Doryaks DoriesLara Gomora2025-04-12T22:43:54+00:00

DORIES
2019 Peekaboo
2020 Spooky
2020 Li’l Surprise
2020 Jaguar
2020 Greta
2021 Jack Flash
2021 Chattooga
2021 Martini
2021 Nigigoons
2021 Rocket Man
2021 Tyee
2022 Splash
2022 Giggle
2022 Colibri
2022 Ripple
2022 Lost Yak
2023 Sandia
2024 Wal Awa
2024 Torrey
2024 Pookie

Doryaks

The Doryak may well go down as our legacy. We designed it in 2019 based on the footprint of the venerable plastic SportYak, but with the lines of a Briggs dory. Bingo! They are beyond delightful to row and have been run on rivers throughout the country. Of the ten or so transits of Grand Canyon, seven of them have been without a flip or hit. Brad, at 6’3” fits in one just fine. As our friend Brian said after rowing one for a while, “I feel like I’m cheating on my wife.”
Length: 9’2″
Gunwale Width: 61″
Chine Width: 37″
Rocker: 6″

Fretwater Buxom Line

In the last half-century kayaks, surfboards, and skis have all grown dramatically shorter and broader proportionately, and they perform far better that their predecessors. In 2019 we decided it was far past time to try this with the classic Briggs lines. The results have been amazing, with the newer designs being far more stable, maneuverable, spacious, and severely fun to row. We have striven to preserve Jerry Briggs’s gorgeous and functional lines while adapting them to more modern sensibilities. From the 6’6” Tardigrade to the 15’ 4” Babe, our pleasingly plump dories are guaranteed to show you the time of your life.

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:03:43+00:00

Torrey and Pookie

Torrey and Pookie were birthed at our 2024 WoodenBoat School class. Torrey, for the Torrey Islands offshore of the school, and Pookie, for [...]

brdfrd2025-05-01T05:08:15+00:00

Wal Awa

Wal Awa lives up in the north country, named for the old ones in the Grande Ronde area. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-04-10T21:14:20+00:00

Sandia

Sandia is named for SANto (standing) and LyDIA (painting). Lydia works part-time in the shop, and Santo does sewing projects for us. Back [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:02:48+00:00

Lost Yak

Lost Yak is named for a rapid on the now-dammed Bio Bio River in Chile. Bruce's other boat, a full-sized dory he built [...]

brdfrd2025-04-10T21:15:34+00:00

Colibri

Colibri is Ripple's sister, built for Arroyo's sweetie pie Dee. Back to all Doryaks

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:09:38+00:00

Ripple

Our part-time co-worker Arroyo built and runs Ripple. Back to all Doryaks

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:09:31+00:00

Giggle

Giggle and Splash were born in our 2022 WoodenBoat School class. The names come from Oregon, where the oh-so-serious drift boat fishing guides [...]

brdfrd2025-04-10T00:10:27+00:00

Splash

Splash and Giggle were sister builds at our 2022 WoodenBoat School class. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:09:09+00:00

Tyee

Tyee has SeaDek on her decks, and lives in Southern Oregon with Dan and Rex. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:08:58+00:00

Li’l Surprise

RJ has a Briggs named Surprise Canyon. This is the little sister. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:08:36+00:00

Greta

Andy Hutchinson pulled his first Doryak together with us in a stitch & glue style. He took Greta home to his shop--High Desert [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:08:08+00:00

Jack Flash

She is one of triplets built in 2021. She's got one sexy paint job. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:07:59+00:00

Jaguar

Dawn Kish went with a novel paint scheme. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:07:50+00:00

Martini

Martini was named--at least a little bit--in honor of Martin Litton. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-03-30T20:46:29+00:00

Chattooga

Chattooga lives on the east coast and plies such rivers as the French Broad. Back to all Doryaks [...]

brdfrd2025-04-09T23:55:44+00:00

Nigigoons

Nigigoons Ed Powers is ravaging the eastern rivers in Nigigoons–Gauley, New, Cheat, Ottowa and so forth. Not to mention a Grand Canyon trip. [...]

brdfrd2025-02-04T22:06:18+00:00

Rocket Man

Boatbuilding is risky business. Glade Zarn came to the shop in 2021 to help build his Doryak. Then we hired him. Then he [...]

Lara Gomora2025-02-04T22:20:28+00:00

Spooky

Spooky is version 2 of the Doryak. We learned a lot with Peekaboo and put all that into round two in 2020. She [...]

Lara Gomora2025-04-13T03:43:49+00:00

Peekaboo

Our prototype Doryak in 2019 is called Peekaboo. She rows great in flatwater, huge water, and even under motor power. Crazy. Back to [...]