Wooden Drascombes

'The Drascombe Boats'

WoodenBoat magazine

January/February 1979 No 26.

So, what happened at John Watkinson's Drascombe farm between 1964 and 1968? Drascombe itself lies on the fringe of Dartmoor, far from the waters that inspire the design work of John Watkinson. But it's quiet there, and especially so in the 12th-century barn adjacent to his home. Here he was entirely free from concern about what would sell. Instead, he was compelled by a desire to produce a boat that his whole family could enjoy-a family who did not share his passion for sailing small boats. So the first requirement was that it inspire confidence. The second was that it be trailable. Along with its first rate sea-keeping ability, the designer wanted it to be lively enough, and handy enough for him to enjoy a "good hard sail once I had put the family on the beach." The result was an 18'6" x 6'7" dipping lugsail yawl. His description of her follows:

"The half-decked boat with a high bulwark did wonders for confidence. Using an outboard in a well for power kept the noise and smell as far from the crew as possible and made it possible for. a not-so-agile person (me) to clear a fouled propeller or change a spark plug without leaning over the stern. The loose-footed yawl rig with all sails stowing aloft and out of the way gave the space needed for a family. By making the boat balanced under jib and mizzen as well as under full sail, the motor could be cut and fishing lines streamed without fear of the boom striking a loved one's head. The hard turn to the bilge gave a powerful hull, well able to carry sail. Her generous sheer kept her dry."

The Watkinson family started to enjoy their boating together. Moreover, the little boat was greatly admired by all who saw her, and the designer began to consider what an appropriate production boat the Lugger might be. In 1967 he made some design modifications for somewhat easier production in plywood, changed the rig to the simpler gunter yawl, and arranged with the brothers EIliott to build the Boat Show boat. The rest is history.

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Last updated: 12 November, 2008

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