his Widgeon on Chesapeake Bay. Others did almost as well with their 

 Cutlasses. 



"Please pardon the high opinion that I hold for this design of mine," 

 writes Carlson. "I realize it places me under suspicion as an egomaniac." 

 He points out that "particularly to windward she normally beats (boat for 

 boat) yachts up to 25 feet waterline and larger with ease. . . . Though of 

 displacement type (3800 lbs. on 19' waterline) she has logged up to 9 

 knots under certain conditions (not 'surfing'). This is possible, in my opin- 

 ion, because of extremely easy buttocks aft which give her semiplaning 

 characteristics." 



Her accommodations include a toilet, galley, two berths (to which two 

 more forward can be added if desired). Cockpit is self -bailing; hull is of 

 mahogany planking. She is a keelboat. 



Richard D. Carlson, at the above address, functions as an association 

 head. He says that the design is now in production and it is expected that 

 fleets will be established in Barcelona, Spain; western Long Island Sound; 

 upper Chesapeake Bay; and Southern California during 1962 and 1963. 



Base price is $5150 for new boats, $4500 for used; kits are $1400 and up. 



VITAL STATISTICS: L.O. A. 23'/'; watcrlinc 19V; beam /i W; 

 draft 4'; sail area 242 sq. ft.; weight 3800 lbs.; trailable (special trailer); 

 power choice of two inboard engines, 5- or 10-h.p., about $1000 extra. 



DICKERSON 32 



While exploring the Eastern Shore for A Cruising Guide to the Chesa- 

 peake, I saw a good-looking ketch riding at her moorings on the southeast 

 branch of Fishing Creek, which leads into the Little Choptank River. I 

 was surprised, as the low-tide channel depth shown on the chart was only 

 two or three feet, though we were told later it was three and a half feet. 

 William C. Dickerson soon turned up and showed me one or two of the 

 ketches in process of construction. The boats looked well-built, simple but 

 sound, and sensible in their interiors. When I heard the price, I was as- 

 tonished. I couldn't recollect any boat of that size ( 32 feet ) , even a foreign 

 import, which gave a family, cruising man so much for his money. Dickerson 

 has already built forty-two of them and they are sailing on Chesapeake 

 Bay, Barnegat Bay (sailing out of would probably be more correct than 

 on, as Barnegat Bay is very shoal). Long Island Sound, the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico, and the east coast of Florida. 



The Dickerson 32 ketch was not built as a racing boat but, as Mr. Dick- 

 erson says, "for the owner who wants a good family cruiser at a very 

 moderate cost." The hull and cabin sides are of Philippine mahogany, the 



250 THE SAILBOAT CLASSES OF NORTH AMERICA 



