As I stood on the swing-back trailer, gazing out at the swinging mooring of my rented Lugger, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. I had never sailed one before, but the reputation of Luggers as simple, traditional, and versatile boats had drawn me in.
The Rental Experience
The rented boat, a Mk1 Lugger, was kept on a swinging mooring in view of the lounge window, and could be accessed at any state of the tide using the tender that came with the accommodation. The weather was chilly and rainy, but this didn’t deter me from enjoying the experience.
- My own yacht, a fin-keeled Westerly, had been a joy to sail, but I was looking forward to the simplicity and practicality of a Lugger.
- One of the things I appreciated about Luggers was their ability to row the boat when the wind was light and the engine was playing up.
- The boat was stable even before I lowered the heavy galvanised steel centreplate.
The cockpit was spacious, with plenty of room for my family of four. But what was particularly nice was being able to walk forward and let go from the mooring buoy in more safety than it would be on the deck of a small yacht.
The Sailing Experience
I sailed off the mooring under just jib and mizzen, which proved to be a very handy and easily managed arrangement. I had the motor on tickover in neutral just in case while I manoeuvred through the moored yachts.
- I didn’t put the main up that day and was happy just to potter around Falmouth Harbour in the rain and enjoy the few moments when the sun shone through.
- During the course of our break, we tried every option the Lugger gave: rowing, motoring, motor-sailing, full rig, main only, jib and mizzen etc.
The boat handled beautifully, and I was able to enjoy the experience without getting too bogged down in the complexity of sailing a small yacht.
Buying a Lugger
After trying out the Lugger, I knew I had to have one of my own. I decided to invest in a Mk1 Lugger, which I named Lugworm, but later changed to Spray.
- The first thing I did was invest in a new swing-back trailer supplied by Drascombe.
- The total cost of the oldish boat and the new trailer came to £6,500, which was more than my old Westerly was worth.
The benefits of owning a Lugger far outweighed the costs, however. The boat was simple, easy to handle, and required minimal maintenance.
The Lugger’s Design
The original Drascombe Luggers were built by Honnor Marine, but when this company ceased trading in the late 1990s, the moulds and the Drascombe name went their separate ways.
- McNulty Boats took over the licence to use the Drascombe name in late 1997, and Honnor Marine created new moulds taken from a set of original boats.
- When McNulty closed down in August 2002, the moulds were taken over by Churchouse Boats (now called Drascombe Boats), which continues building to this day.
The two boats are much the same, and both current builders give useful advice and can help sailors to buy and sell their Lugger and provide spare parts.
A Trailer-Sailing Experience
I initially kept Spray on her new trailer and towed her to a variety of places on the South Coast.
- Country bed and breakfasts a few miles from the coast are more likely to have space for you to keep the trailer.
- Towing this new trailer that fitted the boat perfectly was a doddle.
However, I soon discovered that the sealed-for-life bearings needed a bench press in a garage, which was a drawback.
Sea Ready
After a while, I decided to antifoul Spray and keep her on a mooring at Rye.
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Cockpit Cover | A well-fitting cockpit cover that allows rain to run onto the side benches and out through scupper holes, keeping the cockpit dry. |
| Rudder Arrangement | A bit of getting used to, but the heavy steel plate adds to stability, and the weight of this plate is a drawback when beaching the boat. |
| Outboard Motor | A convenient well that fits the outboard motor, and a 4hp motor is more than adequate. |
The boat handled beautifully, and I was able to enjoy the experience without getting too bogged down in the complexity of sailing a small yacht.
Conclusion
I was thoroughly impressed with the Lugger, and it quickly became my favorite boat.
news is a contributor at BoatOut. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
