Clc Northeaster Dory Buyer's Guide
The Clc Northeaster Dory on the used market is almost always a kit-built boat, assembled by its owner from Chesapeake Light Craft plans between a rowing and a sailing configuration. With production starting in 2008 and over a thousand kits shipped, these 17-foot dories turn up as either pure rowers, sloop-rigged daysailers, or lug-rigged hybrids, and the sailing rig can have been added years after the hull was first finished.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most used Northeasters began life as the stock rowing version with a removable rowing thwart and space for one set of oarlocks, though a second could be added for tandem rowing. The drop-in sliding seat was a factory option for athletic rowing and converts the boat in minutes. Sailing layouts use a daggerboard and yoke-and-draglink tiller, with the sloop rig carrying a low-aspect mainsail and small jib, and the later lug option stowable for rowing. Four adults can sit comfortably in the cockpit regardless of rig.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A bimini is commonly fitted for sun cover on daysailers. Beyond that, the consequential upgrades cluster around propulsion and sail handling: the drop-in sliding seat for rowing fitness, the sailing component kit with mast, dacron sails, and daggerboard trunk, and the sloop sailing upgrade that puts the mainsail on a track and unlocks reefing. A kick-up rudder is the practical beaching addition. Test boats carried Harken swivel-cam cleats for the jibsheets, a small detail worth checking on sloop-rigged examples.
What to Inspect
The one handling characteristic to verify is how the hull behaves sailed flat: testers found a slight tendency to pound when the boat is bolt upright, smoothing only once heeled about 10 degrees anchor. On a viewing, ask the owner to describe sailing trim and look for any reinforcement or padding near the chines that might signal a previous owner fighting the pounding rather than simply heeled sailing. Check the bottom glass for cracks and the bulkheads for delamination, and confirm the daggerboard trunk is sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These dories typically appear in the United States and New Zealand. Before you commit, run through this short list:
- Confirm whether the hull is rowing-only or carries a sloop or lug rig.
- Check the bottom fiberglass and bulkhead laminations for damage.
- Verify the sliding seat and thwart are present if rowing matters to you.
- Inspect the daggerboard trunk and yoke tiller for wear.
- Look for a bimini and assess the sail-track upgrade on sloop boats.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Clc Northeaster Dory. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $6,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $1,129 | -81.2% |
Where they're listed
Clc Northeaster Dory listings appear across 1 country. New Zealand has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | $1,129 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |