Wooden Drascombes

'The Drascombe Boats'

WoodenBoat magazine

January/February 1979 No 26.

The story of the Drascombe boats begins in a small boatyard on the banks of the River Yealm, at the head of the creek that separates the twin villages of Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo, about 10 miles from the dockyards at Plymouth. It was here that John Watkinson designed and built a range of little clinker boats, using such traditional materials as rock elm, English oak, larch and mahogany. The boats celebrated a heritage which was appreciated, unfortunately, by a dwindling number of sailors. Dazzling ads for GRP boats were having their effect everywhere, and competition for buyers was getting heavy for the small yard.

So John Watkinson decided to try something new. He designed a 15' motor launch with character, and built it from marine plywood and mahogany. With the rugged lines and sea-keeping qualities of West Country craft, and the strength and simplicity of glued clinker construction, he had brought forth an economical and functional craft, and done it in wood, his favorite material. But Watkinson wanted to concentrate on designing. When he'd built up the enterprise sufficiently, he sold it to take up design full time. That was in 1964.

Four years later, the first production plywood Drascombe Lugger, built by John and Douglas Elliott, was placed on exhibit at London's International Boat Show at Earls Court. It was sold within 29 minutes of the doors being opened to the public! Since then, the Elliotts have built more than 200 of these small sailboats in plywood. Because the demand for them was so great, Honnor Marine of Totnes, Devon, began building a GRP version under license. According to Monroe B. Hall in Camden, Maine, who imports and distributes the GRP Drascombe boats in this country, over 1,000 Luggers have been built in glass. Obviously, John Watkinson has done something right. And just as obviously, so have John and Douglas Elliott who are now booked a year in advance.

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Last updated: 12 November, 2008

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