wklein
Well-Known Member
That was pretty much my point, they do have a big following, im not saying they are rubbish exactly, i just wanted to know what all these people saw in them.
In love with Cornish Crabbers!
- Thread starter Zagato
- Start date
That was pretty much my point, they do have a big following, im not saying they are rubbish exactly, i just wanted to know what all these people saw in them.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Not everybody wants "performance" and slick looks. There have been many attempts to produce similar size boats in a modern idiom and few have been successful. Perhaps telling is that many dayboats lose value pretty quickly and you can buy used ones very cheaply, whereas Shrimpers at least have always held their value well - important when folks are buying what are expensive toys. Reassuring to know that they are unlikely to lose value.
Arguably buyers are trading down more commonly than buying one as part of moving up the scale.
Little bit like why I bought a new Morgan a few years ago. Irrational in terms of performance for the money, but after 9 years of pleasure it is worth far more than any other car I could have bought at the time. In fact, the alternative I considered at the time was a 2 year old MG for £13k (had been £24k new!) - I saw an identical model a couple of weeks ago for £3k. I could sell my Morgan tomorrow for not much less than I paid for it.
Arguably buyers are trading down more commonly than buying one as part of moving up the scale.
Little bit like why I bought a new Morgan a few years ago. Irrational in terms of performance for the money, but after 9 years of pleasure it is worth far more than any other car I could have bought at the time. In fact, the alternative I considered at the time was a 2 year old MG for £13k (had been £24k new!) - I saw an identical model a couple of weeks ago for £3k. I could sell my Morgan tomorrow for not much less than I paid for it.
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Thanks David, yes I followed and kept up with Equinox through the Itchenor reach yesterday, I came back after 8 hours pottering about but he still hasn't returned
Brave in the conditions we are having, presume he is tucked away safe somewhere. Mischief is also on the same pontoon and there is another two pontoons behind me.....I can't sleep, they are gorgeous 
Just dreaming but it is definitely on my want list, you never know, one day
westernman
Well-Known Member
Some how I would never have thought that Bavaria owning Tranona would have a Morgan. I would have expected him to have a Ford Focus for all the logical reasons.
It would seem to me to make perfect sense to have a Cornish Crabber to go with the Morgan - again for all the right reasons, none of which have anything to do with practicality, economy etc etc.
Seajet
...
Watercraft magazine
As I've just reached 50 and am not the mad teenager with limitless energy & no fear I may once have been, I can see the appeal of the Shrimper and have always liked the Yawl.
What upsets me about these boats is the poor quality of fit-out already alluded to by a previous poster; I went aboard the Crabber 22 when it was first out and actually burst out laughing when I saw the quality of interior wood work, running rigging and sails, relative to the outrageous price.
I suspect these boats are for people too lazy to seek out the real thing; have a look at 'Watercraft' magazine, I have only recently discovered this thanks to 'Vern' of these forums, sheer sailing porn !
As I've just reached 50 and am not the mad teenager with limitless energy & no fear I may once have been, I can see the appeal of the Shrimper and have always liked the Yawl.
What upsets me about these boats is the poor quality of fit-out already alluded to by a previous poster; I went aboard the Crabber 22 when it was first out and actually burst out laughing when I saw the quality of interior wood work, running rigging and sails, relative to the outrageous price.
I suspect these boats are for people too lazy to seek out the real thing; have a look at 'Watercraft' magazine, I have only recently discovered this thanks to 'Vern' of these forums, sheer sailing porn !
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Hello Andy, will look that mag up & Yawls. Talking of "sheer sailing porn"
A few One Designs from this week!
A few One Designs from this week!
Seajet
...
Hi Chris,
I was referring to the Cornish Crabbers Yawl, but here's another one which is most definitely sailing porn !
http://www.theboatyardatbeer.com/salcombeyawl.htm
I was referring to the Cornish Crabbers Yawl, but here's another one which is most definitely sailing porn !
http://www.theboatyardatbeer.com/salcombeyawl.htm
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Well I do have a Focus C Max for transport - and I have a beautifully preserved wooden 1963 Griffiths Eventide, which I have owned for well over 30 years - that is where the Tranona comes from.
The Bavaria is a means to an end. My wife dislikes cold and wet sailing but enjoyed a couple of charters in the Med - so we bought a Bavaria - best boat for the job. Did not like them before I chartered one and then got the whole message. Fact that I still have it 12 years later says something about my choice.
Morgan serves a different purpose. Perfect for the Dorset lanes and even better for cross country night runs when all the traffic has gone.
If I ever needed another boat, a Crabber Pilot would be on the list.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
That's absolute filth. I have reported it to the moderator.but here's another one which is most definitely sailing porn !
Crabber24
Active Member
The Mk1 Crabber 24 quite different from the more modern MK2. No standing headroom, but as has been already said masses of room for a 24 footer - a bit of a Tardis really. Good sailing performance for a gaffer, not speedy but no slouch. Safe, masses of character, particularly popular in the Netherlands - a half decent example, if you can find one, might fetch £12-14K; a "project" obviously less. Great boat, but I would say that, wouldn't I!
alahol2
Well-Known Member
What percentage of Drascombe, Crabber etc owners sail with their wife?
prv
Well-Known Member
Well, in my dad's case she picked the boat
She'll sail without him if I'm around to crew; never the other way round.
Pete
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Mostly single handed as kids can get bored after a while. If we remember to bring the life jackets we can actually get further than just outside the marina 
Crabbing baskets are on order
Thanks for the reply 'Crabber24' will look into the mark 1's...
Crabbing baskets are on order
Thanks for the reply 'Crabber24' will look into the mark 1's...
Penton Hooker
Well-Known Member
Mine does! And so do several others that I meet.
Despite having had several other boats, up to 44', we have remained faithful to our Drascombe, she has been our family fun boat for over thirty years.
Last edited:
Seajet
...
Mine does! And so do several others that I meet.
Don't their husbands mind ? Maybe there's more to this Drascombe owners club than meets the eye !
Don't their husbands mind ? Maybe there's more to this Drascombe owners club than meets the eye !
Gubbo
Well-Known Member
Thought I'd add a picture
This is Florence, my Crabber 24.
First season with her, but getting on really well and easy to sail single-handed if needs be.
This is Florence, my Crabber 24.
First season with her, but getting on really well and easy to sail single-handed if needs be.
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Beautiful
NigelCraig
Well-Known Member
They did, as part of Select Yachts, but relaunched as a self standing entity, producing just the Crabber and Mystery ranges, they have been doing well.
I think Morgan is a good analogy - a traditional shape and rig but re-interpreted with some modern conveniences. However, while it's hard to argue against a live axle with leaf springs being simply outdated, I think the gaff rig still has some advantages today (and disadvantages, of course) particularly if you are short or singlehanded, in spite of having an extra halyard for the main. You might look up Frank Melville "Single-handed Sailing " on that point.
I agree prices for new boats are steep, but hand made things are more expensive because the production economies just aren't there. On the plus side they do keep their value pretty well. BTW have you looked at Halberg Rassy prices?
Whatever you think of its looks if you read the PBO (and other ) review of the Crabber 26 they consider it pretty competitive performance wise. Problem is there is so lttle choice of new boats in the under 30' category now - are marine mortgages being given out free or something?
Surprised by comments on quality - I had a good look at Crabber 22 at the last S'Ton show and thought it good. The lay-up on my Crabber 17 is pretty heavy duty as are most of the fittings - my only real complaint is they should use a stainless steel sheave to support the wire on the peak halyard - I replaced mine and it didn't cost the earth.
BTW I think the Drascombe Lugger is a lovely boat but I get a good chance to compare on our drying moorings and it seems somewhat less boat, although slighly longer.
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Must admit I am quite keen on a MK1 or MK11 Crabber 24. They look trailer-able as well which is always a nice option to get up to Scotland or Cornwall for a splash!
By Drascombe Lugger you refer to I think you mean Drifter @ 22'. Yes it's a lot lighter boat at half the weight of the old Crabber 24, 6HP out board or in board and easily trailered. Old and new are a lot cheaper then the Crabber. The Drifter is such an easy boat to sail especially single handed, I can just push my mast up for instance whilst the Crabber is a more substantial boat. I would miss the usefulness of a Mizzen though if I moved up to a Crabber
By Drascombe Lugger you refer to I think you mean Drifter @ 22'. Yes it's a lot lighter boat at half the weight of the old Crabber 24, 6HP out board or in board and easily trailered. Old and new are a lot cheaper then the Crabber. The Drifter is such an easy boat to sail especially single handed, I can just push my mast up for instance whilst the Crabber is a more substantial boat. I would miss the usefulness of a Mizzen though if I moved up to a Crabber
NigelCraig
Well-Known Member
Must admit I am quite keen on a MK1 or MK11 Crabber 24. They look trailer-able as well which is always a nice option to get up to Scotland or Cornwall for a splash!
By Drascombe Lugger you refer to I think you mean Drifter @ 22'. Yes it's a lot lighter boat at half the weight of the old Crabber 24, 6HP out board or in board and easily trailered. Old and new are a lot cheaper then the Crabber. The Drifter is such an easy boat to sail especially single handed, I can just push my mast up for instance whilst the Crabber is a more substantial boat. I would miss the usefulness of a Mizzen though if I moved up to a Crabber
No, I definitely mean Lugger! completely open boat 18' ish with outboard and oars. I know the owner because we share problems with Mariner outboard.
I think the Crabber 24, either version is a bit heavy to trail - thats why they came out with the Crabber 22. The current 24 is a lot different, deeper, larger volume hull than the original and without c/board.