BoatsDrascombe Dabber

Drascombe Dabber

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

A John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centreboard, 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 kentblairl

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 draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 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.

What the fleet has seen

The Drascombe Dabber, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Drascombe DABBER is a 4.7-meter (15.5-foot) centerboard sailboat designed by John L. Watkinson, built from 1970 to the present by Honnor Marine and Churchouse Boats LTD. It features a Sprit/Lug rig, a 1.8-meter beam, 0.6-meter draft, and displaces 249 kg. Aboard *kentblairl*, a 1979 Drascombe DABBER named *Victory* (hull number 530) underwent restoration, including fabricating new Cumaru floorboards secured with silicone bronze screws.4:41 The original 1979 stainless steel hardware remained in good condition, and polyester lines were cleaned.3:09 The restoration included rigging a used mainsail from RJ Sails, which matched the existing jib and mizzen.0:16 The bowsprit extends through the stem to support the jib, and belaying pins were installed for halyards.3:54 The centerplate, weighing 55 pounds, is cast iron and deploys by gravity, with an uphaul system attached to its arm.1:13 The boat features bronze hardware, Tufnol cleats, a mast step with drain holes, and an outboard motor well with a transom notch.4:51

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 4 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Drascombe Dabber 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
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.

Drascombe Lugger5.72 mSame hull family1.0 m longerA John Watkinson-designed gunter-rigged dayboat with a centreboard, built since 1968 for versatile coastal exploration
1980 Drascombe Lugger ONKAHYE 09 Jan 18 Floorboard 4 of 50:01from kentblairl
Open 5.005.00 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 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 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
Farr 50005.08 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Bruce Farr-designed fractional sloop featuring a swing keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively performance
"Hello World" in the ARC10:27from SEILmagasinet
Sandpiper 154.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Breck Marshall-designed gaff-rigged catboat with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited light-air sailing
Sandpiper 32 Sharpie Schooner Refit0:04from Atom Voyager

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Drascombe LuggerA John Watkinson-designed gunter-rigged dayboat with a centreboard, built since 1968 for versatile coastal explorationDrascombe ScaffieA John Watkinson-designed triple-keel lugger built for shoal water, offering a lively sail-to-displacement ratio

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