell the dory I want to make sure she is treated fair and find his pride and joy a good home with some one who can enjoy having her and take her out on the water, the dory is in good shape the marine motor all rebuilt the motor is from the mid fortys as we think the dory is I am not an expert in this feild but my Dad was my talent is else where I sculpt wood hard wood but I would like to branch out to a bigger meadim I hear there is a foam to bring the boat up out of the water and lower the water line on the out side of the boat If any knows about the foam or can help me find a home for his dory email me @ {[e-mail]}

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,me again I would be happy to send pictures t
Date: 29 Apr 08 - 11:18 PM

that plans could be made from my dads texas dory is about 30 some thing feet long aft&stern both pointed with gracfull curve between them about 7 or 8 feet wide in the middle a small two man cabin ,a kiel rutter four cyclender in board marine motor aft. perpeler and shaft come through under the bottom of the rutter. It has a mast in the middle of the boat near the [e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Cattail
Date: 30 Apr 08 - 04:58 PM

Hi all.

I have read this thread with interest, and have enjoyed reading about what you are all doing.

As I have been reading the thread I havn't come across this address
yet, although I could have missed it.

http://home.clara.net/gmatkin/drawings.htm

I don't know if it would be of interest to anyone but it might be.

Best wishes

Cattail !

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,Sabil1
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 05:47 PM

Howdy Y'all,

For what it's worth, I built the Phil Bolger designed "Sea or Ski" 19 footer, from the Texas Dory Plans catalog. I lengthened her to 20 and a half feet, as was permitted in the plans.
She first hit the water in 1976, when we took her to Newport, RI, to see the tall ships. I'm still using her today, mostly in L.I Sound.

We've been thru a few rough spots together.

Good luck,

Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 08:22 PM

Does the St. Pierre dory have the drop propellor arrangement?

Lady Hillary and I cannot take this boat but these boats were designed to work off a beach and in areas where there were lots of rocks and shallows. They were also set up to be rowed where they could not be powered.

For a description of one of the most famous of these boats, read Farley Mowat's "The boat that wouldn't float."

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: Amos
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:24 PM

John Wayne's yacht Wild Goose was a converted minesweeper, not a destroyer.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 06:40 PM

Would someone post a picture of one of these boats please, a 25-30 foot dory with a cabin.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 04:45 AM

"Fiberglass Butt Joint"

oooohh dear, my imagination has run away with me...

always wanted to build a wooden boat...

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,Steplift 72'
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 09:45 PM

The Texas Dory Boat Plans appear to be the property of HH "Dynamite" Payson in Maine. He has a site that now lists them with reasonable prices. They've been sitting in his closet for years. The Coastal 22 is listed, we built that one in 68'. I'm interested in getting the plans for the Surfmaster 23.

Subject: RE: BS: Boat Builders Texas Dory Plans
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 04:08 PM

I spent many happy days as a teenager in a 26" "Texas Dory" powered by a Homelight 10hp outboard built by a late friend of mine. Including a two week trip to Mexico. it was 1960's teenage nirvana......Jim