Learn to Build the Swampscott Dory

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The art of traditional wooden boat building lives on in Cohasset’s historic Hagerty boathouse.

The Swampscott Dory Project is a community boat building program geared for students of all ages who are interested in learning the fine craft of traditional wooden boat building.  The workshop modules are scheduled to accommodate working adults. 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:  Richard Wilmore, a graduate of Cohasset High School, has been a shipwright most of his working life. 

He returns to Cohasset after years of experience in commercial boatyards repairing and building wooden fish boats, tugs and other craft. He is uniquely suited to revive wooden boat building in the historic Hagerty boathouse.  As a highly valued teacher at the NorthWest School of Wooden Boat Building known for his depth of knowledge, easy-going style and patience, he is poised to lead a rebirth of interest in traditional maritime arts and skills.

I’ll never forget the shipwrights at the wooden boat festival telling me that “the best” planker to follow was you. I’ve marveled at how you share and teach, too.”  (Kaci Chronkhite)

“I’ve taken every workshop you’ve taught.  From steaming to planking to spar making, I’ve enjoyed all. Good luck back East. (Karl Bischoff)

ABOUT THE SWAMPSCOTT DORY:  The legendary John Gardner describes the Swampscott Dories as “the aristocrats of the dory clan not to be confused with their clumsier, more crudely built cousins, the working dories of the Grand Banks fishermen.  True, in some features of their construction Swampscott and Grand Banks dories are similar, but in performance there is a vast difference.”  Adds instructor Wilmore, “it’s a great first boat for students to learn to build.  It has all the elements of traditionally planked boats, and it presents the beauties and challenges inherent in building rounded bottom boats.  Plus, they’re a lot of fun to row.”