Description
The Glen-L Ultra Pierre 26, a robust and trailerable evolution of the storied St. Pierre dory lineage designed by Glen L. Witt in the 1970s and offered through Glen-L Marine Designs, fuses traditional Grand Banks fishing dory seaworthiness with modern plywood construction for adventurous coastal cruising, available in sail or power configurations that prioritize stability and simplicity for amateur builders. Stretching 26 feet LOA with an expansive 8-foot beam (wider than classic narrow dories for enhanced righting moment) and 2-foot 6-inch draft on a flat-bottomed hull with optional fixed fin keel (NACA-section lead or steel, adding ~1,200 pounds ballast), it displaces 4,500 pounds dry (up to 6,000 loaded), yielding a moderate D/L ratio of ~220 for efficient hull speed (~6.5 knots) and a comfort ratio of 25–28 suited to choppy bays or protected offshore passages like Puget Sound or the Inside Passage. The sail version sports a generous fractional sloop rig with 320 square feet of sail (SA/D ~18 for balanced power, high-aspect jib and battened main on a tabernacle-stepped aluminum mast), achieving 6–8 knots reaching in 12–18 knots while reefing easily via slab system; power variants accommodate a well-mounted 20–40 hp outboard (or inboard diesel) for 8–10 knot motoring with fuel-efficient planning. Built via plywood planking over wood framing (½-inch marine ply sides/bottom, sheathed in fiberglass/epoxy for durability and low maintenance), the design demands 800–1,200 build hours using Glen-L's full-size patterns, featuring a small cuddy cabin forward (V-berth for two, 5'8" headroom, basic galley nook), open cockpit with benches for 4–6, self-bailing scuppers, and flotation collars for unsinkability; options include a haul-up inboard rudder or remote tiller for versatility. With dozens completed worldwide—many logging multi-year cruises from Alaska to Mexico—the Ultra Pierre 26 shines for its dry ride, load-carrying (1,500 pounds payload), and trailerability under 5,000 pounds GVW.
