Dunlin: An Experimental Peapod

A brief row in a 13-foot peapod during one of our local small-boat gatherings inspired me to design and build a small cruiser.

- Kees Prins

The beauty, simple elegance and functionality of the peapod have always inspired me and it seemed a fitting starting point for designing a small cruiser/explorer. You can row it both directions, which is handy for exploring coves and such; it’s light enough to pull up a beach and has a seaworthy shape on the water. Lobstermen in Maine survived many perilous trips in peapods. Ironically the boat I ended up with is a far cry from the simplicity of the original inspiration, but the elegance is still there. I’ll take you through the steps, from rough idea to the finished product.

Hull Design

Peapods are double-ended, typically around 15 feet long and 4 to 5 feet wide. Within these parameters different shapes have developed over time. They first appeared around 1870 in North Haven, Maine. They were often used by Maine lobstermen working in tight spots where bigger boats couldn’t go.At the fishing grounds they were rowed, often standing up, facing forwards using extended oarlocks. They were usually sailed with a small spritsail, mainly reaching or running, but they didn’t sail to weather well. They were heavily built, using oak keels with cedar or pine planks over steam-bent oak frames.