Sunday, December 13, 2009



The Faering Dory hull is composed of sheet okoume plywood on douglass fir frames. The chine is steam-bent white oak and the inwales are douglas fir with detailed spacers that add a distinctive look up close. The rub rail is Ipe, which is a very durable mahogany that holds a finish well.

The thwarts are redwood, from old planking stock. They can be gotten out of Mahogany, douglas fir, or pine to suit the captain.

Looking foward, the top of the outer stem resembles a Swan's head wrapped around the outer stem and peering inward. The two wooden bungs resemble the eyes.

The Faerings have a unique vee-brace at the double ends, to add stiffness at the stem. This feature has some practical uses here, more than anything, as the painter lines can be stowed in the "nook" of the brace, keeping them dry and out of the way. When pulling the dory up from a sloped shore, the crew can grasp the brace for a stronger tug and maintain a firm footing.



The Faering Dory is a 13'-6" traditional style wooden rowing Dory that I designed in the style of the Norwegan Faering and the traditional Northeast working rowing Dory. It is built to meet the needs of the modern coastwise explorer while keeping a trditional style.

It rows easily and is ideal for 1 - 3 persons. At 100 lbs. weight, it is easy to bring to the water by 2 persons by car-topping on a compact car.

The flat bottom allows for an easy beaching and the high topsides will keep it's crew dry in a chop.

Faering Dory Rowing Dory, John Maxson Design

John Maxson Design/Build, Faering Dory