- For the fishes known as dories, see dory (fish).
A dory is a small, shallow-draft boat of approximately 5 to 7 m (15 to 22 ft) in length. Variant spellings are doree and dorey (OED). The British Navy spells it 'dorey'. Lightweight and versatile, these boats are used in the open sea for commercial fishing applications, as well as in whitewater rafting on interior rivers. McKenzie River Dory versions usually seat from two or three to four people including the oarsman.
The hullform is characterized by flat sides angled approx. 30 degrees from the vertical, and a bottom that is transversely flat and markedly bowed fore-and-aft. (This curvature is known as 'rocker'.) The stern is frequently a raked surface (a narrow transom) that tapers sharply toward the bottom forming a nearly double-ended boat.
Use
Nested stacks of dories were frequently carried on the decks of fishing schooners out to the fishing grounds, where they were then deployed to lay longlines or tend nets.
More glamorously, dories were once used to travel dangerous whitewater rivers, where their superior maneuverability made them preferable over other watercraft available at the time. They have since been supplanted in this purpose by inflatable rafts which require less skill and are generally more durable for collisions with rocks. However, fishing guides on many western U.S. rivers still use drift dories because of their maneuverability and ability to be rowed upstream. Additionally, their high rocker and extremely shallow draft give them low resistance to the flow of water, effectively holding the boat in place for the prolonged fishing of holes in the river. Typically salmon, trout, and steelhead are fished for this way.
The double-ended nature of a dory makes it very suitable for these uses in broken water. As with the more elabourately-built surf boats used in various parts of the world, and the old, pulling whalers, the form of their stern allows the boat to rise to a following sea without the boat's broaching to.
Along the coast of California, United States, dory races are becoming more popular. These races often have 5-10 boats and are held every summer. The minimum requirements are: a minimum of 300lbs, 2 rowers, helmets, and a dory. Dory races often end up in carnage, collisions and boats flipping happen nearly every race. Most races are either 3 laps around two bouys outside of the surfline, or a distance race. One distance race held every summer is the infamous Catalina race, it is over 25 miles, and often takes over 4 1/2 hours to complete. Dory racing is one of the most difficult sports, because controlling then through surf and rough seas takes years of experience to become mediocre at.
Modern use of the name
The term "dory" is also used for a different and otherwise unrelated type of modern boat. This is a rectangular plastic or fibreglass dinghy with a cathedral hull, used as a working boat, tender, or fishing platform. The rectangular shape provides maximum space for a given length and beam. Its cathedral hull makes it extremely stable while still being easily-driven and hence reasonably fast with a small outboard motor.
References
One renowned authority on dories is John Gardner. He has written extensively regarding the history and design of the dory. His book "The Dory Book" (International Marine Publishing) is very good. He is quite a traditionalist, and most of his work appears to be related to dories of the North American East coast, with little mention of the West coast McKenzie River dory or the surf dories on the Oregon coast.
- OED Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1972 reprint)
- British Navy Manual of Seamanship vol.II Admiralty (1952) p.743
