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?
We sail a Coaster as well. I glued yogamats to the ceiling and sides. Covered that with ultrathin (and cheap) carpet. No condensation anymore. We sail in shallow waters, but with 3-4 knts of tide. Our danforth anchor with 20m of rode never let us down. Our trips are up to four weeks. So we do set up the cockpit tent at nights inside marinas. We love motoring through canals, rivers etc. So versatile these Coasters. Cheers.
Thanks for your comments. I too had thought of glueing foam camping mat material to the interior; good to know that it has worked for you. Now I need to find the time. Happy cruising!
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.
Thanks John, appreciate your comments. Normaly, I try to limit my waffling. There's plenty of talk on my 'Below Decks' video, if that's your sort of thing!
Thanks Randy. The shelves are attached with strong glue, the type you get in the standard tubes that you slot into a gun to apply. Can't remember the brand. I thouroughly criss cross scored the backs of the shelving units to a depth of 2 or 3mm using an angle grinder (carefully). The part of then boat interior they were to be attached to was also cleaned before glueing The bungy cords used to keep gear in place along the cabibn sides are tied directly to bits of the boat interier; this can be seen from 0:40 onwards for a few seconds. You can see I've drilled holes in one of the lockers to tie the cord to. In the past I've also glued 12cm2 plywood patches with small stainless D rings, also to attched bungy to.
would it be 3M 4200 or 5200? I've heard the 5200 is a BEAR to remove (considered permanent for things like portholes and such).I'm hoping for a night or two aboard this week and will start putting thought into where and what I would like to attach to the hull/bulkhead. Cheers @@neilparks2651
Whoua ! Amazing ! You're a great adventurer and talented movie maker. Bear Grylls has some serious competition 🙂. India ! what a chaos ! But what a beautiful country...
Well, thank you so much. In truth, I own some machetes from various Asian countries, but unlike our friend Mr. Bear, I avoid waving them in front of the camera every five minutes 🙂
Thank you for the interest. Will certainly do another saling video when I can. This years effort was focused on the mountains, with a nod to sailing. Here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N3QuN2wFQq4.html&pp=ygUsZHJhc2NvbWJlIGNvYXN0ZXIgbGl0dGxlIGVncmV0IGFib2RlIG9mIHNub3c%3D
Merci Gerard, oui, le bateau est simple et facile à gérer. Mon plan d'origine était de le garder avec moi en France (le Med); finalement j'ai opté pour la Manche car, je trouve le région plus inintéressant.
Yep, tinkering the self steering is a thing, books were written on that. It can be pretty complicated. Some "facts" (longkeelers are easier, here) appeared to be not the absolute truth. A modern keel and rudder can be just as good, if you know how things work. Your own weight has a lot of influence, it is a small ship after all. Sitting near the "center of gravity" is good for easier going through waves: your weight does no longer slow down all movements of the hull. Many yacht owners have no idea about these racing thumb rules. They leave a heavy anchor and the outboard engine at the worst possible spots. Get them on the cabin floor, well secured, and you'll win maybe a knot in speed. Take them out when you need them! And get away from that transom. Buy a long tiller extension. Sit down right behind the cockpit, why not? You should never block the tiller, because you sit in the most awkward spot there is. Really, these people still exist, no clue what they are doing to themselves. Absolute beginners, after decades of sailing. Miracle how they survived. Such things do make a huge difference. For most boats, lifting the centerboard a bit, helps steering at many courses. In a Standard Laser for example, in a lot of wind, the centerboard trim can be the difference between capsizing or keeping control. Each boat is different, though, you need to be careful, rolling will change, when you change the centerboard angle. So, yes, sometimes you keep weaving.
Interesting to read your comments, thanks. I'm aware of the points you raise, and even admit to occasionally making some effort to put them into practice! Racing I've tried a few times but it's not particularly my thing, except one multi day sailing race involving running up and down mountains whiuch was particularly memorable. But yep, knowing how to get that bit of extra speed from the boat is important at times, and falls under the heading 'seamanship' - making a tidal gate, being able to get swiftly to port, for a variety of possible reasons (last orders).... Sheet to tiller steering should work on most sailing craft if the system is set up correctly I think. It worked well for me on a Folk Boat (long keel) I used to have, and it worked well for Slocum aboard Spray (not particularly long or deep keeled) on his three year odyssey.
gerade bei kleineren booten fühlt man das, was bei grossen schnell verlorengeht...das besondere segelfeeling...durch mehr arbeit, nähe am wasser, intensiver am wind und ganz andere bewegung unter segel.
@@neilparks2651 ...oder magst du lieber große yachten, so 3 zimmer, küche, diele , bad ? als ich von rollo gebhards reise über den atlantik gelesen habe, war ich doch erstaunt. sein boot damals war nur 5 m lang...why not
@@neilparks2651 ich bin kein handwerker. habe 1993 mein 1.boot gebaut.5,65m lang, 1,85m breit.mit kabine. das einzige segelboot mit mast im heck, was je von menschen gebaut wurde...1997 wurde es gestohlen, als ich für 15 jahre nach thailand ging. nun baue ich ein hausboot: 4m lang 2 m breit. 2 kojen, brücke, galley und sitzplatz für 2 personen = 1 notschlafplatz. das einzige boot mit bremse und bugsteuerung...könntest du mir helfen kommen ? kost und logis frei...in reil/ mosel refugium thanatcha.gute nacht.
Vielen Dank für Ihr Angebot, es klingt sehr interessant, aber ich bin selbst fleißig am Arbeiten. Ich kenne Thailand ein bisschen und habe auch 10 Jahre am Südchinesischen Meer gearbeitet! Viel Glück mit Ihrem Projekt
Great video. On your sardines story I helped my uncle move house in the 1980s. In his cellar he had tinned fruit from the 1950s. We ate the lot and it was just as good as if we had bought it that day.
Hi Neil, Don't suppose you did one like this for your LBC you would like to share 😃 I just bought one and I'm looking for storage tips. Also what tent is it you have as this is something I would like to get for the LBC. Many thanks for sharing your adventures and hopefully one day we may bump into each other if you're on the Tamar again. ATB Mike #StayCornish😬
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!
Thanks for this . Enjoyed it a lot. Da Vinci Resolve is good free video editing software that does a little more than Power Director without being too complex
Neil, there are many meaningful activities in life, and learning from others is certainly one of them! I sail a Windrose 18 and appreciate all the great ideas for more efficient and effective cruising, whether overnight or several days. I also have about 40m of chain, so you are in good company!
Have you looked at Huntingford's Helm Impeder ? Also how do you deal with the keyhole rudder in shallow water as it is the one thing that has put me off Coasters.
Hi Tom, I will look at the Helm Impeder. The rudder design has never posed any problems for me (Coaster, Longboat, Lugger, Gig), mainly because I am rarely in shallow water. When approaching a beach, I lift the rudder up and prop it vertically in place: coming in with the outboard which also needs to be lifted smartly before catching the sea bed. A less hectic method is to ship the rudder entirely, laying it on the side bench, and make the final approach under oars.
Great video but it put me in panic mode as I am having a boat built and thinking of all the things I need to accumulate to sail. The boat is around 15 foot and is a cat boat and is being built by Skol ar Mor in France by apprentice boat builders. It is a chance in a lifetime very excited. Happy sailing Neil.
Thank you very much James. Definitely no need to panic, just begin with the real basics and build from there as you feel is appropriate. I can feel overwhelmed by all the gear sometimes, and can think I have too much on board. See Roger Barnes for great videos on dingy cruising set up.
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.
Hello Piotr. Yes, the bowsprit is there to set an outer jib to (I also have a 20m2 storm jib). When correctly set I suppose the outer jib adds a tiny bit of speed. It's mainly because I like messing around with sails - fun. But the idea was partly to use the inner jib (semi furled Genoa) as a balancing sail for self steering , with the other 3 sails trimmed correctly; it is not bad at this and more simple than the other 'sheet to tiller' self steering method I like. And then there is running downwind with twin headsails poled out. Experimantation!
Excellent video, thanks Neil. There's always something to be learned and appreciated from a well-organised boat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope your weather improves!
I've been chatting to mates about the sailing abilities of a Coaster and armed with much respected, but slightly different opinions about sailing in a good blow, may i ask; Do YOU furl in the headsail and mizzen, put a tuck in the main and lift the centerplate up two thirds. Or, do you take down the main and sail on a reduced jib and mizzen. I've tried both ways and now favour much respected advice, which seems to be correct, but many of the yachtsmen in the club dissagree and suggest i keep the plate down and sail on option 2. Drascombes don't seem to sail like dinghys, many of which are styled to race, neither do they sail like small cruising yachts.
Hi Sumo Bear, I like to keep the jib and mizzen in use (for a start, for manœuvrability in going about), and reduce the mainsail to 2 reefs. It has happened rarely that I've dropped the main altogether. By myself, sailing upwind in around 15kts true, I will be double reefed and with some rolls in the jib and mizzen. I also have a storm jib but it has never been used for real. I am aware there are those who favour the mainsail alone in windy conditions; I must try this myself.
Thanks Neil, My gut feeling was to sail with a reduced jib and mizzen and no main when beating to windward in a good blow, however when off the coast although i' lost some degree of direction using only a reefed main with the centerplate lifted 2 thirds, willow is a more stable platform and easier to predict. I would probably switch from one sail plan to another depending whether i was at sea or in a river where i needed greater manoeuvrability.
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!
I hired one of these for a trip from St.Mawes across Falmouth Bay to the Helford. It was top of a 4, gusting 5 with some white horses but the boat behaved beautifully. I was very impressed.
Ah, maybe those were your photos taken out there and put on the Drascombe Association site. I did a fair amount of Lugger and Dabber sailing over the years in another Gulf...Lingayen.
Thanks very much Sumo. I'm not sure that I sail it hugely efficiently, but I do quite like tweaking sheets. I replaced some of the original sails with a R&J Sails high peak mainsail (with boom), and a long footed mizzen, both of which I feel help the boats performance. Popular opinion amonst the Drascombe community suggests the original sail plan is as good as any though.
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.
