BoatsDrascombe Dabber

Drascombe Dabber

Sprit/Lug · Centerboard (Trunk) · First built 1970

A John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centerboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility

Designed by John L. Watkinson, built by Honnor Marine.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Centerboard (Trunk)

See her sail

The Drascombe Dabber, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from The Mariner

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.78 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 250 kg of hull, so roughly 850 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 250 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.20 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 6 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 6
CoastalBluewater

At 2.85 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.85
LightHeavy

89 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 89
EasygoingPowered-up

28.2 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 28.2

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 179 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Sprit/Lug
Ratios
SA / displacement
28.2
Displacement / length
89.5
Comfort ratio
5.6
Capsize screening
2.85
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
292
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard (Trunk)
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Units built
900
Designer
John L. Watkinson
Builder
Honnor Marine, Churchouse Boats LTD

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

RS Quest4.29 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 140kg fractional sloop with a centerboard trunk designed for stable, versatile training and family sailing
Sea Cadet National Sailing and Windsurfing Regatta 20250:48from City Sailing
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
I Met the Man Who Puts Sailboats Inside the São Francisco River | #SAL #4256:23from Hashtag Sal
Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
The History of Beneteau Boats11:37from Practical Sailor

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Drascombe LuggerA versatile 1968 gunter-rigged open dayboat featuring a centerboard and shallow draft for easy beachingDrascombe ScaffieA John Watkinson-designed triple-keel lugger built for shoal water, offering a lively sail-to-displacement ratio

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