Amesbury Dory-Skiff

John Gardner drew this dory-skiff shortly after she arrived at Mystic Seaport in 1989.  Built by C.H. Lancaster of Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1924, she was used for about 25 years as a family lake fishing boat. She is slightly larger than the Chamberlain dory-skiff: her bottom is about 6" wider and her sides are straighter as well, with only a slight knuckle at the first bend. At rest, or when you jump in and out, she would be a little steadier than the Chamberlain, somewhat more akin to a flatiron skiff, but not as easy as the Chamberlain in the rollers and slower under oar. Her three-part stern bench has a removable center section, which is a good idea in these little boats, where it is sometimes hard to tuck things under­neath the seat and to reach during spring painting.  With a fairly vertical transom and wide stern, she will take an outboard motor. From 87 Boat Designs by Ben Fuller.

WSP.7.112.18