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THE DRASCOMBE RANGEThe Drascombe range is a family of boats produced predominantly in "Traditional Glass Fibre" but a few have been produced in wood by some boat builders of excellent reputation. This page is split into three sections: The CURRENT RANGE of new boats Drascombe Boats no longer in production Some unusual Drascombes
CURRENT RANGEThere are 8 boats in the current range, all in Glass Fibre.
Drascombe Dabber
The smallest of the split-rig Drascombes. 15’ 6" long, she carries 118 Sq Ft of sail with the help of a bowsprit & a bumkin, both removable for stowage & transport. An outboard motor in it’s own well, usually 2-4hp, will push it along when the wind drops or it is perfectly capable of being rowed from either, or both, of two positions. Equipped with a centre-plate, she draws only 8" with the plate up, 3’ 0" with it down. The Drascombe Dabber was first introduced in 1972. Drascombe Lugger
Andy & Lorna Macnab in Sea Whistle on the Lune Probably the best known of the Drascombe family, this was the one that started it all in 1968. 18’ 9" she is yawl rigged with gunter main & loose footed sails. The mizzen sets to a bumpkin, removable for stowage & transport. She carries 132 Sq Ft of sail and has a protected & easily reached engine well for a 4-6hp outboard engine. A sprayhood & tent convert her into a cruiser. Drawing only 10" with the plate up (4’ 0" down), quiet creeks are accessible although this boat is equally at home in a blow in open water. Her tan sails are a popular sight around our coasts. Drascombe Longboat
At 21’ 9", although light & easily handled, on or off the water, the Drascombe Longboat is a powerful sailor, both stable & roomy. She carries 172 Sq Ft of tan sail in the Drascombe manner; jib, gunter main & mizzen setting to a bumpkin, all loose footed. With sprayhood & tent, weekending away is a real pleasure. Draft is 1’ 0" with plate up, 4’ 2" down. Drascombe Coaster
This is a small cruising yacht based upon the
Drascombe Longboat hull. With a slightly reduced
rig of 164 Sq Ft and the addition of a 2 berth cabin this is a splendid boat for the
keen voyager and is favoured by many of the Drascombe Association Rally & Cruise
participants.
People often want to know how good a sea-boat the Drascombe is. When you tell them the truth, which is that they are very good, you can see in their eyes that they don't quite believe you. I am very grateful to a Dutch Drascombe owner, Fred Roos, for this picture of his Drascombe Coaster performing spectacularly in a strong blow.
Drascombe Gig
This boat was specifically designed to fill the void being left by the naval whaler for a craft for seamanship training. She can have no less than 8 rowing places if you can get the crew! At 25’ 0" long, she is the largest of the family & carries 255 Sq Ft of tan sail. The main is a standing lug, loose footed (though there is a gunter rig option). The mizzen is set on a boom. Draft is still only 1’ 6" with the plate up. The Drascombe Gig is a powerful & exhilarating boat to sail but still capable of being sailed single handed by an experienced skipper. Drascombe Drifter 22
Drascombe Caboteur Jean Louis Grenier’s ultimate open boat camping cruiser. Based upon the Longboat & built in wood epoxy, she is 21’ 9" long but broader in the beam & with greater freeboard. She also carries a larger sail plan together with enlarged centreboard & rudder. In use, she is proving to be a powerful sailing boat with excellent sea-keeping qualities & versatile accommodation. She is being featured widely in the yachting press both here & in France. Repeatable in wood epoxy or with a GRP hull, she can be customised to suit the owner, thus specification & price very much open to enjoyable discussion. Drascombe Henley This is a river boat based upon the Drascombe Longboat hull. It has forward wheel steering & remote controls of the outboard motor & an elegant, full length canopy. Without the centreplate casing, she offers a really large cockpit for days on the river or for camping in the Jerome K Jerome style. Striped blazer & Lloydloom chairs complete the picture.
OTHER DRASCOMBE BOATS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTIONDrascombe Skiff Drascombe Scaffie
A 14’ 9" double ender rigged with a single standing lug sail, loose footed. As there is no centre plate, this is a spacious boat for it’s size and, when equipped with a camping tent, can accommodate two close friends overnight. A 2hp outboard, in it’s own well, will drive this boat along splendidly but it is also an excellent boat to row, light to pull and holds it’s course well. With a draft of only 1’ 3", she is an excellent ditch & creek crawler. The Drascombe Scaffie was first introduced in 1978. Drascombe Driver
The Drascombe Driver was a stretched Drascombe Dabber, 18’ 6" long, carrying 128 SqFt of sail
with a standing lug main. It’s unique features are a long keel and an inboard Watermota Shrimp petrol engine. Only 55 were made but I have just discovered number 56! This was the fore-runner of the Drascombe Coaster and very popular. Made between July 1971 & June 1979, it was an open Longboat with a cuddy added. This cuddy contained either 1 or 2 berths. Without the bridgedeck of the Drascombe Coaster, the cockpit is larger and, as a dayboat, the Drascombe Longboat Cruiser has a space advantage over it’s successor. It retained the ‘open’ centreplate of the Longboat and no segregation of cockpit from cuddy &, as a result, the cabin can become a little damp but this does not deter many owners from successful over-nighting. Drascombe Drifter
She was built between 1987 & 1986. Not to be confused with our new Drascombe Drifter 22! Drascombe Marlow The predecessor of the Drascombe Henley, she was based upon the Drascombe Lugger hull. Very few were made. UNUSUAL DRASCOMBESA few other designs have only ever been produced in wood in small numbers: Drascombe Scaith Drascombe Peterboat
A pretty, full rigged, open boat 16’ 6" long. Very few made. I have one built by a professional boat builder on the Isle of Wight around 1990, although, with its single standing lug sail, it is remarkably like a Scaffie except for the centreplate & wooden construction. Drascombe Peterboat 6m Drascombe Dipper 16’ 0" long, 5’ 10" beam with a yawl rig and a standing lug main. Similar to the Drascombe Dabber, this Drascombe was designed specially for Norman Whyte to produce in wood. I have only seen one, a credit to both builder & owner.
Churchouse Boats have most of the brochures, manuals and published articles about the whole range. Copies are available at modest cost to help you decide which Drascombe is for you.
For intelligent conversation & help, ring: 01256 896292 e.mail: admin@drascombe.org.uk
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DrascombeThe Sail that becomes a Way of Life! |
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