Dragonfly 920

I've always loved the idea of these. The thought of sailing straight across the Thames Estruary pretty much in any direction as there's little draft and at loony nutter speeds.

Their trailer-sailor ability also appeals. Genuinely possible to drag one to somewhere nicer than the South coast - even somewhere hot *and* sunny.

I went on board one at the SIBS last year and though the accommodation space was about the same as in my Contessa 32. The clever bit is where the main hull is 'T' shaped so appears bigger. Sure, that was the demo version and living on one will be different as there's less internal volume.

But struth, that performance. 20Kts...

Then to be able to drag her out in winter and store her anywhere - even in places that aren't subject to marine surcharges. And comes with a genuine excuse to buy a Land Rover without looking like a cock.

They're definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Neither are AWBs, or CO32's for that matter.
 
You can't sail with a 40cm draft, just float.
You can motor in a wibbly wobbly way with just the steerable engine down with 50cm draft.
Motoring with rudder down, better steering but still not marina maneuvering mode, is 1m.
Sailing upwind and marina maneuvering requires full center board, 1.5m draft.

The total towing weight is over 3 tonnes, so few cars can tow them, and for those with a recent driving license an extra category and test is required. The custom Brenderup trailer is also very expensive (£10k), and not many owners have it.

To tow they require complete dismantling of the floats, beams and trampolines. It's not a simple task, requires 3 people to remove the floats safely, and takes pretty much a whole day from water to trailer. They come with a mast lowering kit, but it's a big mast to lower that way. I always use a crane for the mast and a boat hoist for launching.

This is the standard version. The Extreme has another 2m on that mast.

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As I understand it the new 28 is towable without dismantling the boat, just the mast, and the trailer is a much less custome jobbie at about £5k.

I think I will look down the back of the sofa to see if the required €140k is lying down there :(

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A friend of mine has the smaller one, 800sw, it goes like duck**** off a polished shovel, he has on one occasion gone past me with my Perkins at 2200rpm 14kts ish and single handed, but I don't think you'd be happy with the accommodation after motorboating!
 
Can't help on the Dragonfly but as I've built both a tri and a cat my experiences may have some value. Both my boats were 12m x 7m. The tri weighed 3.5 tonnes and the cat 5 tonnes. The difference was largely in the bridgedeck accommodation. The tri would reach at 14 knots compared to around 9 for the cat. The difference is all about weight. If you want a multi to go fast you have to keep the weight right down. Drill holes in the handle of your toothbrush! Dazcats like JJ's are quite quick but if you want real performance comparable to a tri you need to go for an open bridgedeck type with its attendant inconveniences.

That means your normal cruising inventory has to be drastically reduced. There is an occasional poster on here who has the same tri as me (Kelsall K39) but has loaded it up with an inboard engine and liveaboard gear and he says it is pretty slow.
 
Whitelighter said:
As I understand it the new 28 is towable without dismantling the boat, just the mast, and the trailer is a much less custome jobbie at about £5k.

I think I will look down the back of the sofa to see if the required €140k is lying down there :(

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Dragonfly28_7.jpg


Dragonfly28_3.jpg
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i love these boats from looking at them, - I've yet to sail one but would love to

each to their own but I dont like that green at all.
 
snowleopard said:
Can't help on the Dragonfly but as I've built both a tri and a cat my experiences may have some value. Both my boats were 12m x 7m. The tri weighed 3.5 tonnes and the cat 5 tonnes. The difference was largely in the bridgedeck accommodation. The tri would reach at 14 knots compared to around 9 for the cat. The difference is all about weight. If you want a multi to go fast you have to keep the weight right down. Drill holes in the handle of your toothbrush! Dazcats like JJ's are quite quick but if you want real performance comparable to a tri you need to go for an open bridgedeck type with its attendant inconveniences.

That means your normal cruising inventory has to be drastically reduced. There is an occasional poster on here who has the same tri as me (Kelsall K39) but has loaded it up with an inboard engine and liveaboard gear and he says it is pretty slow.
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Spot on, Snowleapoard. In good conditions I can cross the channel in 10 hours - 100 miles, roughly from Plymouth Breakwater - an average of 10 knots, but it's wet work. White trouser top speed is 15 knots under asymmetric. Stripping the boat out would add maybe a knot.

Belladonna has a new sistership on the next mooring which has the same hulls as me but an open bridgedeck and stripped out interiorand a go-faster rig. I clock about 3,200kg loaded, he clocks 2,000kg - he'd leave me hull down in half a hour.

The thing about the sports cruiser version of the Daz10, such as mine an Bedazzled, is that, despite appearances, we can keep up good average speeds in rough conditions in some comfort.
 
We have the 800 - the best advice I heard (possibly even came from here) was to know what we wanted her for.
They do have limitations & a few tales circulate to which I could add; however not looking to cross the Atlantic or sail in all weathers. (Handles sea state & stronger winds better than most people would think I believe) For fast coastal cruising, beach bumming & bit of racing all of which we do sailing rather than with the motor she is a great boat & FUN.

As they get bigger the Df do seem to get (obviously) heavier & possibly a bit more "clunky" A 920 (I like this model particularly the wider beam mods ~ as said you can always -hopefully!- slow down) would suit me fine & give the children more space on longer trips.

The later models do (observational opinion only) look to be more geared to a marketing type achieve more sales through more headroom, easier trailering, big rig etc etc at the expense of sailing ability. They have built vertically.

The 28s I have seen performing with some quite unusual characteristics, & remain unconvinced that they are as slippery as earlier boats.
Like all Df though pretty well built with top notch gear etc.


If we ever get the time & money to go further afield I really like the look of Dazcats & the thinking behind them in particular Mr Jermain's boat (or the the sistership) especially if she is back on the market in a decade or so !
 
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