Single handed Cornish Crabber

ianc1200

ianc1200

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I'm thinking of getting an elderly Cornish Crabber - this is a long term aim but just looking at what's available, specs, the work/upgrades that might be needed etc. But as I tend to sail single handed, currently an Anderson 22, how easy would it be to handle a Crabber solo?
My Anderson is very easy, everything apart from anchoring is done from the cockpit. But I have far more trouble with my West 11 (a sort of GRP Mirror clone) getting the gaff up at the right angle before hauling up etc. So would a Cornish Crabber (Mk 1 no doubt) be suitable for single handling?

regards

IanC
 
Dunno, but I talked to the skipper of an early CC 24, who s/handed it to Portugal in the 80s. He was ex RN, and not fussed about the trip. It cannot be difficult to run the halyards aft and it is, after all, a small boat. Roller furlers on the headsails, jack stays for the main. And a bit of backbone:-)
A
 
Hi Ian,I owned a Mk 1 Crabber a few years ago and more often than not sailed her alone.
She had a GRP hull and ply deck. Both headsails were furling. I would raise the main and topsail on the mooring and leave the headsails until at sea.
The jammers for the jib sheets were at the cabin bulkhead but would have been better moved further aft nearer the tillerman. She had a centreboard and made plenty of leeway.

I sold her through Dickies of Bangor in 2000 to joint owners one in South Wales and the other in Shepards Bush.

Where is Ruaille Buaille now???
 
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ianc1200 said:
So would a Cornish Crabber (Mk 1 no doubt) be suitable for single handling?
Click to expand...

A friend of mine in Kirkcudbright has an elderly Cornish Crabber 17 and sails it single handed most of the time. That's from a drying mooring - from what I've seen, getting the mast up and down looks like a bit of a handful for one person.
 
a heavy long keel boat will track well, from experience. Make sure you have sea room. You should be able to leave the helm while you raise the sail.
My one bit of advice, having grown up with a bigger gaff rigged boat, get oversize blocks for the main halyard. so in our case we had 16mm blocks to take 14mm halyard. It is not fun when you cant get the sail down. Also, run a rope from the peak (the tip of the yard) down to the gooseneck, this helps to get the peak down in a squall, scandalising, you can half the sail area in an instant.

Lazy jacks are good, but make sure the yard cant snag in them, can cause sail to bulk up and not drop though.

Gaff rigs is very workmanlike.

There are some good books on this topic....look at pics in classic boat, fro ideas.

Personally, if you have a good deck to move on, and the boats helm can be left, dont bring things back to cockpit, lots more rope on gaff to tangle the cockpit, and I found that pulling down with whloe body helped to get the main up, rather than pulling with upper body only as a lot of cockpit controlled systems restrict us to.

just open thoughts, take what you wish....but enjoy.

have you looked at classic boat forum, is there one?
 
""But I have far more trouble with my West 11 (a sort of GRP Mirror clone) getting the gaff up at the right angle before hauling up etc.""

Not having sailed a gaffer for a few years but seem to remember that when hauling the gaff it was always kept horizontal until the throat was fully up & tight and then the gaff peak hauled up.
Did this on the on the STA schooners IIRR, and my Drascombe Longboat and Mirror.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Is getting the topsails up easy (either type?)

I think the link above by Malc goes to a parking website; although the forum can be accesses via your site. (other links on your site also go to a parking website, or am I doing something wrong. However have got a lot out of your site and the links which do work)

Any general advice on buying an elderly Mk 1? I assume most engines if original would have to be changed, and I notice some have had to have the ply decks renewed. Is there any particular weaknesses or upgrades that generally need to be done?

Re the point above about mast lifting, I would assume with an A frame or horizontal strutt fixed to the mast it is do-able single handed?

Finally, I've seen Mk 1's advertised with 1GM 10 Yanmars, 12hp Betas, and one with a new 15hp Yanmar, is it possible to get a 20hp Beta/Vetus in. (ie is there much spare space in the engine box, or can the box be enlarged a little?

I've identified I'd like a CC because of the gaff rig, inboard diesel, shallow draft when keel lifted, and mast in a tabernacle, with the long term aim the canals of Brittany.

Thanks for the thoughts

IanC
 
ianc1200 said:
Thanks for all the replies. Is getting the topsails up easy (either type?)


Finally, I've seen Mk 1's advertised with 1GM 10 Yanmars, 12hp Betas, and one with a new 15hp Yanmar, is it possible to get a 20hp Beta/Vetus in. (ie is there much spare space in the engine box, or can the box be enlarged a little?

IanC
Click to expand...

Why would you want a 20hp motor in a Crabber? Way overpowered and a waste of money.

The most logical replacement for the 1 GM10 is the Nanni (or Beta) 14. this is almost exactly the same size as the Yanmar, except the top half is more full of bits being a 2 cyl and fresh water cooled. I have just done this and apart from needing to raise the level of the beds because the feet on the Nanni are higher. Otherwise went straight in. Only other major differences are exhaust on the other side and smaller pipe (but can be stepped up to the Yanmar size) and a 20mm water intake rather than 1/2 inch.

Gives a 50% increase in power, much smoother and you should be able to use all the existing stern gear, electrics and controls. If the Yanmar is still running you will have no difficulty in selling it. I had a queue for mine from one advert in Boats and Outboards.
 
ianc1200 said:
Thanks for all the replies. Is getting the topsails up easy (either type?)

I think the link above by Malc goes to a parking website; although the forum can be accesses via your site. (other links on your site also go to a parking website, or am I doing something wrong. However have got a lot out of your site and the links which do work)

Any general advice on buying an elderly Mk 1? I assume most engines if original would have to be changed, and I notice some have had to have the ply decks renewed. Is there any particular weaknesses or upgrades that generally need to be done?

Re the point above about mast lifting, I would assume with an A frame or horizontal strutt fixed to the mast it is do-able single handed?

Finally, I've seen Mk 1's advertised with 1GM 10 Yanmars, 12hp Betas, and one with a new 15hp Yanmar, is it possible to get a 20hp Beta/Vetus in. (ie is there much spare space in the engine box, or can the box be enlarged a little?

I've identified I'd like a CC because of the gaff rig, inboard diesel, shallow draft when keel lifted, and mast in a tabernacle, with the long term aim the canals of Brittany.

Thanks for the thoughts

IanC
Click to expand...
Sorry I missed the end off the link I posted earlier, there is a Forum behind the advert popup.
There are one or two Crabbers around Brest in Brittany, French owned, once you have mastered the mast lifting/lowering you should be OK on the canals. Please email me for any further information. malc@mainmarine.co.uk
The Dutch crabbers website is very useful if you speak the language
http://www.cornishcrabber.eu/home/index.php
 
My Crabber was fitted with a Stuart Turner Sole Diesel (some combination) and has probably been re-engined by now. I would advise buying one that has had an engine upgrade.

Never had any problem with leaks in ply deck but would have liked more headroom. The cockpit was very spacious and seats were long enough to use as bunks under a boom tent if you were so inclined.

The mast could be raised in the tabernacle using the gaff as a strut.
Rig a halyard from the masthead to the gaff peak, the gaff saddle secured near the pivot pin, the main sheet tackle from gaff peak to stemhead the shrouds attached with some play left, use the boom crutch to begin lifting the mast from the horizontal and then haul away on the mainsheet to bring the mast vertical all the time checking the shrouds don't kink or bind.
Secure the forestay - job done.
 
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Thanks for all the thoughts again. Another question; I ran the idea past the Marina office (Bradwell) I they said I needed a 27' berth "as the bowsprit was fixed". I'm sure I've seen Crabbers with their bowsprits lifted for mooring purposes, is that correct?

IanC
 
ianc1200 said:
they said I needed a 27' berth "as the bowsprit was fixed". I'm sure I've seen Crabbers with their bowsprits lifted for mooring purposes, is that correct?
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There seem to have been various systems on different Crabbers boats, but I've never seen one that was fixed. Some reef inboard along the deck, and some steeve upwards. Mine was designed to do the former, but unfortunately a previous owner modified it for the latter which I don't consider an improvement. (The problem isn't the concept of steeving upwards itself, but the way in which this particular modification was done.)

Pete
 
ianc1200 said:
Thanks for all the thoughts again. Another question; I ran the idea past the Marina office (Bradwell) I they said I needed a 27' berth "as the bowsprit was fixed". I'm sure I've seen Crabbers with their bowsprits lifted for mooring purposes, is that correct?

IanC
Click to expand...
The original bowsprit was retractable onto the foredeck to reduce marina costs.
 
ianc1200 said:
Finally, I've seen Mk 1's advertised with 1GM 10 Yanmars, 12hp Betas, and one with a new 15hp Yanmar, is it possible to get a 20hp Beta/Vetus in. (ie is there much spare space in the engine box, or can the box be enlarged a little?

IanC
Click to expand...

I have had a Mk 1 Crabber24 for about a year now. Lovely boat. Mine still has its original Yanmar YSB8 and it is fine. I know that the previous owned did have it out for a fettle in recent years. The engine box is of a good size and with newer engines being smaller these days, it should take any appropriate unit. If you go for a Mk 1, you will have a nice boat. As has been said already, just have a good look at the ply deck.

John
 
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