Downsizing Crabber to a Shrimper!

Zagato

Zagato

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I am going to sell my dream Cornish Crabber to downsize to a Cornish Shrimper. Does anyone who knows Shrimpers know if the Mk1 has sitting headroom height. I don't know when they came in but the Mk11 has a higher cockpit apparently and a different bulkhead arrangement maybe! You have to pay to get onto the Shrimper forum and don't want to disturb Crabber themselves on older models. Also what single wheeled road trailers do people sit their Shrimpers on?

I can't believe I am even contemplating this :eek: but I want to free up funds for one of these. A rare early SAAB 2 Stroke.

1955_92.jpg


I sold my cheaper later 1962 SAAB 2 Stroke last year and really miss the club scene and fiddling with the cars in the winter (have owned eleven V4's/2 Strokes - gone way passed an obsession!:rolleyes:) I have never owned a really early model which are now pretty pricey up to 25K for 92 so I need to free up funds.

A Shrimper would be just the ticket I think, I'm not so interested in outright speed etc just want something attractive that can dry out and a boat I can store at home in the winter (Drascombe too big, Shrimper has single axle trailer for manoeuvrability!) and play around the Solent in. I can go on Shrimper and Drascombe rallies also :D
 
And it's not even been a year! :eek:

That's what you get for choosing one of those unloveable pointy-sailed ones with tin masts :D

Sitting headroom in my uncle's Shrimper, but afraid I don't know if it's Mark I or Mark II. Wasn't really aware there were two versions, to be honest.

Will this actually free up much cash? He paid more for his Shrimper than we did for Kindred Spirit - some kind of crazy reality-distortion field around those boats!

Pete
 
I wouldn't pay over 20K for a Shrimper :eek: You can get an older sound one for about 10-12K, fortunately my father has good contacts/friends where he lives in Cornwall re anything Shrimper so it shouldn't take long to source a nice one. Two of his mates have done up wood ones - it's all very Shrimpery around Mylor!

Need to get on and advertise my two properly - will put them up on the YBW site I think.
 
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A Shrimper was what I had set my heart on a couple of years ago, then I decided that it was a bit too much on my own to rig up, launch and then reverse the procedure for a days sailing. Therefore I bought a Crabber 17 (20ft with bowsprit) instead. About 2 weeks later I had a phone call offering me a mooring in the harbour! So I could have had the Shrimper after all! However, I wouldn't swap mine for a Shrimper now. If think the C17 is better looking (pronounced sheer) and faster sailing (compare sail area/displacement and PY). Of course if you need a cabin and facilities that's different. There are a few 17s about at the moment. The other thing is unless you are getting an inboard Shrimper, the placement of the OB well in the 17 is better, on the centreline, ahead of the rudder.

Having said that I can now relax and wait for the deaththreats from the Shrimper association!
 
Yes Dylan, she is lovely and definitely worth thinking about. I noticed her up for sale before I bought mine. She could be just the job now! EDIT have called about her!

Nigel, I really need a cabin to sleep aboard for the week long rally cruises but i gather the 17 is a fine boat ;)
 
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Zagato said:
I am going to sell my dream Cornish Crabber to downsize to a Cornish Shrimper.
Click to expand...

Forgive my presumption but this must all be costing a fortune, this will by my reckoning be your 4th boat in a couple of years. My experience is that the first year or so of any 'new' second hand boat is the most expensive with fixing things and what have you.

A very expensive way to stay afloat. Don't you wonder whether you won't decide there's some better alternative to the Shrimper by this time next year?
 
I have written 3 lengthy responses but had to wipe them out as it's too much detail...

Lets just say if you chose sell-able boats in top condition minimizing any work, avoid surveys, brokers etc, do transport, storage etc on the cheap then you should break even of make a slight profit despite any sundries costed up. The Drifter is the only one I won't have made a profit on due to the amount of work I did on her (£300 on paint, sundries) but the sale of the others will easily cover that loss.

4 boats in about 7/8 years just checked.

First ever boat was an open boat, so wanted a cabin when I could afford it. Realised the second boat was too cramped, couldn't sit up in her (bought unseen! thankfully she was a mint beauty as described ) but sea sick issues still remained so sold for boat just to toddle around estuaries. Sea sickness issues mainly resolved so back to a bigger boat although the last buy was very much due to the deal!

I would love to keep my Crabber, she is the right boat for me but I didn't expect to keep her long, maybe 2 seasons as I can't 'do' my other classic car hobby when all my money is tied up in her, the right car will now be coming up soon which I can't miss out on so unfortunately she will be going already!

What has been expensive is the few amount of times i have actually sailed in relation to the amount of time and effort in the boat changes and the one year I paid for a mooring! It's all been great fun though, variety is the spice of.........

E.G 1947 BSA M20
2 x Series II Land Rovers
2 X Defenders
1 x SAAB 2 Stroke
2 X Modern boring euro box car things
1 X Jaguar XK120 replica

all in the last 7 years also!! Hmmm toys!! Havn't bought a tractor yet LOL!

I miss some of my toys

IMG_1277.jpg


but I made 10k on this and had three years great fun with her. 4.2cc XK, lurvely booming over the South Downs to Goodwood, now i will be going down to a 20HP 2 Stroke!
 
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The MK1 Shrimper does have sitting headroom height, although a lower coachroof than the MKII. The MK1 (outboard) also has a bigger cockpit floor but is not self draining. My Shrimper was 32 years old when I sold her so I am slightly biased to the MK1. I believe MKIIs are from the same mould whether inboard or outboard. The engine space becoming a locker on the outboard version.

Steve
 
Will this actually free up much cash? He paid more for his Shrimper than we did for Kindred Spirit - some kind of crazy reality-distortion field around those boats!

Pete[/QUOTE]

Too right, silly money - if you must have a dayboat check out a Salcombe Yawl; or if that keen on old cars why not combine interests and get a 1960's Amphicar ?

acarback_1006x768.jpg


You and Dancrane should join forces and form 'Undecided On Boats Anonymous' ! :rolleyes::D

url
 
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Having learned to ride on my elder brother's M20 motorbike (crude, heavy, unburstable and unbreakable), I am reminded of how far we have come in 50 years!
 
Shrimper forum

If you google Cornish Crabber Club you can certainly join the Shrimper section for free. I just joined the 24Mk1 forum so I am sure
I am correct. Not as active as this one but what is?

Good luck
 
Sophie19 said:
If you google Cornish Crabber Club you can certainly join the Shrimper section for free. I just joined the 24Mk1 forum so I am sure
I am correct. Not as active as this one but what is?

Good luck
Click to expand...

Sophie,

it's the time machine to become instantly 1000 years old coupled with the arun sweater, pipe and account at a shoreside pub while filling in as an extra on films that makes owning a Shrimper expensive; as for the cost of sails, no-one has found out yet ! :D
 
Not wishing to hijack thread but...

I have an authentic cornish knitfrock lovingly knitted by the missus years ago.
Love the smell of Clan pipe tobaco, think I have an old pipe knocking about somewhere.
Have grey beard and beer belly to match
Got Breton cap
Play button accordion badly
Now have Crabber mk1 (the flush decked one you can't stand up in.

So all set to be a boring old fart sitting at bar in shoreside pub.

Perfect!

:)
 
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