Dayboat: 17' 6" Whammel or 17' Shrimper?

[Ignis Fatuus]

I am currently looking to buy a 17'6" Character Boats Lune Whammel Coastal Weekender or a 17' Cornish Shrimper. The specification for each appear to tick all the boxes for my requirements. However, I haven't sailed either and so am asking if anyone on this forum has sailed both and can give me an idea as to which sails better. I appreciate that such a review might be subjective. I'm not looking for fast, agile or an ability to sail as close to the wind as a Bermudian. But, I don't want a boat that slides sideways when beating into wind and makes no real headway. I am concerned that the Whammel has only ballast and a 'skeg' but doesn't have a keel or centre board and so will drift down wind when beating. I've sailed various dinghy's and several yachts (other people's) and if either sail into wind as 'well' as a Mirror then I'd be happy.

Ideally, I'd like a go in both so if you have one on the east or south coast and would be willing to let me join you for a bit of sailing one day I'd be grateful to hear from you.

 

[gjgm]

I am currently looking to buy a 17'6" Character Boats Lune Whammel Coastal Weekender or a 17' Cornish Shrimper. The specification for each appear to tick all the boxes for my requirements. However, I haven't sailed either and so am asking if anyone on this forum has sailed both and can give me an idea as to which sails better. I appreciate that such a review might be subjective. I'm not looking for fast, agile or an ability to sail as close to the wind as a Bermudian. But, I don't want a boat that slides sideways when beating into wind and makes no real headway. I am concerned that the Whammel has only ballast and a 'skeg' but doesn't have a keel or centre board and so will drift down wind when beating. I've sailed various dinghy's and several yachts (other people's) and if either sail into wind as 'well' as a Mirror then I'd be happy.

Ideally, I'd like a go in both so if you have one on the east or south coast and would be willing to let me join you for a bit of sailing one day I'd be grateful to hear from you.

Just to bump this..you could try over on scuttlebutt.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

Ok thanks. Now posted in Scuttlebutt. I got a go in a 14' Kittiwake at the boat show on Saturday and was impressed by the way it performed.

 

[eddystone]

I know nothing about the Whammel but owned a Crabber 17 for a few years, as they were then called. First of all it's a very pretty boat, more so than the Shrimper 19 in my opinion because of the greater sheer. The ballast, as far as I can see, is all in the iron lifting keel - easy to raise and lower by the way.

1. Under full sail it feels quite fast in a decent breeze, although NHC handicap my suggest otherwise.

2. It does heel when pressed and I used to reef quite early because I was never convinced it couldn't capsize and would be almost impossible to right single handed - I may be wrong on that - ask CC themselves

3. Doesn't point that high, again typical gaffer - best on a reach.

4. Tacking is typical gaffer, I think - sometimes in ghosting conditions it doesn't quite make it.

5. The cockpit locker was designed for 2 strokes - 4 strokes of 4HP up need to stay in the well.

6. Fun to sail.

 

[Whammeller]

I sailed a Whammel for 10 years. Very stable boats - the only time we ever had to sit her out was for a very short leg while racing (Sail Caledonia 2006) on Loch Ness when it wasn't worth reefing.

If you look at the total keel area on the whammel's long straight keel (or at least on my late '90s built one), there is plenty of lateral resistance and I found that she went to windward as well as any other small gaffer with a centreboard; excessive leeway was never an issue. Tacking was fine but you have to sail her round (as per Tom Cunliffe's 'Hand, Reef and Steer') rather than just slamming the helm over - she isn't a dinghy !

Like all gaffers, she's best sailed full & bye and will roar along on a reach.

Lovely boat, we introduced our sons to sailing in her and only sold her because we were getting too old to sleep on the cockpit sole.

 

[UMCorps]

I have a Post Boat, so a bit shorter than the Whammel but broadly similar especially in terms of the shallow draft ballasted hull.

I don't find leeway to be an issue at all. I don't notice any difference from a similar boat with a centreplate. She definitely prefers to be sailed upright though. Weather helm increases significantly with the angle of heel. If the wind is going to be consistently over 10 knts its best to stick a reef in if you don't want to be fighting the tiller. It makes a world of difference.

I've never sat out on her. I don't think I could to be honest. She's far too beamy for that. I don't think I could reach the tiller.

I was out in her yesterday in an average of 7 knts and she was at her absolute best. Cracking along happily on a broad reach at 5knts over the ground according to the GPS. Not sliding sideways.

As has been said, tacking needs technique to avoid stalling. I always leave the jib alone until I'm well through the wind so that it helps to kick the bow around. I also wait for the boom to cross the centreline before shifting myself across to the other side, especially in light airs. Gybing (as in any gaffer) needs to be done in a controlled way and, in stronger breezes, I find it less stressful to take the long way round.

If you're in Cornwall between now and the end of October before she comes out of the water I'd be happy to take you out for a play.