Looking for advice on where to find dory and what types might be suitable. I would like to use it as an electric powered launch for 2 persons. With 2 or 3 batteries (110-170lbs) and a 55 lb thrust trolling motor would it be fairly stable? Any ideas would be appreciated.

-- Todd Tracy (toddandmrbean@cs.com), March 04, 2004

Answers

Mounting the motor to the raked transom of the dory is a challenge. My plywood home-built dory has a motor mount about 1.5' forward of the stern, and the motor shaft passes down thru a removable panel in the narrow transom. I sometimes use a 2hp long shaft Honda (prefer rowing or sailing), but the mechanics would be similar for an electric motor.

-- Kim Apel (kapel@fullert.edu), March 04, 2004.

My dory has a motor mount that fits in the rudder guddeons. There are also two oar locks mounted on the transom. Their is a vertical board for the motor, with two angle brackets with holes in them that align with the oar locks. Into which two fastpins hold the top in place. Then on the vertical board is a triangular board that matchs the angle of the transom and two pintals which align with the rudder pintals.

There is photo but not a closeup on my web site under the fishing setup.

http://www.geocities.com/garylambda/SwampscottDory.html

If you are interested I'll try and get some closeups and some measurements up on the web site.

-Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), March 07, 2004.

On the other 1/2 of your question, use gel batteries to avoid acid splash accidents. They are expensive but the cothing that you'll save from ruin with the acid should make up the difference fairly quickly.

The additional 100lbs will make the boat more stable as dories are narrow bottom boats and as you pull more of the boat into the water with a load, the wider beam stablizes the boat. However you didn't mention the type of water you are going to take this boat out in. Stablity is always a relative term. -Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), March 12, 2004.