Description
The Pacific Pelican is a 14-foot plywood sailing dory-pram designed by William H. Short (son of San Francisco Pelican designer Bill Short) in the early 1970s as a larger, more versatile evolution of the original 12-foot San Francisco Pelican. Built primarily by amateur builders using stitch-and-glue plywood, it expands on the classic dory-pram concept with increased beam, sail area, and freeboard—making it suitable for coastal daysailing, junior training, and light overnighting in protected waters like Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, or British Columbia. While retaining the signature sampan-style pram bow and flared dory sides for dryness and stability, the Pacific Pelican offers a roomier cockpit, optional Bermuda or gaff rig, and greater payload, positioning it as a "big sister" to the San Francisco model. Though never formalized into a one-design class (unlike its predecessor), a handful of examples were built in the Pacific Northwest, with plans occasionally circulating among small-boat enthusiasts. Its design reflects a shift from urban bay racing to rural and coastal family cruising, emphasizing ease of trailering and low-cost construction.
