Echo Bay Dory Skiff ~ sailing
Lightweight | Classic looks | Easy to build, easy to love
To learn about the rowing version visit our page for this option.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 11' 7" | LWL 8' 6"
Beam 48.75" | waterline beam 36”
Draft (board up/down) 5"/27"
Depth amidships 14.5" |
Hull weight 83 lbs (sailing) | Displacement 358lbs
Sail Area 57 (lug) 50 sf (sprit)
The Echo Bay Dory Skiff combines the spirit and versatility of a traditional dory with the performance of a small sailing dinghy. Designed to be cartoppable, the Echo Bay is lightweight for her size, tipping the scales at only 85 lbs when built from a kit. This results in a skiff that rows and sails nimbly, and is exceptionally easy to move around, load, and launch. The Echo can take 2-3 adults or a total of 500lbs people plus gear at which point the transom will be just touching the water. With her graceful sheer and classic proportions, the Echo Bay is as beautiful as she is seaworthy. Her safety and versatility as a sail and row trainer has made the Echo Bay a popular choice for local camps, building with kids, and family boatbuilding groups.
KEY FEATURES
easy to manage on land and cartoppable due to its lightweight (85lbs for a sailing version)
versatile and capable on the water for its size (row, sail, use as a tender, solo-camp-cruise)
easy to build by a novice who has never built a boat
Echo Bay Dory Skiff general arrangement - this shows a rowing version which can later to be converted to sail. The sailing version has enclosed, plywood seats/tanks for buoyancy.
Unlike skiffs designed to accommodate outboard motors, the Echo Bay is shaped for maximum efficiency under oar and sail power. The Echo Bay won the fixed-seat class at the former Compass Project Rowgatta for several years running. Unlike most flat-bottom skiffs, the Echo Bay does not pound in rough water and unlike many poorly designed flat-bottom skiffs, the Echo Bay's transom clears the water when rowing and glides along effortlessly.
The Echo Bay is rewarding for new and seasoned sailors alike. Both rigs provide the convenience of being easily set and struck, and allow for an efficient yet simple sail plan. Even with her spirited performance under sail, the Echo Bay can be sailed in challenging conditions, moving through rough water without the pounding typical of many flat-bottomed boats. No compromises have been made with regard to safety, and with airtight buoyancy tanks fore and aft, the Echo Bay will stay afloat even in the event of a capsize. The Echo will definitely satisfy the heart of a performance oriented sailor but add the versatility of oar power.
Whether sailing or rowing, built by the whole family or by an experienced boatbuilder, the Echo Bay Dory Skiff is a delight to build and rewarding to own. This skiff is often offered as a Build-your-Own class so look for that offering on our workshops page. Another fun opportunity is to build the quarter-scale model of the dory-skiff from a model kit we offer.
The flare of the Echo Bay makes her uniquely stable and seaworthy for a 12' skiff.
Echo Bay Dory Skiff spritsail rig. A lug rig also available.
There are two rig choices with the EBDS: the sprit or a lugsail. The sprit sail is a simple, traditional rig classic for the dory small craft. The Lug is also simple but a little better performance wise - there is a 52 SF rig with a boom along the bottom of the sail and a 57 SF rig with a sprit boom. The sprit boom variant is nice because the boom light and not so low in the boat; it also requires a couple fewer blocks to be rigged and seems to go to windward better.
CLICK HERE to see a preview video of the Echo Bay Dory Skiff in action by OffCenterHarbor.com. PLease consider becoming a member of this site to gain access to so many more videos and a world of new knowledge.
“Both boats can also serve as capable tenders for moderate to larger yachts. I towed my original dory-skiff on cruises and was pleased how well she behaved.”
Complete kit contents for the Echo Bay Dory Skiff
Plywood kit | Timber kit | Hardware kit | Epoxy kit
Three different versions of the Echo Bay are available:
a full sailing version with enclosed, plywood buoyancy tanks in the ends.
a rowing-”pine-seat” version which features solid wood seats in lieu of plywood tank/seats
a rowing “plywood-seat” version which is the same hull and interior as the sailing version minus the sailing components.
The EBDS plywood is cut from Bryunzeel 6mm plywood with optional Meranti for the bottom. The layout shown here is the the sailing version.
The timber kit is cut from select hardwoods and softwoods matched to the use and placement in the boat.
Options, Upgrades and Accessories for the EBDS kit
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Rowing versions available: “Pine-seat” version (solid wood seats in lieu of plywood) or with “plywood-seat” version (enclosed ply-flotation tanks)
Vacuum bagged rudder and daggerboard layers for superior glue joint
Foil shaped daggerboard (rudder is not foil shaped on the EBDS)
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Mahogany seat (upgrade over Pine seat) - suggested for varnished interiors
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Oval vs. Horn oarlocks (options)
Additional oarlock socket package (to allow for a passenger in stern, row from bow)
25’ of canvas gunwale guard w/ brass fasteners
Ronstan 12mm RopeGlide fairlead for mast (upgrade from RF59 which is standard)
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Lugsail or Spritsail rig available
Oarmaking kit or Shaw & Tenney oars
Sawhorse cradles (highly suggested)
Tools to build an Echo Bay Dory Skiff
CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS
The Echo Bay can be built from plans alone or from a kit, and is a great choice for the first-time boatbuilder. The hull is constructed of 6 mm Okoume plywood over stem, frames, and transom, all precut in the plywood kit. With a traditional wood chine, very little filleting and fiberglassing is necessary, and a 2 inch glass tape on the exterior of the chines is all that is needed to seal and protect the hull. No strongback is required, greatly reducing build time and complexity through use of the Tab-n'-Lock system. The daggerboard is laminated from plywood, shaped by you or we can CNC shape it in house, then it is sheathed in fiberglass. The interior of the rowing version can have Pine-seats or plywood-seats which allows for buoyancy compartments. In the case of the Pine seats, foam is added beneath the seats. Construction time takes 75 to 175 hours, depending on whether built from a kit or plans, and on the level of finish desired. Some have been built and launched in only two and a half days at the WoodenBoat Show Family Boatbuilding events and quite a few come out of a week-long workshop we teach with the dory-skiff.
“A recent sail in my own Echo Bay reminded me of the pleasure of owning a simple and practical boat. In just five minutes I was able to set up the sailing rig, stow the oars in their custom holders, and sail away from the dock.”
The Echo Bay Dory Skiff can be build from just plans. Learn more and order by going to our webpage about plans packages.