Lowell Sailing 18' Surf Dory
Description
The Lowell Sailing Surf Dory is a classic, round-sided sailing dory produced by Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts—the oldest continuously operating boat shop in America (founded 1793 by Simeon Lowell, specializing in dories since the 19th century). It's a modern evolution of the traditional Swampscott/ surf dory (flat-bottomed, flaring sides for wave-handling stability), adapted with a sailing rig for recreational use on protected waters like bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal areas. Available in sizes from 14' to 20' overall (most common 14', 16', 18', 20'), it's built primarily in wood (often cedar/mahogany with oak frames) using traditional techniques, though some fiberglass or hybrid versions exist. Features include a kick-up rudder (for shallows/beaching), optional bow/stern lockers for gear, and a simple lug or gaff rig for easy handling under sail or oars. It's praised for excellent rowing/sailing balance, dry ride in chop, and versatility—great for daysailing, fishing, or family outings in moderate conditions.
Construction Details
| Designer | Lowell's Boat Shop |
|---|---|
| Length | 18.000 ft |
| LOA | 18.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | - |
| e | - |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
Lowell Sailing 18' Surf Dory - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 10 ft - (3048 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 5.5 ft - (1676 mm) |
| Leech | 9.33 ft - (2844 mm) |
| Length Perpendicular | * 5.06 ft - (1542 mm) |
| Area | * 25.29 ft² |
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Lowell Sailing 18' Surf Dory - GUNTER
| Luff | 9 ft - (2743 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 10.5 ft - (3200 mm) |
| Leech | 20.75 ft - (6325 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.67 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 13.67 ft - (4167 mm) |
| Head | 10.5 ft - (3200 mm) |
| Area | * 101.27 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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