Joe Dyer's father was a pioneer of early Astoria and operated a family sawmill.

[2] Before starting his shipyard, Joe Dyer (1898–1974) was given a contract to build 12 Bristol Bay sailing gill-netters in 1924.

[1][2][5] In 1931 Dyer received his first large project, the design and construction of a 120-foot car ferry, called the Tourist III run by Captain Fritz Elving.

The Tourist III operated for the Astoria-North Beach Ferry Company, on the Astoria – North shore route.

Dyer leased a shipway at the Port of Astoria to build the large Tourist III and hired a crew.

Tourist III was built in 90 days, so good a ship it put its rival Columbia Transportation out of action in two years.

Columbia River Yachting Association contacted the shipyard to design and build a one-class racing and cruising sloop in 1934.

The Columbia River One Design (CROD) became the standard for the Astoria regatta races for the next thirty years.

2, named Jean II was sold to Dean Webster of Portland, Oregon, he won first in class in the Pacific International Yachting Association race.

Astoria Shipbuilding built 12 Columbia River One Design (CROD), the 28-foot sloops became a classic.

In 1935 Dyer built a 36-foot express cruiser, Joanne, for A. N. Prouty, a local mill owner, also a luxurious 50-footer, Phantom with twin V-8 for Dr. Wallace Haworth of Portland.

In 1938 Dyer built a 47-foot boat the Evening Star for Portland businessman Milt Henderson.

For the Navy, and National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria Marine Construction worked on "mothballing" ships and boats.

[2] NOAAS Oregon was built in 1946 under a US contract with Reconstruction Finance Corporation, to help with the shortage of fishing boats after the war.

Next Astoria Marine Construction received an order for three more Onversaagd-class minesweepers for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

In 1957 Astoria Marine Construction built the grand 39-foot Cutter Yacht Patronilla, for Bill Forrest.

Dyer married Genevieve (Geno) Thompson in 1929, they built a house across the road from the shipyard.

At the request of a friend, he helped build one last boat, the Mary Carol, a motor yacht for Ed Ross, an advertising executive.

[2][17] In addition to being a boat builder, Joe Dyer held office in the Oregon legislature.