Grandy Dory

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Born 1884 in Garnish Newfoundland, Stephen Leonard Grandy sparked a longstanding family preoccupation with dory construction which began with his employment with G & A Buffet Ltd., a company selling dories along the south coast of the Island.

 Stephen studied the design of these and other dories and then developed a boat which he felt better suited the Newfoundland fishery, weather and ocean conditions. His sons – Max, Roy and Leonard – joined him when he struck out on his own to establish a workshop building and selling his version of the Grand Bank dory. They built thousands of them over the years.

The Grandy’s built their dories in the manner of a factory assembly line. They would make up to twenty five bottoms (generally fifteen feet long by thirty seven inches wide and one inch thick) and stack them in the workshop. Then four white pine planks were shaped. Gunwales, caps, counters and stems were sawn, dressed and set aside. As the builder assembled the dory he could quickly lay his hands on each component, set them in position and fasten with either galvanized boat nails or clinch nails. In the nineteen forties and fifties the high demand for dories kept the Grandy workshop busy. They met a production quota of two dories per day and sold each for ninety dollars.

Stephen passed away in January, 1960. His son Roy continued building boats, while his sons Leonard and Max went on to building schooners at Marystown Co-operative Enterprise Ltd. – known locally as “the beach” – on the Burin Peninsula.

23 thoughts on “Grandy Dory

  • May 6, 2016 at 11:09 pm
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    The Grandy’s also went to Lunenburg to learn some skills in boatbuilding aswell.

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  • June 29, 2016 at 11:28 pm
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    I am looking to get a forum. Do you know of any builders in Newfoundland who may be able to build one for me. Thank you.

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    • August 2, 2016 at 9:56 pm
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      Check into Parker’s Cove, Placentia Bay

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    • February 25, 2022 at 6:55 pm
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      Ron Foley, st. john,s, 709 722 1618; 687 8949

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  • August 3, 2016 at 12:09 am
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    It would be great to be able to get a buy a set of plans for them.

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    • April 16, 2017 at 6:04 pm
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      where can i get a set of plans for grandy dory thanks

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      • May 13, 2018 at 12:12 pm
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        Did you get your plans? If not I can tell you what you need if you know the overall length that you would like to build.

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        • March 18, 2021 at 9:10 pm
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          Hi. I understand you might be able to provide some help with what I would need to build a 19 foot dory. I would like to build a flat. Like a dory in the bow but has a flat transom for an outboard motor

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  • August 3, 2016 at 12:10 am
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    They were great boats.

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  • October 27, 2016 at 1:59 am
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    My husband makes Dorys. He has some three foot and four foot Dorys. They are made out of yellow and red cedar. He sells the three foot for $90 and the four foot for $120.

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  • April 18, 2017 at 11:44 am
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    All I want is a plan with a matetial list to build a plywood Portuguese dory. Can you provide with that?

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  • August 7, 2017 at 11:17 am
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    John Gardner made a book called the dory book and it has alot of offset charts within it pages for bank dory and others.

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  • October 25, 2017 at 2:29 pm
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    Ahh the grandy dory, my first car. Loved that thing! It didn’t have wheels but it would get me from point-A to point-B just fine.

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    • June 14, 2020 at 1:22 pm
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      I’m actually a Grandy from Garnish , living in Alberta for 13 years. I didn’t even know about this!!!

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      • November 23, 2020 at 6:15 pm
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        Just found this and wonder if you are still around.
        I am a Grandy from Frenchman’s Cove. Left there in mid 1950’s.
        Never heard of a Grandy Dory.

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  • April 16, 2021 at 6:30 pm
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    I have just built a copy of a 19 ft. grandy dory to the best of my ability. hope i done the Grandys justice. My dad owned one when i was a kid 60 years ago. it,s clinker built or lapstrake as the grandys did, same colour
    2 weeks on kijiji saw over 300 visiters
    its for sale .when it sells i will be doing another one.

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  • August 15, 2021 at 8:59 am
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    Where can I buy a flat dory

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    • February 24, 2022 at 4:44 pm
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      i build them for sale

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    • March 13, 2022 at 3:11 pm
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      I can build any length u want

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      • March 21, 2023 at 8:56 am
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        Hello Ron, I need to know, if you could please, give me a roundabout price. I am amazed you are doing this. sincerely Rob Weller

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      • November 16, 2023 at 11:02 am
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        Ron
        Do you have plans for the Grandy Dory?

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  • June 28, 2022 at 7:17 am
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    I have an original 8.5’ Grandy Boat Co Dory I will sell. Manufactured in Seattle and in restored beautiful condition.
    Lapstrake old growth red cedar, oak, and teak. Has original Grandy tag
    206-480-8421
    Jason

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  • April 1, 2023 at 5:10 pm
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    Hello Ron, I need to know, if you could please, give me a roundabout price. I am amazed you are doing this. sincerely Rob Weller

    Reply

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