The word Drascombe is a trademark that was first registered by John Watkinson who applied it to a series of sailing boats which he designed and built in the period 1965–79 and sold in the United Kingdom (UK). They comprised the Coaster, Cruiser Longboat, Dabber, Drifter, Driver, Gig, Launch, Longboat, Lugger, Peterboat, Scaffie, Scaith and Skiff, together with a few other one-offs. They have wide and deep cockpits, adaptable boomless rigs and high bulwarks.Vandersmissen, Hans. (Undated) The Seagoing Drascombe. Totnes. Silver Boats.
The word drascombe is also used as a generic term for any boat built to a design by John Watkinson. These include both 'the Drascombe range' built by Churchouse Boats"Churchouse Boats ltd ". Accessed 28 August 2009. and the 'Original Devon' range produced by Honnor Marine,"Honnor Marine Ltd". Accessed 28 November 2008.
The Caboteur and Drifter 22 have been designed and built recently following the design principles developed by John Watkinson.
John Watkinson died in 1997 and the trademark is now owned by his surviving family. The only licensed builder of the Drascombe range is Drascombe Boats.
Past licensees include Churchouse Boats (now Drascombe Boats Ltd), McNulty; John Elliott and Douglas Elliott Boatbuilders (licensed to build in wood); and Kelly and Hall, which built the original production Luggers in wood.
Design principles There are basically two types of drascombe. There are undecked open day sailers and one or two-berth weekenders. They were originally designed and built in marine plywood using glued lapstrake construction. As they became more popular, they were then manufactured in GRP.
The hull, typically, consists of four strakes each side, the garboard strakes being wide giving a flat run to the transom whilst having a fairly sharp entry at the stem. There is a recessed rear deck level with side benches and a recessed foredeck. Some models have a small one or two-berth cabin.
The transom slopes back at an angle of about 45 degrees with the top edge sloping forward giving drascombes a distinctive appearance at the stern. Just forward of the transom is a well to take an outboard motor with a slot in the transom that allows the outboard motor to be tilted out of the water when under sail. It also keeps the outboard motor hidden from view.
The usual rig consists of a Gunter rigged mainsail set on the main mast, a mizzen sail set on the mizzen mast sheeted to a bumpkin and a foresail. The tan-coloured sails are all boomless to avoid possible head injury from a gybing boom. The original Drascombe Lugger had a lug sail to start with; this was changed to a gunter mainsail but the name was kept.
The rudder fits in a case which is set in the aft deck in front of the mizzen mast. It can be lifted up into the case when in very shallow water.
A steel centreboard is in a centreboard case with a purchase to lift it.
Some (Dabber and Drifter) have a conventional vertical transom with the rudder hung on the transom.
Some (Skiff, Scaith, Scaffie and Peterboat) were double enders with a canoe stern. Of these, the Skiff has no outboard motor well, just a mini triangular transom to take a small outboard motor when the rudder has been removed.
Flotilla
Caboteur Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m) 750 kg (1650 lb) 209sq ft (19.42 m2) ? 2 The Caboteur is based on the drascombe Longboat but modified to the requirements of French drascombe aficionado Jean-Louis Grenier to create his "ultimate drascombe camping cruiser"
Originally in wood epoxy the hull is now available in GRP. It is 8" wider in the beam than the Longboat with 3" more freeboard. The rig is also larger and a cruising chute can be set to a bowsprit.
Jean-Louis' boat has a large sleeping platform and a vast amount of dedicated storage. The great number of lockers, together with the added beam and freeboard make the sailing weight nearly twice that of a Longboat.Classic Boat, March 2002 edition. Debut of Drascombe Caboteur Accessed 17 February 2007.
Coaster Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) 6 ft 7 in (2 m) 1060 lb (480 kg) 164 sq ft (15.22 m2) 1979–present 270 A trailer-sailer with a two-berth cabin (and, with the addition of a cockpit tent, room for two more) including cooking and toilet facilities. Replaced the Cruiser Longboat, having a much improved specification, especially with regard to the cockpit and cabin layouts.The Drascombe Association, About Drascombes Accessed 17 February 2007.
Cruiser Longboat Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) 6 ft 7 in (2 m) 1060 lb (480 kg) 163sq ft (15.13 m2) 1970–1979 400+ A Longboat with a cabin of two berths or one berth and a galley bench. Unlike the open Longboat and other drascombes a boom was fitted to the mainsail. Designed to appeal more to private buyers than the open version, the Cruiser Longboat was introduced and sold side by side with the standard open boat. Introduced in 1970 and replaced in 1979 by the Coaster. Over 400 were built. The wooden versions were all custom built and differ considerably from the GRP versions.
Dabber Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 550 lb (250 kg) 118 sq ft (10.96 m2) 1971–present Approx. 900
Although smaller than the Lugger, the Dabber carries a full yawl rig on main and mizzen masts. However, the Dabber can easily be distinguished by its bowsprit and transom-hung rudder.
Drifter Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 2,000 lb (907 kg) 210 sq ft (19.5 m2) 1977–1984 c 110 A cruising boat with a cabin and choice of outboard well or 6-8 hp Sabb inboard Diesel engine. Draft 2'+. Long keel with fixed bilge plates. Original spec included sails with roller-reef jib, pramhood canopy, two-burner paraffin cooker, flushing chemical toilet, fitted bilge pump, anchor warp and chain; anti-fouling below waterline. An optional tent was also available, extending sleeping accommodation from two to four adults.
Drifter 22 Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 22' (6.7 m) 7 ft 3 in (2.25 m) 1,985 lb (900 kg) 234 sq ft (21.76 m2) 2007–present 30 At the 2007 London Boat Show Churchouse Boats launched the Drifter 22."Churchouse Boats Ltd ". Accessed 28 February 2007.
Paul Fisher of Selway-Fisher was employed to revise the design of the original Drifter.
The prototype was built in wood/epoxy but moulds have been made and production boats are manufactured in GRP.
In 2021 Churchouse Boats re-launched the Drifter 22 with a Mark II model, under the Drascombe Boats brand.
Driver Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 18 ft 0 in (5.5 m) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 730 lb (330 kg) 128 sq ft (11.92 m2) 1974–1978 55 An 18' version of the Launch hull with bilge fins for sailing. A Watermota Shrimp inboard petrol engine with fully feathering propeller was fitted. A petrol/paraffin version of the Watermota or even a diesel were available to special order. For sailing it had a standing lug rig similar to the Dabber but with a slightly larger jib and mainsail.
Gig Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 25' (7.62 m) 7' (2.13 m) 1760 lb (800 kg) 255 sq ft (23.72 m2) 1984–present Approx. 70 Never intended for the private buyer, the Gig is a pure sail training craft designed for use by navies. Previously, the Royal Navy used the Montagu Whaler for this purpose, but these boats were beyond their prime, and new ones have not been built since the 1950s. The Longboat was considered too small, so the Gig was designed for this specific market. The French navy initially bought four Gigs for this purpose, but in 2025 took delivery of 4 new Gigs to supplement their training fleet.
Today a number of privately owned Gigs are about - two were fitted with cabins (Hippo and Gig). One was fitted with a tent to allow for extensive cruising (The City of London).
"The Gig features a large sail area, an easily reefed lug sail, and notable sea-keeping capabilities."
Launch Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) ? ? 1973–1978 12 Based on the Dabber hull and introduced in 1973, the Launch was designed for river and lake fishing. Fitted with a Watermota Shrimp inboard engine and a Dabber mizzen as a steadying sail. Not a very successful model, only 12 being built.
Longboat Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) 6 ft 7 in (2 m) 880 lb (400 kg) 172 sq ft (15.97 m2) 1970–present Approx. 600 Essentially a stretched Lugger, and originally intended as a training craft for sailing schools, Sea Scouts, etc.
Lugger
Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m) 748 lb (340 kg) 132 sq ft (12.26 m2) 1968–present Approx. 2000 The Lugger was introduced at the 1968 Earls Court Boat Show in London. The first wooden production model, Luka, was sold on the opening day of the event and is currently held at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. The design is characterized by an open hull intended for varied maritime activities.
Peterboat
Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 4.5 m 1.7 m approx 9.3 m2 Built by Douglas Elliott at 'John Elliott Boatbuilder' who also built the only Drascombe Mule, essentially a transom version of the 4.5 metre Peterboat.{Source Douglas Elliott} Both designs carry a centreplate 1 5 m 1.7 m approx 11.16 m2 Prototype and half decked version built at 'John Elliott Boatbuilder' by Douglas and John Elliott these were the only two built at that boatyard. ? 6 m 2 m possible approx 18.51 m2 Prototype 'Cariad' built for Dick Watkinson, John Watkinson's brother, by John Elliott and Douglas Elliott at 'John Elliott Boatbuilder' had a cast iron centreplate and was originally flush decked. Unusual rig with a curved gunter main and large foresail, a fast boat, 13 knots (24 km/h) claimed in a stiff blow. 'Cariad' was later converted to carry a cabin with a coachroof to provide better onboard headroom, similar to the drascombe Longboat Cruiser. ? Designed by John Watkinson in 1973, the Peterboat was not mass-produced and never built in GRP. Only about 10 wooden boats were built by John Elliott, John Kerr, and Norman Whyte. There was an original version of a Peterboat built by John Watkinson, similar decking arrangement to the drascombe Lugger, but with a gunter rig sporting a curved yard with a large jib,(similar to the rig on 'Cariad') only the one was ever built.
Scaffie
Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 460 lb (210 kg) 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) 1978–present (now known as the Devon Scaffie) Approx. 450 A smaller drascombe for single-handed sailing, the Scaffie has no centreboard, relying instead on a long central keel and two bilge stub keels. Rig is a single standing lugsail.
Scaith Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built, approx main/113sq ft with jib and mizzen Only ever built in wood at the Boatyard of John Elliott Boatbuilder, Yealmbridge, Yealmpton, Devon. UK. All including the prototype were built by his brother Douglas Elliott. Two were built with forward lockers and mast set in a tabernacle on the foredeck, as opposed to the completely open boat with the unstayed mast stepped on the hog and a mast thwart at gunwale level. Some were supplied with just a mainsail, some with main and jib, some with main, jib and mizzen. All had a galvanised steel centreplate. 13 Double ended open boat with a standing lug main, small offset mizzen with bumkin and a jib, a folding rudder and galvanised steel centreplate. An outboard motor well is incorporated on the aft port side to carry a small (2 hp) outboard motor. The forerunner to the Peterboat 4.5m.
Skiff Length Beam Weight Sail Area Production No. Built 4.46 m (14 ft 9 in) 1.4 m 80 kg Standing lug main , jib 1970-? 30