In 2019, Cricket, Justin Gallen, and I designed and built the first iteration of what we came to call the Doryak. Based on the footprint of the SportYak, a one-person plastic rowboat used on whitewater rivers from the 1960s through the ’80s, we adapted it to a shape based on Jerry Briggs’s immortal Grand Canyon Dory, creating far more elegant, rowable and maneuverable whitewater dory. It was a gamble–not knowing if the shape could be built or if it would actually work in whitewater. But we hit a home run with the design and, with a few tweaks, began building them for ourselves and clients across the country. Doryaks now have nearly a dozen transits of Grand Canyon, most without a flip or a hit, and have been on whitewater rivers throughout the USA. They have become a phenomenon.

Dawn Kish photo

In this course we will draw the boat up on the lofting table, refine the curves, and build all the parts. Based on sufficient class size we will build two boats. We will then assemble the hull(s) and go about the more intricate process of decking. By the final day we should have boats in the water. The lucky winners of the drawings will take them home for the cost of materials.

WoodenBoat School — August 17–23

Cricket and Glade will be teaching this course at the amazing facility that is WoodenBoat School, on the waterfront in Brooklin, Maine. The school has a remarkable fleet of rowboats and sailboats for students to use after class in the beautiful waters of Eggemoggin Reach, a spur of Penobscot Bay. But be careful–this place is highly addictive. Here’s a link to the site Building the Doryak River Dory

Registration opens at 8AM Eastern Time, January 2. Many classes fill in a matter of minutes, so you’ll want to be poised to push the button the minute it opens.

McKenzie River Discovery Center— October 26–November 5

The second course will be hosted by the McKenzie River Discovery Center, where the river dory was born. Cricket, Glade and Brad will be teaching this ten-day course with a one-day break in the middle. Once they list the course you’ll find it under the Workshops drop-down menu. Here’s a link: McKenzie River Discovery Center