Design and Construction
What distinguishes the Northeaster Dory from earlier dory kits is the simplicity of its build. The hull is assembled by CLC's patented LapStitch method, in which pre-cut planking is wired together and epoxied, requiring no ladder frame or molds anchor. Hull planking is 6mm okoume, the bottom is 9mm plywood fiberglassed on both sides and up onto the side planking, and bulkheads are laminated from layers of 9mm plywood; epoxied together the hull comes out at roughly 100 pounds and is very strong anchor. The kit supplies all hull parts computer-cut from BS 1088 okoume marine plywood with holes pre-drilled and frames located, rails of spanish cedar, and seats of cypress and cedar. A builder gets a spiral-bound 143-page manual with every step photographed or diagrammed, all dimensions in metric and standard units, and an ease-of-construction rating of five out of five at a beginner skill level with an estimated 120 hours to complete anchor.
Rig and Handling
Under sail the Northeaster Dory is fast, stiff, and close-winded, with a hull so easily driven by its narrow waterline that it jumps up to speed in light air anchor. The sloop rig's proportions follow those of traditional recreational dory rigs and descend from the Beachcomber-Alpha, with Harris keeping the standing rigging and sail track while substituting simple snaphooks for turnbuckles so the shrouds clip to chainplates for quick rigging and downrigging anchor. A handkerchief of a jib is integral to performance, directing air over the low-aspect mainsail; Harris notes that dropping it leaves the boat dead anchor. A convenient first reef is simply to take in the jib. A lug-rig option joined the list in 2012, quicker to set up and easier to reef or stow afloat, though not quite as fast as the sloop; it can be added to a rowing hull or retrofitted to an existing sloop boat, and the showroom boat swaps between the two rigs in minutes anchor. A daggerboard simplifies construction and a yoke-and-draglink tiller gives better crew seating under sail.
Performance Under Oars and Sail
The narrow waterline yields a fast hull under sail or oars, yet flared topsides provide ample reserve stability, and like all dories it tracks well, has a long glide, and stays dry in waves anchor. Test sailors found the boat accelerates admirably even in light airs, though sailed bolt upright it has a slight tendency to pound; a 10-degree heel introduces a chine to the waves and smooths the ride noticeably anchor. It is small enough for one to row yet big enough for tandem rowing with two adults, and a drop-in sliding seat switches the stock rowing version to sliding mode in minutes for fast, dry open-water rowing anchor. With a maximum payload of 800 pounds and cockpit-room and payload ratings of five out of five, even four adults sit comfortably, and the boat is stiffer and carries more passengers than the Gloucester Light Dory anchor.
Known Issues
The one handling quirk worth naming is the boat's behavior when sailed flat: period testing recorded a slight tendency to pound when the hull is bolt upright, resolved simply by holding a 10-degree heel so a chine meets the waves anchor. The known service note is a tuning point rather than a fault.
Refits and Ownership
Because the sailing rig can be added at any time, many owners begin with a rowing hull and fit the sailing component kit later; the sloop upgrade puts the mainsail on a track for easier dock handling and is required to reach the reef, while the lug option can be retrofitted to an existing sloop boat anchor. Sails are built by Douglas Fowler Sailmakers in New York, and a kick-up rudder is offered for beaching. The boat's light 100-pound hull and beginner-friendly 120-hour build make it a first boatbuilding project that stays useful as a daysailer and rower for decades.
The Verdict
The Northeaster Dory is a rare design that succeeds equally as rower and daysailer, with a kit build simple enough for a beginner and a hull light enough to cartop yet strong enough for an 800-pound payload. Its narrow waterline makes it quick in light air, and the lug-rig option extends its beach-and-row versatility without compromising the sloop's close-winded performance.
Pros
- Easily driven narrow-waterline hull that accelerates in light air and stays dry in waves
- Beginner-level 120-hour kit build using patented LapStitch with no molds required
- 800-pound payload and comfortable seating for four adults
- Quick-rigging sloop or retrofittable lug rig from a single designer lineage
Cons
- Slight pounding when sailed bolt upright until heeled 10 degrees
- Modest sail area of 68 square feet limits top-end speed versus larger daysailers anchor
