Design and Construction
The Dhow’s defining hull choice was stability through form rather than tradition. Where most dinghies of the day carried a round bottom, the Dhow was given hard chines and a flat-bottomed “proven” design, with a wide beam of 4 feet 6 and 3/8 inches and full bow sections to add both steadiness and load capacity hard chines and a flat-bottomed design. That geometry lets it carry four people and more gear with greater stability than comparable round-bottom dinghies. The hull itself is solid fiberglass with a white gelcoat exterior, though custom colors are available, and the interior is finished in Dyer Blue with the same custom option. Mahogany bow, midship, and stern seats furnish the cockpit, and the hull depth measures 21 and 1/8 inches.
Rig and Handling
As a sailing model, the Dhow is a cat-rigged junior trainer with a 45-square-foot Marconi-style sail, a main halyard, an adjustable outhaul, and a mainsheet. The mast is a two-piece spruce spar that takes just minutes to assemble and step through the front seat; period reviews differ on its security — one notes it is held in place by three stays, while another describes the rig as stepping through the front seat with no stays, a discrepancy that reflects the two-piece mast’s detachable upper section two-piece spruce mast. A quite large centerboard slides easily into its truck just forward of the center thwart and is operated by a lever, while a rudder with tiller provides steering. Under way the boat sails remarkably well and has served generations as a training boat; the simple rig, centerboard, and outboard rudder also made it a choice for solo coastal exploration and camping in Maine. Writing in Blue Water Sailing, the author argued it is a better boat for youngsters than an Opti.
Accommodations and Capacity
The interior is built around three thwarts or seats, allowing one person to row while three others sit with their shorts dry. In sailing mode the boat is perfect for one adult, but the 650-pound capacity means it can haul four people and gear as a tender. That brief — holding four adults and their sea bags — is met by the wide beam and full bow sections rather than by any enclosed accommodation, which the boat does not have.
Known Issues
The principal drawback noted in reviews is weight afloat: at 106 pounds the Dhow is a little heavy to lift on deck, though it is certainly doable with a halyard and winch a little heavy to lift on deck. For coastal cruising without davits it will most likely be towed, and ashore it moves easily on a dolly.
Refits and Ownership
The convertible centerboard version lets an owner buy the rowing hull and add the complete sailing rig later, with spars and a white sail. A small outboard — two or three horsepower — can be fitted for those who would rather not row or sail, giving straight-upwind transit of a large anchorage. Bronze oarlocks and a 15-foot painter come standard on the sail version, and custom hull or interior colors remain a builder option.
The Verdict
The Dyer Dhow is a rare continuous-production design that has spent three-quarters of a century proving its brief: a stable, easily rowed, lovely-under-sail tender that doubles as a trainer and minimal cruiser. Its hard-chine hull and generous payload separate it from round-bottom peers, and the modular rig keeps ownership flexible.
Pros
- Greater stability than comparable round-bottom dinghies via hard chines and wide beam
- 650-pound payload in a 106-pound hull
- Simple, quickly stepped two-piece mast and large centerboard
- Continuous production since the 1940s; convertible rig path
Cons
- At 106 pounds, heavy to lift on deck without mechanical aid
- In sailing mode, space is really for one adult
