Gather various pictures of dory sailing boats from postcards, photographs, sailing magazines, books or the Internet, so that you can see the similarities and differences in design features.
Open your sketchbook and start experimenting with several design sketches. Draw the shape of the boat from an aerial view for the topside of a small dory. Keep the design shape simple. Make it long and narrow or short and wide. Focus on the design of the seat bars and how many seats will fill the boat, leaving sufficient leg room for the sailers. Think about the seat design in terms of how they could be made more decorative or more comfortable. Design the oar locks (or horns) ready for the oars or paddles. Include an outboard motor, if it is going to be a design for a motor dory. Pay attention to the flat bottom of the boat and show the wide plank lines which go from bow to the stern as part of your design sketch.
Apply color to your design sketches using art marker pens, colored pencils or Indian inks.
Go over the pencil sketch in a fine black drawing pen to emphasize the clean lines and to make the design stand out.
Write pencil notes beside the dory to describe specific design features. Provide details concerning materials to be used to make the boat, such as the types of wood or other alternative materials. Include size dimensions of the dory.
Choose a design you like the best to start constructing the topside of the dory.