Doughdish: Fiberglass Herreshoff 12 ½

The Doughdish embodies all the characteristics of the original wooden boats and is substantially identical in detail. Great care has been taken to reproduce the same appearance, shape, displacement and sailing performance of the originals, and therefore she has been accepted into the H Class for competition. She is stronger, safer and less expensive to maintain than her wooden sisterships.

Layout and construction:

The Doughdish utilizes foam sandwich construction resulting in a hull thickness of approximately 3/4". Bulkheads are also fiberglass, as are decks, which are finished in simulated canvas anti-skid surface. She is roomy enough for a family, and can be sailed comfortably with as many as 5 or 6 persons on beautiful teak seats that run fore and aft the length of the cockpit. It is wide enough to have adults sitting opposite each other without crowding, yet close enough that the opposite bench can be used to brace your feet on a heavy heel. Sheer strake, toe rails, coamings, transom inner surface, and miscellaneous moldings and trim are also of varnished teak. The cockpit sole is oiled teak with removable center slats allowing for easy access to the bilge and pumping. The rig and spars are made in varnished Spruce. The Doughdish's hardware is bronze and stainless steel where appropriate.

Storage and flotation:

The bilge is large enough to accommodate the anchor, manual bilge pump and even a bucket. Forward and aft compartments contain foam flotation. Tests confirm the presence of ample reserve buoyancy to float Doughdish level should she ever fill with water. There are also small storage areas in the fore and aft bulkheads that can easily store a spinnaker, sail ties, PFDs and your picnic lunch. The oar and optional spinnaker pole can easily be tied under the seats to keep them simultaneously accessible and out of the way.

Sailing and Rig:

The Doughdish is easy to single-hand and is ideal for all ages. She is tremendously seaworthy, she is smart and responsive in light air and as capable as a boat can be in heavy wind and seas. For a displacement type boat of her size, she is unusually fast. Her standard rig is Gaff with a self-tending jib but she is also available in a Marconi option. New boats come equipped with a Dacron main and jib, Dacron running rigging and an optional Nylon spinnaker.

Propulsion:

Aside from an oar or paddle, auxiliary power may be added by implementing a 2 or 3 h.p. longshaft outboard motor in gas or electric. We recommend the Torqeedo electric motor. Either outboard option is mounted with relative ease on a bracket located on the port side deck adjacent to the tiller. The bracket is compact and easily slipped off its fastenings when not in use, so the boat is left unspoiled in appearance. The engine can then be stowed on an engine storage mount that attaches to the mast.

This design has long since established itself as one of the foremost examples of yachting genius, for no other type boat has acquired a more enduring popularity. We feel our product offers an economically viable means of participating in the finest of small boat yachting and in one of the most famous of one-design classes.

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According to the Herreshoff Museum, "This design has long since established itself as one of the foremost examples of yachting genius, for no other type of boat has acquired a more enduring popularity. The mere fact that, in 80 years, no significant modification has been made in the design testifies to its perfection." We feel our product offers an economically viable means of participating in the finest of small boat yachting and in one of the most famous of one-design classes.

The Doughdish - Overview and Specs (PDF)