Old Wharf Dory Co.

Hello. My name is Walter Baron. I run the one-man boat shop you see on these web pages. I build boats using wood as the main structural material, one at a time, in my shop in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.

Using techniques ranging from Traditional Lapstrake to Plywood on Frame to modern Plywood/Epoxy/Fabric composite construction, I can build a boat suited to your particular needs.

Most of my boats are based on traditional designs that have stood the test of time and sea. They are not the fastest or glossiest boats on the waterfront. They are comfortable and efficient, gaining character and patina with use, age, and care.In this age of rising fuel costs I would like to emphasize the advantages of wood boats. Most wood boats, especially those built with modern composite wood-epoxy-fiberglass construction, are much lighter than GRP (Glass-Reinforced Plastic) boats. This means that a boat of a given size can be powered with a smaller motor to produce the same performance. There are many designs, both traditional and modern, that fall into this category.

Another advantage of wood boats is that the main structural material, wood, is a renewable resource. Trees still grow, unlike oil, which is a finite resource . The use of nonrenewable materials, such as epoxy adhesives and coatings add to the longevity of a boat and reduce maintenance. Added benefits include the beauty of wood, and the increased comfort due to wood’s ability to absorb vibration.I will be researching advanced methods of wood construction as they become available.