Dory Boats

Dory Boats. V-Bottomed Boats of the Chesapeake. , The Potomac River dory boat was used for the tonging and dredging of oysters in the waters of the Potomac River and its tributaries. Its unique design features a V-bottom planked lengthwise instead of the usual cross-planking. The dory boat was discontinued around the 1930s. Only seven remain in existence today, three of which are under the stewardship of the St. Mary's County Museum Division., The "Doris C" was built in 1919 by John Long for Captain Henry Gibson of Abell, Maryland. This 34-foot dory was named after Doris Cheseldine, Captain Gibson's wife. The lumber used to build the vessel was purchased in Baltimore and shipped by steamer to Long's boat shop on Canoe Neck Creek in Avenue, Maryland. He used the dory boat for dredging and gonging oysters, fishing and transporting goods to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore., After Captain Gibson retired from working the water in 1975, he and his son, Charles, donated the "Doris C" to the St. Clement's Island Museum in 1976. Restoration was completed in 1986., [Captions:] , (Photo Above) Boat-builder John Long and his wife Rae Blair Long circa 1910. Photo courtesy of Anna Long., (Top Left) The "Doris C" circa 1930s. Photo courtesy of the St. Mary's County Museum Division., (Bottom Left) Built in 1917 by John Chesldine, the 30-foot "Shamrock," on exhibit in the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit building, was the first Potomac River dory boat to be preserved. Photo courtesy of the Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland.