BoatsDrascombe Lugger

Drascombe Lugger

Gunter · Centerboard (Trunk) · First built 1968

A versatile 1968 gunter-rigged open dayboat featuring a centerboard and shallow draft for easy beaching

Designed by John L. Watkinson, built by Honner Marine Ltd.

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

See her sail

The Drascombe Lugger, on the water

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

Footage from kentblairl

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 1.91 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 272 kg of hull, so roughly 850 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 272 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 0.25 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 moderate beam gives 5 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 5
CoastalBluewater

At 2.97 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.97
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 88
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 27.5

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

  • Lighter than ~93% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 447 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Drascombe Lugger, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Drascombe LUGGER is a 5.7-meter centerboard sailboat with a Gunter rig, designed by John L. Watkinson and built since 1968. Crews commonly modify the boat for easier use and maintenance. Aboard ONKAHYE, the crew installed parrel beads on the gaff and mast to prevent snagging during mast raising and added a dummy cord at the masthead to secure swage eyes.0:05 They also modified the outboard motor mount with shims to allow the 6-horsepower Suzuki outboard to clear the transom when tilted, preventing the propeller from dragging.4:19 Floorboards are designed with wide gaps and finger holes for easy removal and improved bilge airflow.2:30 The boat carries a manual bilge pump, a throwable flotation device, and a ditch kit.1:31 Rigging the boat for launch, including the gaff-rigged main, roller-furling jib, and mizzen, takes 20 to 25 minutes.8:58

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 4 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Drascombe Lugger on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Gunter
Ratios
SA / displacement
27.5
Displacement / length
87.9
Comfort ratio
5.1
Capsize screening
2.97
Hull speed
5.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
324
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard (Trunk)
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1968
Units built
2000
Designer
John L. Watkinson
Builder
Honner Marine Ltd, 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.

Drascombe Dabber4.72 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centerboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility
1979 Drascombe Dabber VICTORY 18 Jan 18 Centerplatefrom kentblairl
Open 5.005.00 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA high-performance sport boat from Jean Marie Finot featuring a rotating spar and an ultra-light displacement
Other People's Race Boats - Episode 280 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat9:01from Acorn To Arabella
RS Quest4.29 mSame hull family1.4 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
RS 216.40 mSame hull family0.7 m longer
Training Sea Cadet Instructors | RS21 Keelboat Sailing – Welsh Harp1:37from City Sailing
Phobos 196.30 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA lightweight, high-performance fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited daysailing
Until What Age Can You Live on a Sailboat? | #SAL #33123:54from Hashtag Sal
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 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

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 DabberA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centerboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatilityHonnor Marine Drascombe DrifterA long-keeled cabin cruiser featuring a Gunter-yawl rig, built between 1977 and 1984 for stable coastal exploration

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