Wayfarer, Drascombe lugger or dabber (2 adults, 2 children) trailering and daysailing

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cirruss

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Hello!

I am looking for a boat I can trail to various inland and coastal locations in the midlands, lakes and North Wales area of the UK for two adults and two children.

Not sure whether wayfarer might be a bit dangerous with that massive boom involved with children around and much prefer the soft sail of the Drascombes.

Considering the dabber though worried might be too small, the coaster has a small cabin though then I think will be too cumbersome to trail easily.

Any advice or comments from previous owners of these models, to help in my deliberations, would be much appreciated.
 
Either is a good choice. I have had a lugger and a W. I don't regard the boom as big issue if you are a reasonably competent dinghy sailor..... a flick from the mainsheet block of a boomless sail could also do damage. I much preferred the W also as easier to tow. More importantly it is flogging jib sheets and how you or your partner manage your kids. And the age of your kids. The lugger might look pretty and have more space for crew but we put the engine on more often.....heavier boat and not so good upwind. Appreciate I am not distinguishing between a lugger and a dabber and tarring them with the same brush. I still have and love my W.
Most importantly than choice of boat is being a calm and competent ish helm with partner. We learned the hard way and sadly have put two of our four kids off.
 
I think the dabber looks nice and would also like to be able to potter up the river Severn under outboard (based in shrewsbury). Wayfarer just looks too cramped for four to me?
 
Similar thoughts to the reply above.

I've sailed a Wayfarer and a Drascombe Longboat. Wayfarer sails much better, is easier to handle and lighter.

however 2+2 is very much max capacity for the Wayfarer, and a boat with an outboard well like the Drascombe makes motoring a lot easier, should that form part of your plans.
 
Chae_73 said:
Similar thoughts to the reply above.

I've sailed a Wayfarer and a Drascombe Longboat. Wayfarer sails much better, is easier to handle and lighter.

however 2+2 is very much max capacity for the Wayfarer, and a boat with an outboard well like the Drascombe makes motoring a lot easier, should that form part of your plans.
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Yes river motoring is also a requirement!
 
If you are serious about a Drascombe it is worth understanding the different rudder arrangements. Our lugger had a heavy drop through rudder. Awkward in real shallows and a finger hazard needing care when putting in position. But for lots of river motoring I reckon the Drascombe wins over the Wayfarer. But the Wayfarer with its outboard off the back is perfectly fine, ensure the rudder is locked down so the prop doesn't take chunks out of the rudder. I see from the other post your kids are 11 and 15. So that is almost 4 adults. I agree that is as many as you can comfortably fit in a Wayfarer but as dinghies go it is comfortable, according to the wind strength 3 on one side one on the other. The person who loses out is the one sitting on the thwart head next to the kicker. But it is more than do-able. We used to do 6 (4 adult size and two child size 7 year olds.........
I hated towing the Lugger compared to the Wayfarer, heavier and more awkward to launch and so we kept the Lugger on a summer mooring. Obviously people successfully tow Drascombes but you start to consider car choices. So lots to think about. But for me the crude distinction is between doing lots of sailing with a popular boat and doing a bit less sailing a bit more motoring with a more expensive and somewhat awkward heavier character boat.
 
I have a Longboat cruiser and a Wayfarer and they tow beautifully. I actually find the Drascombe is easier to move around off the tow ball than the Wayfarer, I think that is due to the bigger wheels on the trailer.

I am pretty new to sailing and I still have not been out with the Wayfarer main sail up because I am a little concerned about the boom knocking me out?, I have been wondering if it would be possible to have a soft sail for the wayfarer?
 
Get a World or MK4 and you'll have extra space aft.

I think ease of recovery/towing is as much to do with the setup (get a winch!) as with the weight of the boat.
 
I have sailed a Wayfarer and will shortly be doing so again. Two couples but I would say it really is a 2 +2. Quite stable though. Would think a Drascombe would be the better option for you although I do not have any first hand experience. Wayfarer a good boat though.
 
I want to be convinced about the wayfarer just cant get passed the capsize risk being much higher and I dont think the family would enjoy that experience in the middle of a lake or sea. I feel though a dabber sails much less well, she would be slower and safer and much less likely to capsize, I think also better for river pottering!
 
Yes a greater risk of capsize but to be honest you would be really pushing it....Wayfarers are very stable and accommodating....hence being a popular choice for sailing schools . The feel of my lugger was dull by comparison. But if you are just pootling and happy with motoring then.....go for a Drascombe, they hold their value and it is horses for courses.
 
The first owner of our Longboat managed to capsize it which I think ended his interest in sailing.

Despite a number of mishaps, we didn't capsize either of our Drascombes or the Wayfarer.
 
FairweatherDave said:
Yes a greater risk of capsize but to be honest you would be really pushing it....Wayfarers are very stable and accommodating....hence being a popular choice for sailing schools . The feel of my lugger was dull by comparison. But if you are just pootling and happy with motoring then.....go for a Drascombe, they hold their value and it is horses for courses.
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I think dull sailing is a bad thing and it should be invigorating! As long as I can river potter in a wayfarer, which I think I can and the capsize risk is low with a reserved sail plan and reserved handling (which I have naturally) then I think I'm all in on the wayfarer the more I hear and think about it. There is a reason why it is THE most well know and used dinghy probably in the world!
 
It maybe a really good idea to go on a dinghy sailing course before you and your partner invest! We have had some spectacular family discord due to me learning as we went along. We still have disagreements in our bigger boat but there is plenty of potential for problems in a small boat......usually you stood on my foot or quick, grab that rope, err which one, oh don't worry, too late now etc etc. If two of you have some competence the learning curve might be a lot less stressful. Apologies if this suggestion is unneccesary but we really did it the hard way:)
 
FairweatherDave said:
It maybe a really good idea to go on a dinghy sailing course before you and your partner invest! We have had some spectacular family discord due to me learning as we went along. We still have disagreements in our bigger boat but there is plenty of potential for problems in a small boat......usually you stood on my foot or quick, grab that rope, err which one, oh don't worry, too late now etc etc. If two of you have some competence the learning curve might be a lot less stressful. Apologies if this suggestion is unneccesary but we really did it the hard way:)
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We used to own an albin Vega and maxi 77 and we have both sailed dinghies. Now trying to downsize boat to the right one!
 
We had an open Drascombe Longboat which could take several people quite safely, could be made to go at a reasonable pace safely too. Motoring was very straight forward and quite quick (4hp)

It is big but surprisingly easy to rig and move about on land.

It was ex scout group so well battered but in that condition they come cheap!
 
There are other possibilities such as the Hawk 20, Raider 18 and various Swallow boats. A bit bigger but trailable behind a normal car.
 
Do you like sailing or pottering? Wayfarer sails well, drascombe not so much, the foils on a drascombe are just plate steel, with no shape to them, the rudder as mentioned is very cumbersome to ship / remove. The rig is never going to point well due to lack of boom and lack of proper tension. Oh and many drascombes have little to no reserve buoyancy if they are swamped or they capsize. I owned a Drascombe lugger for a year with three small children, and although it was fun, ultimately decided I wanted something that sailed well. YMMV
 
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