Deben Lugger

[Longboat]

I currently have a Drascombe Longboat. I am thinking of buying a Deben Lugger from Anglia. It is claimed to sail better and be more efficient. What do you think?

It's not as pretty as my Longboat, but hugely practical, quick to rig, easier to handle and has a mainsheet attached to the midships, which I prefer.

Is this a bad decision?

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Perhaps you should have a test sail to help you decide?

 

[Lakesailor]

Good advice.

You may hate it.

 

[Peterduck]

When you do go for a test sail, as Rum Pirate suggested, take a lot of photographs of the boat, and note the things about it that make it easier to sail than your longboat. It will be almost certain that you can incorporate these features into your longboat at a much lesser cost than buying a new boat.
Peter.

 

[Longboat]

I've been looking at the Deben for over a year now. I sailed her at Beale last year but that is no place for assessment. I will take a sea trial with her at the first possible opportunity.

 

[dur]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... Apart from one being a lugger and one gunter there can't be a lot in it??

I think think the Deben Lugger has a transom hung rudder which would (imho) be a lot better than the drop through affair on the Longboat. I always thought that this was a horrible bit of kit when I had a Drascombe Lugger

 

[PeterI]

I know safety isn't absolutely everything but look at the Deben Lugger capsize test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l12ExXi9QYU
And then the Swallow Boats Bay Raider capsize test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6xmOGCCOo
and then ask yourself which boat you'd rather be on in a blow.
The Bay Raider aslo has a keel and a rudder that just kick up if they hit something rather than jam or break. The guys that make them are also really easy to deal with. Oh and I just bought one after a lot of thought.

 

[Lakesailor]

I'm bit surprised that either capsized with just the weight of a guy on the gunwhale and (in the case of the Swallow) one half-way up the mast.
I can see the case for the Swallow though.

Maybe a bit of non-slip on the Swallow's foredeck? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[FastnBulbous]

And did you buy a Deben Lugger?

I've been looking at the Deben for over a year now. I sailed her at Beale last year but that is no place for assessment. I will take a sea trial with her at the first possible opportunity.

Longboat - appreciate this is an old thread (and realise you might never see this post!), and I apologise for resurrecting it, but I'm also considering the same boat and am curious to know how you got on.

Did you try one? Did you decide to buy it and, if so, how are you getting on with it?

Thanks.

Cheers
F