John the Fifth gives you the Dry Dock key after you repair his moonshine still in the DREADMOOR demo. The locked door is a quest checkpoint, so searching the dock for a loose key skips the task that actually opens it. Start with the traders' opening fishing lesson, meet John, and collect the supplies for his damaged tank.

Reach John through the opening fishing quest

After the first night at the settlement, Gill and Boozer direct you to the fishing platform behind the dry dock. The documented demo lesson asks for five Snappers. When you return, the traders explain that more valuable catches require a repaired boat and better bait.

They then identify John the Fifth as the engineer who holds the key. Go to his shack and speak to him about opening the dock. The official DREADMOOR Demo description places the engineer and dry-dock upgrades within the demo's own settlement questline.

Repair the moonshine still

John will not open the dock immediately. His still's tank is damaged, and he asks you to gather repair materials. The recorded demo dialogue points to three nearby sources:

  • Coral Fiber: harvest coral growth on Angler's Island, visible from the lodging-house balcony.
  • Bug Slime: collect the blue-slime-producing beetles on rocks behind the trading post.
  • Metal: recover the indicated iron barrels around the same gathering area.

Follow the active recipe or repair checklist for your required quantities. These locations identify the supplies without assuming that an older playtest's inventory names and counts still apply.

Before sailing, continue the traders' instructions to process the Snapper catch, feed the fuel larva, and refill the boat. That prepares you for the short gathering trip rather than leaving the harbor with an empty tank.

Return to John to receive the key

Once the required resources are gathered, interact with the damaged still to complete its repair. Then talk to John and tell him it is fixed. He gives you the key when you ask about opening the dry dock.

This sequence appears in player experience documented by Mr Feudal's demo playthrough, and the demo-labelled dialogue recording follows the same exchange. The reward comes from completing the still task and conversation, not from finding a random key drop or buying it from the traders.

What happens after the door opens?

Enter the dock and follow the repair objectives inside. You need to deal with the fuse box and lighting before bringing the boat in for its maintenance sequence. Cleaning the hull and patching it are later tasks; they are not alternate prerequisites for obtaining the key.

If you already possess the key but cannot continue the boat work, check the objective currently displayed inside the dock. A dark interior, damaged electrical equipment, and the lift sequence are distinct progression steps from the original locked door.

FAQ

Who has the Dry Dock key?

John the Fifth, the settlement's engineer.

Can I get it before repairing the still?

The documented demo route awards it after the still repair and follow-up dialogue.

Where is the Coral Fiber for the repair?

John points you to nearby Angler's Island, which can be seen from the lodging-house balcony.

Does getting the key immediately repair the boat?

No. It unlocks access to the dock, where lighting, cleaning, and hull repairs follow.