steveJ wrote:

Yes,I always wondered about this J. Benford dory design.
It has been said that a banks type dory is not good for sailing.
I wonder if that means that it is slow or that it isn't as fast
as a catamaran or..what?

They are tippy, is the main complaint AFAIK. Also they are not at all roomy for
their length & weight, and due to the high reserve bouyancy, they are very bouncy
and wet. Altogether not good characteristics for a cruising sailboat. However,
dories (sailing or otherwise) still have excellent load carrying capacity, good
reserve stability, and are very seaworthy (if properly built & ballasted).


The Benford design is advertised with a book about a couple who
built one and sailed to Antarctica. Annie Hill I think. Have not read this.
Joshua Slocum built and sailed LIBERDADE from S. America to the east
coast. The boat was modeled from his "recollections of Cape Ann Dories".
For simplicity of building, a dory seems a great advantage. Never sailed
one though.

The lack of initial stability makes them cranky and slow, but I'd believe they make
great voyaging boats for those not in a hurry.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King