Dragons

Lakesailor said:
Them there Dragons look a bit lively for single-handing. The Windermere 17s don't require sitting out and only have 2 crew when racing.
There are some grp composite ones, but are the newer and more expensive ones.

http://www.lakelandimages.co.uk/ClassBoatsRacing/pages/Classboatrace_02.htm




Classboatrace_36.jpg
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Phil,

If I was prepared to spend the sort of cash a GRP 17 would cost, I'd have one as soon as. Sadly I'm not so I won't.

As for sitting out a Dragon and needing more crew; with my magnificent physique I probably count for two when sitting up on the side deck.:rolleyes:
 
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Sandgrounder said:
Thanks, exactly the sort of information I was after. I think I shall head off soon to have a good look at it.
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As I said, when racing, they can be hard work for three in a blow, so I'll emphasise that you will need to do a fair bit of rig, and control, modifications.

Great if you like that sort of fettling, if the price is right and if you have appropriate knowledge.

PS I could put you in touch with Roy Hart, if you fancied becoming a gaffer.
 
Thanks Neal,

I can probably manage changing the rig and controls and so on; done to other boats so why not this one? It's just a question of working out what I need to keep and what controls are surplus to my requirements. The local chandlery has a bit of a tuning whizz on the staff, one time champion in various keelboats etc. I thought I might get him out for an afternoon to give me an "idiots guide to sailing a sophisticated rig" sort of session. Then I can decide what to discard.

While I have often fancied trying a gaff rig, having used bermudan, gunter, standing and dipping lug rigs, I don't think that a long (10m) narrow (1m) lake is the place for that option. Every sail is at least 50% hard on the wind which is good fun in a boat set up for beating but miserably dispiriting in anything that doesn't beat well!
 
Sandgrounder said:
Thanks Neal,

I can probably manage changing the rig and controls and so on; done to other boats so why not this one? It's just a question of working out what I need to keep and what controls are surplus to my requirements. The local chandlery has a bit of a tuning whizz on the staff, one time champion in various keelboats etc. I thought I might get him out for an afternoon to give me an "idiots guide to sailing a sophisticated rig" sort of session. Then I can decide what to discard.

While I have often fancied trying a gaff rig, having used bermudan, gunter, standing and dipping lug rigs, I don't think that a long (10m) narrow (1m) lake is the place for that option. Every sail is at least 50% hard on the wind which is good fun in a boat set up for beating but miserably dispiriting in anything that doesn't beat well!
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But Roy's boat looks SO lovely!

Anyway, sounds like you've got the knowledge, and back-up, for an interesting project.

Please keep us updated on developments.
 
My first boat, many years ago. Great fun and scared the bejesus out of me on more than one occasion (no reefing. Full sail or nothing). Very wet. The biggest manual bilge pump I've ever seen. Couldn't possibly imagine single handing (running back stays and too much else to do). Not one for the family, but if you want a mile wide smile...
 
paulferris1964 said:
My first boat, many years ago. Great fun and scared the bejesus out of me on more than one occasion (no reefing. Full sail or nothing). Very wet. The biggest manual bilge pump I've ever seen. Couldn't possibly imagine single handing (running back stays and too much else to do). Not one for the family, but if you want a mile wide smile...
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Thanks for that; all useful and yes, I think I do
 
When out on the lake with a Mental person we happened upon a Frenchman in a 5.5 metre yacht. He was enjoying himself singlehanded. Not sure if they are available in grp.


Maiden04.jpg




Maiden06.jpg
 
Lakesailor said:
When out on the lake with a Mental person we happened upon a Frenchman in a 5.5 metre yacht. He was enjoying himself singlehanded. Not sure if they are available in grp.


Maiden04.jpg




Maiden06.jpg
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Now they really are lovely. A quick trawl through tinterweb suggests they are only in wood and are not cheap but they have no running backstays which is an advantege.

This is the cheapest I've found which is a touch more than I want to pay: - http://www.woodensailclassics.com/en/portfolio_page/international-5-5-metre-yacht/

Nice idea
 
Tomahawk said:
There is a chap on the Crouch who has a beautiful gaff rigged day boat... look carefully and you realise it is a Dragon with a funny rig.
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That will have been the afore-mentioned Roy Hart: ex- Victory (12 metre) owner, Memory 19 champion, Arctic adventurer, raconteur, bon viveur.

A true character.
 
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Sandgrounder said:
Now they really are lovely. A quick trawl through tinterweb suggests they are only in wood and are not cheap but they have no running backstays which is an advantege.

This is the cheapest I've found which is a touch more than I want to pay: - http://www.woodensailclassics.com/en/portfolio_page/international-5-5-metre-yacht/

Nice idea
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He was literally running rings around us. he approached and circled us whilst we chatted, then shot off down the lake. Going about was fuss free. like turning a moped around, steer, go.
 
Some random thoughts.....

Slab reefing on the main, and roller reefing on the jib would be easy to arrange.

The runners need thinking about, as you plan a lot of singlehanded short tacking (apart from being knackering, you'll soon get dizzy!).

So, in the spirit of brain storming, here's some quite possibly barmy ideas:

- cut down the mainsail (or get a smaller one from a dinghy?), so the head only reaches the upper spreaders. The runners could then be left permanently 'on'. However, it would look odd, and might compromise light wind performance too much.
- get a shorter mast and set it up with masthead rig, so the runners could be done away with entirely. Would still look odd, but probably less so than the option above.
- move the runners forwards, to the point of maximum beam. You could probably then leave the runners on when beating, but they'd still need tending downwind.

I'm sure some of the much cleverer folk here could come up with some much better options to investigate.
 
Neal,

Thanks for this; very useful. I was wondering about your last suggestion because they would not be a problem off the wind but tacking might be a bit of a headache. The owner whose boat I want to see claims to single hand regularly without difficulty. Personally I can't see how he gets at the genoa sheets without worrying about the runners. He also claims to use an outboard mounted on the stern - maybe he's a contortionist gymnast!
 
Richard10002 said:
I'm going back to 1977/78 or so :)

I recall sailing it with non sailing girlfriends at the time, dropping anchor for a leisurely lunch and suchlike, and nipping around the islands... so I think it would be fine for day sailing.

We had an outboard that had a bracket by the helm, and which could be secured below the deck.
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There is a little fleet of them now in Abersoch. JKA sails have one as well. Look up SCYC
S
 
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