Built by The Anchorage, Inc. in Bristol, Rhode Island, the Dhow can serve as a rowing tender, sailing trainer, or compact camper. It weighs 106 pounds in sailing trim and has a working payload of 650 pounds.
Design and Construction
Rather than follow the round-bottomed convention common among dinghies of its day, the Dhow achieves stability through its hull form. It has hard chines and a flat-bottomed design, described as “proven,” along with a wide beam of 4 feet 6 and 3/8 inches and full bow sections. Together, these features provide steadiness and load-carrying capacity, allowing the boat to carry four people and more gear with greater stability than comparable round-bottom dinghies.
The hull is solid fiberglass, with a white gelcoat exterior and a Dyer Blue interior. Custom colors are available for both. Mahogany seats at the bow, amidships, and stern furnish the cockpit. Hull depth is 21 and 1/8 inches.
Rig and Handling
The sailing version is a cat-rigged junior trainer with a 45-square-foot Marconi-style sail. Its running rigging includes a main halyard, adjustable outhaul, and mainsheet.
The two-piece spruce mast takes only a few minutes to assemble and step through the front seat. Period reviews differ on how it is secured: one says that three stays hold it in place, while another describes it as stepping through the front seat without stays. The original synthesis attributes this discrepancy to the two-piece mast’s detachable upper section.
A quite large centerboard slides easily into its trunk just forward of the center thwart and is controlled by a lever. An outboard rudder and tiller provide steering. Under way, the Dhow sails remarkably well and has served generations of sailors as a training boat. Its simple rig, centerboard, and outboard rudder have also made it a choice for solo coastal exploration and camping in Maine. Writing in Blue Water Sailing, the author argued that it is a better boat for youngsters than an Opti.
Cockpit and Capacity
Three thwarts provide seating, allowing one person to row while three others sit with their shorts dry. In sailing mode, the Dhow is perfect for one adult. As a tender, however, its 650-pound capacity allows it to carry four people and their gear.
That original brief—room for four adults and their sea bags—is met through the boat’s wide beam and full bow sections. There is no enclosed accommodation.
Weight and Transport
The main drawback noted in reviews is the Dhow’s weight when lifting it on deck. At 106 pounds, it is a little heavy to lift on deck, though doing so is certainly manageable with a halyard and winch.
For coastal cruising without davits, the boat will most likely be towed. Ashore, it moves easily on a dolly.
Options and Ownership
The convertible centerboard version allows an owner to buy the rowing hull first, then add the complete sailing rig later, including spars and a white sail. A small outboard of two or three horsepower can also be fitted for those who would rather not row or sail, providing straight-upwind transit across a large anchorage.
The sailing version comes standard with bronze oarlocks and a 15-foot painter. Custom hull and interior colors remain available from the builder.
The Verdict
The Dyer Dhow is a rare continuous-production design that has spent roughly three-quarters of a century fulfilling its original brief. It is a stable, easily rowed tender that sails well and can double as a trainer or minimal cruiser. Its hard-chine hull and generous payload distinguish it from comparable round-bottomed dinghies, while the modular rig gives owners flexibility.
Pros
- Greater stability than comparable round-bottom dinghies, thanks to hard chines and a 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 option
Cons
- At 106 pounds, heavy to lift on deck without mechanical help
- In sailing mode, space is really suited to one adult
