Yacht designer F. Spaulding Dunbar (1905-1991) graduated from MIT’s Naval Architecture program in 1926. His early career included time in the merchant marine and a job with designer Gordon Munro. In the early 1930s, Dunbar moved to Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and established his own boat design and boat building business. Except for a few years during World War II, when Dunbar designed PT Boats for Elco and his wife, Doris, ran the boatyard in Chatham, he was self-employed until his retirement. Dunbar was best known his sailing designs, including popular small one-design boats and comfortable cruising yachts, but also turned out several successful powerboats based on his wartime experience.

The F. Spaulding Dunbar collection consists of plans for many of Dunbar’s designs. The majority are from his time in Chatham, including local favorites like his Corsair and Catabout one-designs, Monomoy sloop, Bristol motorboats, and cruisers Sea Goose and Ocean Pearl, as well as plans that Dunbar drew for Elco and other boatyards.

Title: F. Spaulding Dunbar Plans

Creator: F. Spaulding Dunbar

Dates: circa 1930 – late 1970s

Extent: 3 drawers plans

Language: English

Repository: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collection

Access: Open for research by appointment. Inventory available.

Copyright: No known restrictions.

Credit: Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum