Echo Bay Dory Skiff ~ Rower
Lightweight | fast rower | Easy to build
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 11' 7" | LWL 8' 6"
Beam 48.75" | waterline beam 36”
Draft 5"
Depth amidships 14.5"
Hull weight 80 lbs | Displacement 358 lbs
The Echo Bay Dory Skiff Rower is a light, fast, very seaworthy small rowboat that can be built by the first time boat builder. Designed to be cartoppable, easy to load in a pick-up truck, the Echo Bay is lightweight for its size, tipping the scales at only 80 lbs when built carefully from CNC’d plywood. This results in a skiff that rows nimbly, and is exceptionally easy to move around, load, and launch. The Echo can take up to 3 adults or a total of 484 lbs of 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 (80 lbs for a rowing version)
versatile and capable on the water for its size (can be built as a rowboat then converted to sail later)
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 very stable and seaworthy for a 12' skiff with plenty of oarlock width for up to 7’10” oars~
Echo Bay Dory Skiff makes a wonderful sail-and-oar boat with a spritsail or lug that can be added later with our add-on kit.
There are two rowing versions available: one is the most traditional layout called the “Pine-seat version” with three solid wood seats (look great varnished) that are open underneath and the more modern layout with plywood enclosed seats in bow and stern with airtight, buoyancy tanks underneath. The Pine version requires fewer hours to assemble and is the standard model we use in our classes.
The Echo hull is built from 6mm Okoume plywood and is trimmed with both hardwoods and softwoods. The kit uses our novel Tab-n-Lock System to make hull assembly a snap. With a well laid out building manual and set of plans that are easy to read, anyone can build an Echo Bay Rower.
Both rowing versions can always be built out later to work with either of the sail rigs by purchasing an add on sailing option.
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 Rower
Plywood kit | Timber kit | Hardware kit | Epoxy kit
Two different rowing versions of the Echo Bay are available:
A rowing-”pine-seat” version which features solid wood seats in lieu of plywood tank/seats and requires foam to be added below the seats for flotation.
A rowing “plywood-seat” version which is the same hull and interior as the sailing version (minus the sailing components); it has built-in, airtight flotation under the bow and stern seats.
The timber kit is cut from select hardwoods and softwoods matched to the use and placement in the boat. The above shows the Pine version of the kit, but there is also a Ply version which would include the ply necessary to enclose the bow and stern seats to make buoyancy compartments below.
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)
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Mahogany seat (upgrade over Pine seat) - suggested for varnished interiors +$50
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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
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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.