Jay R. Benford is noted for his keen sense of shape drawing boats of all sizes. Here is a 26 foot Sailing Dory drawn for Cap’t Jim Orrell in 1966 and sold through Orrell’s Texas Dory Plans business. Benford went on to create a number of economical to build offshore dory cruisers from 30 to 37 ½ feet in the early eighties as shown in his book “Cruising Yachts” published by Benford’s own book company Tiller Publishing.
This design shows an excellent utilization of space for a narrow beam -- needed to ensure good sailing qualities for the dory shape. The forepeak is open and used for storage. A double berth under the forward cabin top affords decent sleeping width given the narrow hull. Under the 6 ft. long doghouse -- with about 5 feet of headroom -- is a mini galley, 2 seats (the starboard one has a water closet under) an ice box and various trap doors under the counter tops offering shelving for food and cooking utensil storage. The cockpit features a bridge deck and a stern lazerett with the cockpit floor just above the drawn waterline. There is deck space around the perimeter of the boat and 6 plus feet of deck forward to handle anchoring chores. The ketch sail rig with gaff main and roller reefing jib is sized to be handy. The keel is deep at 5 feet with 980 pounds of lead ballast attached low to keep this dory hull on her feet. To power the boat an optional inboard single cylinder Palmer 8 hp. gas engine is offered. The bridgedeck is extended aft, and the cockpit floor is adjusted upward to make room for the shaft swinging a 12” x 10” 2 blade propeller in the redesigned skeg.
To keep within Spartan dory concept one might make some changes if they built this vessel today: Use a portable butane stove on the counter top such as Seawards Products BS100 unit. Give up the icebox and one center seat to install a cooler with cushion on top for seating – keeping one end of counter space. Under the remaining center seat install a portable ‘john’ such as the PETT compact dry toilet system – no plumbing or holding tank to install or emptying of any liquid waste. Under the sink a portable 3 gallon jug for waste water. Carry water in jugs placed under the berth. And, instead of an inboard engine with all it’s attending hardware and exhaust ware – an outboard well could probably be installed in the lazerett. The ‘iron wind’ could be a high thrust Yamaha 8 hp. 4-cycle outboard.
26’ Sailing Dory Particulars: LOA 26’, LWL 24’, Beam 7’, Draft 5’. Freeboard Fwd 3’ 9”, Least 1’ 9”, Aft 2. 6”. Sail Area 281 Sq. Ft. Jib 88 Sq. Ft., Main 120 Sq. Ft., Mizzen 78 Sq. Ft.
Plans may still be available, contact: Down East Dories H. H. Payson Pleasant Beach Rd., S. Thomaston ME 04858Attachment: Benford Sailing Dory 26.jpg (Downloaded 122 times)
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