Donna

This design has the same nice interior space layout as Badger, with the addition of quarter berths aft. For a family of four to live aboard, as has been done on one of the sisterships, this provides good separation of the sleeping spaces. I would put a double berth in the forward cabin, like Badger’s, and as shown on the 37½, and have the saloon berths and quarter berths for sleeping in on a passage. This interior and trunk cabin can be used on the 37½′ cutter, if an alternate version is wanted. The trunk cabin version of the 37½′ dory shows double-berth-forward accommodations variation that I would recommend for a couple or family wanting to live aboard.Several of these 36-footers have done extensive ocean voyaging and the owners report that they have been very comfortable. They also report that the boats are good at making quick passages and will surf in some trade wind conditions.This relatively light displacement sailing dory with her 5,000 pounds of ballasted keel will move along at a most respectable pace, and still maintain a good deal of stability and solid comfort for her crew. Designed for offshore cruising and simplicity of construction, this practical vessel has very livable accommodations. Quarter berths aft will often be the most comfortable sleeping place in a seaway. The head with shower and oilskin locker is conveniently close to the cockpit, and U-shaped galley to starboard. A large chart table is next to the head, with settee/berths midships around drop leaf table. The foc'sle is home to V-berths and chain locker in the forepeak. A fair amount of stowage space can be found throughout the vessel, and especially in the large lazarette.The gaff ketch rig was the original rig. The Marconi ketch was done after the first one had done some Pacific crossings. The owner thought having a taller rig would help catch the wind when the boat was down in the big ocean swells and keep her moving better. A cutter rig from the 37½′ cutter could be adapted — or you could just build the 37½ —and will probably give a bit better performance to windward. For most cruising folks, the enjoyable cruising is mostly done with the wind abeam or aft of the beam, so the slight difference to windward should not be the deciding factor in choosing a rig.