Dorothy
Our thanks to all individual donors to the SV Dorothy Fund, and for the support of:
In early 1897, work commenced on a sleek 30ft yacht named Dorothy in the James Bay boatyard of John J. Robinson. Although nothing remains of Robinson’s busy shop — now the site of the Laurel Point Inn — the vessel he built is still ‘above the waves’. Today, Dorothy is considered the oldest sailing yacht in North America’s Pacific Northwest and is a major artefact in the Maritime Museum of BC’s ((MMBC) collection. She’s famous for her age, her sailing adventures, and for winning many races over her working career. She’s a lovely-looking vessel with beautiful lines and a simple, clean design.
Dorothy was on Gabriola Island with shipwright and artist, Tony Grove for 10 years. Tony did refit work on Dorothy from 2013 to 2022 with funds raised from private donors who were keen to see Dorothy refitted for public viewing once again.
Dorothy is currently at the Ladysmith Maritime Society for further refit work.
Dorothy’s Refit
The following information provides updates on the Dorothy project. Check back for regular updates!
May 2023
The public launch for SV Dorothy is on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM, at Fisherman’s Wharf Boat Launch, Ladysmith. Join us to see Dorothy in the water once more, almost 127 years after her initial launch on July 26, 1897.
Volunteers refitting Dorothy at the Ladysmith Maritime Society. Photo courtesy of Tobi Elliot
February 2023
The museum’s beloved yacht Dorothy will make a splash in Ladysmith Harbour on May 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM. A month and 127 years since she was first launched in 1897, Dorothy will return to water after her complete refit. Her structural and hull work was completed by shipwright and boat-whisperer Tony Grove on Gabriola Island. During the past ten months, she has been in the hands of the dedicated and skilled volunteers at the Ladysmith Maritime Society where meticulous topside repair work is being completed. Led by volunteer Robert Lawson, life-long boatwright and keen student of yachting history, much more has been learned about Dorothy’s past both from recently discovered early photos and the secrets revealed by the boat herself.
The Maritime Museum of BC is very grateful to the board of the Ladysmith Maritime Society and their volunteers who have become wonderful partners in the Dorothy project. Thanks to them, and our supporters who have contributed to the Dorothy Fund, this beautiful boat, built at the foot of Montreal Street in Victoria before the Wright brothers flew, will be afloat and sailing again this summer.
MMBC plans for Dorothy to remain on exhibit among the fleet at the Ladysmith Maritime Society facility at the Ladysmith Community Marina until a time when we have appropriate space for her to be moored at a new Maritime Museum location in Victoria’s inner harbour. Drop into Ladysmith for a visit this summer.
Donations to the Dorothy Fund to support her on-going maintenance and sailing activities can be made through the link above. A charitable receipt for income tax purposes will be provided for any gift over $20. Thank you for considering a donation to this living heritage!
June 2022
A big voyage for a small boat! Dorothy travelled from Gabriola Island to Ladysmith thanks to a free ride on BC Ferries. Further refit work will be carried out at Ladysmith Maritime Society.
March 2022
Work continues on Dorothy–here is the latest from artist and shipwright Tony Grove!
December 2021
Here are the latest videos of Tony’s work on Dorothy!
October 2020
Watch these videos from Tony Grove of Dorothy going into the shop for work to continue!
October 2020
In fall 2020, the MMBC Board gave the green light for Shipwright Tony Grove to resume work on Dorothy at his boatyard on Gabriola Island. This 30-foot (7.41m) gaff cutter or sloop has been at Tony’s yard for several years, but restoration was suspended during the uncertain period after MMBC was evicted from Bastion Square. Dorothy was built of red cedar on oak frames in 1897 at a small boatyard on the site of today’s Laurel Point Inn. She quickly established a reputation as a fast racer, had several local owners over the decades, and was donated to the museum in 1995. The museum has comprehensive documentation about Dorothy, which has held unbroken official registration since first built.
Tony had already done extensive repairs to the boat’s stem/keel, installed several new floor timbers, and replaced keel bolts. He also fitted many “sister frames” where the old ones had deteriorated (see picture). All the paint was stripped off the hull and caulking material removed from between the seams (“reefing out the seams.”). Tony then repaired several of the plank seams; from finding different caulking and paying materials removed he could tell that Dorothy’s seams had never been completely reefed and re-caulked, but rather “spot caulked” over the years where problems had occurred.
Dorothy is now back in Tony’s workshop where over the next several months he will be caulking the seams with a combination of oakum and cotton and “paying” them with putty. He will be doing many other tasks including installing and varnishing a new rub rail, fitting and chain plates (metal plate on deck to take shrouds), inspecting the bowsprit, sanding, priming and painting the hull including the toe rail, preparing and repainting the cockpit, and refinishing and varnishing all exterior bright work. Dorothy’s interior was always spartan; Tony will be fitting two bench seats in the cabin and suitable floorboards.
These photos show Dorothy back in Tony’s workshop for restoration work to continue.
Dorothy is a window on local wooden boatbuilding more than 120 years ago and a living link to the early years of yachting in our area when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. She had been designed by a well-known British yacht designer ad later Olympic sailor, Linton Hope. MMBC is fortunate in having a fund allocated for Dorothy to pay for the restoration. It has been built up over the years thorough targeted donations and a lumpsum received from a volunteer group in Ontario who had hoped to restore a wooden yacht built in New Brunswick a few years before Dorothy; when their project faltered they generously turned their remaining funds over to Dorothy. Long-time museum members will remember how John West assisted by Eric Waal spearheaded the current restoration that was paused when the museum encountered heavy seas.
Tony Grove is a well-known expert in building and repairing wooden boats with a passion for these examples of skilled design and construction- and in particular, our Dorothy. Check back here for regular updates on Tony’s work on Dorothy.