Hi Neil, enjoying your videos........the name of the Navy sailing centre you are looking for is (or was) 'Jupiter Point'. I spent some time there in the mid 80's during my Naval sailor training on small boats, and a week or so on one of the many Hurley 22's.
Nice video Neil. Well done for getting up the Tamar against the wind and tide. It can be hard work. I sail a Devon Yawl out of Weir Quay and they are better into the wind than the Drascombe. More videos for the small boat owners please. Thank you. Nick
Thank you Nick. Ah, Wier Quay, I've yet to stop there, but can picture it. I enjoy passing amongst the moorings, seeing what there is to see. Am working on another video combled from shots taken a couple of months ago.
Enjoyed the film Neil, with the wind howling round the chimney. I think i have found a new song to add to the set list. I have never heard it before, but love it!
These videos capture your enthusiasm for sailing and being on the water. You are obviously an experienced seaman and sailer so I'm interested to know why you chose a Drascombe coaster. Thinking about getting one. Being that it appears to have a low gunwale have you had it capsize? And, did you custom add the boom - I don't see one on the Coaster on the Drascombe website?
Hello, thank you for your comments. I was sailing Drascombes way back at a time when I had a Folkboat (costly & time consuming maintenance) myself. Wanting a small cruiser - simple, solid, attractive, easily towed, traditional style rig with low upkeep and easily launched and recovered alone, the Coaster was a natural choice. The low free board I am not keen on, it's a compromise. I considered the Drifter, but thought it too heavy. I nearly capsized a Gig once, there was enough free board to bail out. The Coaster hasn't gone over, yet, but the rail has been under several times (see video 'Drascombe Lazybones, West Country Cruising' around 10 min mark - although this is on a Longboat Cruiser), which can be a bit alarming. I brought the boom with me from the LBC and fitted it to the Coaster; wouldn't be without it. Some say the same about fitting a mizzen boom. There is a lot of good info on the Drascombe Association forum. I'm a fan of the Coaster!
Hi, the boom (which here supports a loose footed, as opposed to an attached, mainsail foot) comes from a Drascombne Longboat Cruiser where it is standard. It's forward end is attached to the mast a simple gooseneck fitting. Drascombe Coasters are not fitted with booms although some owners do make this addition. A change of mine has been to exchange the standard Drascombe 'W' mainsheet system for a more suitable, in my view, system which has the mainsheet going through two double sheaved blocks, one on the boom end and the other on the mainsheet traveller. This one has a jam cleat.
I've enjoyed watching your vids Neil, thanks. I notice you maybe used to sail a Longboat Cruiser and now your Coaster. I'm looking at getting a Coaster and I have sailed a Lb Cruiser. What advantages would you say the Coaster has over the Lb Cruiser? I found rigging the main not easy with the boat moving about as you have to stand on the cabin to do so. I imagine it's a bit easier on the Coaster as you have the sliding hatch? I see you also have a bowsprit, did you add that and do you have a fore jib? I'd appreciate your help - thanks. Simon
Thanks Simon, I appreciate your comments. It’s about time I did another video! It was a Coaster I would have liked in the first place, but they seemed so much more pricey than the LBCs, so a LBC it was, for six years. Had great times, but was really happy to get a Coaster eventually, it is markedly different boat, perhaps despite appearances. When you say rigging the main, do you mean the mast or the sail? Certainly, the sliding hatch makes both easier, but, actually, I don’t remember finding it tricky on the LBC. The Coaster has a smaller cockpit (I’ve made mine even smaller) and ‘bridge deck’ (protects the cabin) making it more comfortable, and safer if swamped. The cabin is a bit more roomy and much better thought out (stowage). The main pluses I think are the sealed centre board and separate bilges for cabin and cockpit - result, a drier more ‘homely’ cabin. The bowsprit I added, I love playing with sails (gennekar, genoa, inner jib, storm jib) and string! And don’t forget adding a boom, I took mine off the LBC and fixed it to the Coaster. Good luck, Neil.
It’s a bit precarious rigging the main sail from scratch when standing on the cabin roof but I can imagine it’s easier on the Coaster. The LBC has an easy to step mast, non standard, a previous owner modified it so you can hoist and lower the mast from the cockpit. Having to go under a low bridge to the nearest pub he devised it with a pulley block system on the fore stay running down the mast, quite handy and a natty mod actually! I’ve done a fair bit on the Dart up to Totnes and Tamar up to Calstock and was great to see your voyages. Such a great area for boating around here. I’m viewing a Coaster tomorrow so might see you on the water 💦⛵️⚓️ Thanks for your info on the differences between the two boats! Simon
Also, have you put a boom on the mizen? I see it on a few, reckon it's a good idea giving more control and makes it easier for docking without the bumpkin? Ta, Simon
Natty indeed, what a good solution. Lowering my mainmast, more particularly, detaching the forestay, is a fiddle because of the bowsprit and jib roller reefing, but I’ll live with it. A mizzen boom would be good, but as my sailing time tends to be limited, I’d prefer to be on the water rather than fiddling with yet another modification: there are still the side deck deflectors to fit (to stop water shipped on the bow from rushing aft and into the cockpit). Re. the mainsail: the downhaul, peak and throat halyards all lead back to the cockpit where they are made off to standard cleats; I would not choose jam/cam cleats for this. If nothing snags, hoisting the main can be done from the cockpit. If I have to go forward to the mast (accessing forward reefing points, hoisting the outer jib whose cleat is screwed to the main mast about 50cm above it’s foot, un snag whatever), I generally sit on the cabin roof, feet braced against the gunnel on the upwind side, or, as you have said, stand in the companionway. And now I think of it; the main sail is a high peak main, and the mizzen, a long footed one (R&J Sails). I like these a lot. A bit more sail area and better balance. I find Drascombes to be a bit underpowerd and prone to lee helm, but that could just be me. Did you get the Coaster?
Thank you for posting some of your sailing. I have watched a few and enjoyed them very much.
Thank you very much for your comment!
Hi Neil, enjoying your videos........the name of the Navy sailing centre you are looking for is (or was) 'Jupiter Point'.
I spent some time there in the mid 80's during my Naval sailor training on small boats, and a week or so on one of the many Hurley 22's.
Ah yes, Jupiter Point. Thanks very much for your comment Allan.
Nice video Neil. Well done for getting up the Tamar against the wind and tide. It can be hard work. I sail a Devon Yawl out of Weir Quay and they are better into the wind than the Drascombe. More videos for the small boat owners please. Thank you. Nick
Thank you Nick. Ah, Wier Quay, I've yet to stop there, but can picture it. I enjoy passing amongst the moorings, seeing what there is to see. Am working on another video combled from shots taken a couple of months ago.
Really enjoyed this video. Makes me wish I had my Lugger back again, sailing the Columbia River and Puget Sound again.
Thank you very much Brian. Sailing up there on the NW coast with that scenery, and Humpbacks, must be terrific.
Nice movie! Helps me through the winter season, waiting to put my drascombe back into the water again!
Thank you for your kind comment Jasper. Hope you don't have to wait too long to get afloat!
Enjoyed the film Neil, with the wind howling round the chimney. I think i have found a new song to add to the set list. I have never heard it before, but love it!
Thank you very much Dale. A new song?! My goodness. I don't know who else does it. A raging old Aussie skipper passed it on to me.
These videos capture your enthusiasm for sailing and being on the water. You are obviously an experienced seaman and sailer so I'm interested to know why you chose a Drascombe coaster. Thinking about getting one. Being that it appears to have a low gunwale have you had it capsize? And, did you custom add the boom - I don't see one on the Coaster on the Drascombe website?
Hello, thank you for your comments. I was sailing Drascombes way back at a time when I had a Folkboat (costly & time consuming maintenance) myself. Wanting a small cruiser - simple, solid, attractive, easily towed, traditional style rig with low upkeep and easily launched and recovered alone, the Coaster was a natural choice. The low free board I am not keen on, it's a compromise. I considered the Drifter, but thought it too heavy. I nearly capsized a Gig once, there was enough free board to bail out. The Coaster hasn't gone over, yet, but the rail has been under several times (see video 'Drascombe Lazybones, West Country Cruising' around 10 min mark - although this is on a Longboat Cruiser), which can be a bit alarming. I brought the boom with me from the LBC and fitted it to the Coaster; wouldn't be without it. Some say the same about fitting a mizzen boom. There is a lot of good info on the Drascombe Association forum. I'm a fan of the Coaster!
Hello - I noticed you sail with a loose boom or sprit on the mainsail. Is that your own innovation?
Hi, the boom (which here supports a loose footed, as opposed to an attached, mainsail foot) comes from a Drascombne Longboat Cruiser where it is standard. It's forward end is attached to the mast a simple gooseneck fitting. Drascombe Coasters are not fitted with booms although some owners do make this addition. A change of mine has been to exchange the standard Drascombe 'W' mainsheet system for a more suitable, in my view, system which has the mainsheet going through two double sheaved blocks, one on the boom end and the other on the mainsheet traveller. This one has a jam cleat.
I've enjoyed watching your vids Neil, thanks. I notice you maybe used to sail a Longboat Cruiser and now your Coaster. I'm looking at getting a Coaster and I have sailed a Lb Cruiser. What advantages would you say the Coaster has over the Lb Cruiser? I found rigging the main not easy with the boat moving about as you have to stand on the cabin to do so. I imagine it's a bit easier on the Coaster as you have the sliding hatch? I see you also have a bowsprit, did you add that and do you have a fore jib? I'd appreciate your help - thanks. Simon
Thanks Simon, I appreciate your comments. It’s about time I did another video! It was a Coaster I would have liked in the first place, but they seemed so much more pricey than the LBCs, so a LBC it was, for six years. Had great times, but was really happy to get a Coaster eventually, it is markedly different boat, perhaps despite appearances. When you say rigging the main, do you mean the mast or the sail? Certainly, the sliding hatch makes both easier, but, actually, I don’t remember finding it tricky on the LBC. The Coaster has a smaller cockpit (I’ve made mine even smaller) and ‘bridge deck’ (protects the cabin) making it more comfortable, and safer if swamped. The cabin is a bit more roomy and much better thought out (stowage). The main pluses I think are the sealed centre board and separate bilges for cabin and cockpit - result, a drier more ‘homely’ cabin. The bowsprit I added, I love playing with sails (gennekar, genoa, inner jib, storm jib) and string! And don’t forget adding a boom, I took mine off the LBC and fixed it to the Coaster. Good luck, Neil.
It’s a bit precarious rigging the main sail from scratch when standing on the cabin roof but I can imagine it’s easier on the Coaster. The LBC has an easy to step mast, non standard, a previous owner modified it so you can hoist and lower the mast from the cockpit. Having to go under a low bridge to the nearest pub he devised it with a pulley block system on the fore stay running down the mast, quite handy and a natty mod actually! I’ve done a fair bit on the Dart up to Totnes and Tamar up to Calstock and was great to see your voyages. Such a great area for boating around here. I’m viewing a Coaster tomorrow so might see you on the water 💦⛵️⚓️ Thanks for your info on the differences between the two boats!
Simon
Also, have you put a boom on the mizen? I see it on a few, reckon it's a good idea giving more control and makes it easier for docking without the bumpkin? Ta, Simon
Natty indeed, what a good solution. Lowering my mainmast, more particularly, detaching the forestay, is a fiddle because of the bowsprit and jib roller reefing, but I’ll live with it. A mizzen boom would be good, but as my sailing time tends to be limited, I’d prefer to be on the water rather than fiddling with yet another modification: there are still the side deck deflectors to fit (to stop water shipped on the bow from rushing aft and into the cockpit). Re. the mainsail: the downhaul, peak and throat halyards all lead back to the cockpit where they are made off to standard cleats; I would not choose jam/cam cleats for this. If nothing snags, hoisting the main can be done from the cockpit. If I have to go forward to the mast (accessing forward reefing points, hoisting the outer jib whose cleat is screwed to the main mast about 50cm above it’s foot, un snag whatever), I generally sit on the cabin roof, feet braced against the gunnel on the upwind side, or, as you have said, stand in the companionway. And now I think of it; the main sail is a high peak main, and the mizzen, a long footed one (R&J Sails). I like these a lot. A bit more sail area and better balance. I find Drascombes to be a bit underpowerd and prone to lee helm, but that could just be me. Did you get the Coaster?