The Dory Book - Paperback

by John Gardner (Author), Samuel F. Manning (Illustrator)

The dory has seen duty as a fishing boat, lumberman's batteau, lifeboat, recreational rowing boat, and racing sailboat. The most comprehensive book about dories ever published, this is at once a history of the dory, a practical handbook on dory building, and a compendium of 23 dory designs with full construction details. The author, a longtime contributor to National Fisherman, and the illustrator, Sam Manning, are perhaps the foremost experts on the subject. A steady stream of letters and photographs to the late John Gardner from successful dory builders worldwide has been testimony to the widespread popularity and influence of this book.

Author Biography

John Gardner (1905-1995) spent a lifetime studying and building dories. His plans, published for years in the National Fisherman, have sparked a resurgence of interest in this boat type. Samuel F. Manning, who probably propelled dories more miles with oar and sail than any but a surviving Grand Banks fisherman, was a professional illustrator who specialized in maritime subjects. His step-by-step illustrations of exceptional clarity make this book unique.