Dragons

I used to crew on my mates Dragon 25 years ago, He shared with one other, Cost over £40.000 then, he still shares now has Grp one, only 3/4yrs old. There used to be him his wife and me, keeps his present one on the Medway, Must be about half a dozen now. Wonderful memories, stayed with me since then. Not done any sailing since, got my own boat last year, so back to the learning curve.
 
NealB said:
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.
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Yep, a lot of the Burnham boats were day-sailed as well as raced and I've seen them single-handed before. If there's anything of a breeze you need to reduce the canvas somewhat though unless you want to a rather exciting time.
 
NealB said:
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.
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I don't really think you need anything cleverer do you? Three reefs on the main and roller reefing on the jib would more than suffice for anything I'd want to sail in I reckon. I've never seen inside a cruising dragon's cabin - must be really tiny - but I always thought the cabin lights on the coaming just made them look even better from the outside.
 
grumpy_o_g said:
I don't really think you need anything cleverer do you? Three reefs on the main and roller reefing on the jib would more than suffice for anything I'd want to sail in I reckon. I've never seen inside a cruising dragon's cabin - must be really tiny - but I always thought the cabin lights on the coaming just made them look even better from the outside.
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My feeling exactly, on both counts
 
One thng not mentioned - there are loads of second hand sails for Dragons, as the top boys lob them off the boat after half a dozen races.

I once looked at a Dragon which had been converted to a 2 berth cruiser with a low cabin roof with a small stuart turner engine installed. If it hadn't of been full of water I might have bought it.
 
FullCircle said:
One thng not mentioned - there are loads of second hand sails for Dragons, as the top boys lob them off the boat after half a dozen races.

I once looked at a Dragon which had been converted to a 2 berth cruiser with a low cabin roof with a small stuart turner engine installed. If it hadn't of been full of water I might have bought it.
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There was a lovely part finished cruising version on Boatshed recently but the thought of maintaining all the 65 yr old planking was enough to deter me. All the 10+ yr old boats seem to come with enough sails seem to come with a wardrobe of about 16 sails in different weights etc
http://suffolk.boatshed.com/dragon_class-boat-174743.html
 
I had a look at a 1993 Petticrow Dragon last week. It was a truly lovely boat which seemed to be in very good nick, on an immaculate trailer, with the usual furniture van load of sails - at least 2 suits at each of 4 different weights. Trouble is that it was utterly intimidating; I suspect that I couldn't cope with single-handing in something quite so performance orientated - chicken I know but..............
 
Dragons have always been raced in the very windy conditions of Cascais.In fact I was introduced to sailing at the age of three in my father's Dragon.
One thing they do very well is to submarine into a steep wave and keep going down.There are a few ones lying at the bottom of the bay there.
Absolutely beautiful boats though.
 
Following all of this I have managed to find and agree terms on a Piper 24 which was what I wanted originally. A much simpler but equally beautiful boat. I don't have any pics yet but will post as soon as any are available. It needs a fair bit of titivation but seems to be sound merely requiring tidying and updating; now to start pouring large amounts down the drain again......................:rolleyes:
 
No; Alice, the Trapper, is still up for sale albeit at a reduced price. The new one is going to Burneside for repainting and storage until either my winter storage becomes available in late September or Alice sells and the mooring becomes available. Trouble is with only 58 ever built they don't often come up for sale.

The mooring is unaffected by SLDC's commercial ambitions; about the only thing that is though
 
Congratulations!

I don't know much about them, but, as you say, they're lovely looking boats.... and, as far as I can see, they don't have runners. result!

I'd love to see some pics.
 
Neal,

GRP and no runners; it is a very simple rig.

Some pics from the previous owner: -
http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums...3_zps3gh9i1xn.jpg?1428956164064&1428956164526

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums...2_zpserfz8l2n.jpg?1428956164064&1428956164526

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums...k_zpsgtg1cyjq.jpg?1428956164064&1428956164526

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums...w_zpswo7dx5rm.jpg?1428956164064&1428956164526


Work I have identified as needing to be done is: -
- Rudder needs re-bushing;
- Paint, the existing coat is quite good except that there are a fair number of tiny bubbles in an otherwise fair surface, looks like it may have got some damp in it before hardening
- Woodwork - needs cleaning and oiling
- Standing rigging - looks OK but no idea how old; torn between renewal (sensible) and keeping (skinflint tendency);
- Running rigging - renewal of Main, jib and spinnaker halyards plus addition of topping lift and maybe one spare halyard;
- trailer; needs complete brushing down and repaint, replacement of bearings and addition of docking arms

The sails are OK as is the deck although it could do with a clean up
 
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NealB said:
Woohooo....looks absolutely gorgeous.

Bet you can't wait for the first sail.
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No, but I'm going to have to until the old one has gone and I have a free mooring. I thought the hull shape was irresistible and they have a marginally higher ballast ratio than a Dragon so here's to sitting down to leeward while beating!
They have one problem as a design. They are a scaled down version of Sceptre a 1963 America's cup challenger. Not everything changes proportionately which is what David Boyd did when designing the piper; the result is that they produce a small quarter wave which they cannot get over and which, as a consequence, slows them down. Obviously not a problem when racing in class or pottering but could be a bit frustrating if handicap racing. I understand that a Windermere 17 will see a Piper off in most circumstances but so what.
 
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Lovely boat Simon, well found. Just found your thread - was away on hols when you posted. You'll find the Piper well suited to Windermere, we thoroughly enjoyed our Piper no. 7 'Blue Tarka' for 3 years, only sold as small grandchildren were not really well suited so now have a little cruiser. (No. 7 is now back on the Garelock at the Royal Northern) Other than a chance encounter with a lone W'mere 17 (they rarely sail for fun, almost always in class) she should see off pretty much everything else. For handicap racing I think there is a PY no.
PS - see the ad for the new Piper (sorry, Rustler 24) - £54 K - You've got one of those !
If you spot a demeted chap on a little yacht waving & jumping about it'll be me wanting a go !
Cheers
 
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