This is a Lunenburg dory, which means it’s 12 feet on the bottom, 15.5 feet overall. Jay finds it a nice change after building two big Fortune Bay dories back-to-back.

Canadian rowers took four of five races as they squared off against teams from Gloucester, Massachusetts during the International Dory Races at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada September 13.

Wet weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at the Lunenburg Waterfront Seafood Festival  last weekend. There were good crowds for all of the events, from our beloved dory racing (results soon) and scallop shucking to the always moving Seamen’s Memorial Service. And for the second year in a row, The Dory Shop sponsored a children’s boatbuilding workshop.

Jay always says that no two dories are exactly alike, and I’m often commenting that it’s rare a dory doesn’t have some sort of customization for the customer. This can be as simple as adding a stern seat or a motor well, a particular paint job or a sailing rig. Some clients ordering larger dories have wanted spray hoods or partial cabins. Sail maker Jill once crafted an entire tent to fit overtop a client’s dory for camping excursions. When finished, it resembled a sort of water-based pop-up trailer. Our latest dory, a Fortune Bay bound for Massachusetts, features a number of dory add-ons including a pull-up motor well, bow and stern seats with lockers, and a false sole (basically a deck overtop the dory bottom). She’s also fitted with an electric pump to look after any water that needs bailing.

The Canadian International Dory Race Committee held its elimination races over the weekend. This report from chairman Wayne Spindler.

We love to hear from folks out there working on their own dory projects and of course enjoying their boats. This photo, taken in Gloucester harbour and sent to us by Thomas Jarvis, not only sums up what many of us think of as the best of summer, it also represents hours of hard work and dedication as Thomas lovingly restored this 19-foot sailing dory. Congratulations Thomas! May you enjoy her for many, many years.

Despite gorgeous weather early in July, it’s only been these past couple of weeks that the tourists have truly descended upon the South Shore and boy, is it busy!

The president of the International Dory Race Committee, U.S. side, Mr. James Tarantino, sent us this update following their recent elimination races.

After much delay, we were delighted to finally step the mast in that big Fortune Bay dory completed earlier this month. Then Jay joined the owner, his daughter and grandchildren for a little test sail in Lunenburg harbour.

Jay is busy planking a second Fortune Bay dory, this one bound for Massachusetts. It’s going to be another big, beautiful boat but in no way will she be a carbon copy of the last one. Aside from a few different customizations from the client, and even though Jay set this boat up using the very same jigs and moulds, not even moved since the last dory, we can already see that this one will have ever so slightly different lines.