Wooden Drascombe

Builders

Researching wooden Drascombes has revealed that each boat is different even though they bear the same type name. The differences are due to the individual customer's requirements and also the different ways that the builders finished the boats. Unlike GRP boats, wooden boats can have their design varied to suit the customer. Also one-offs can be made to try out an idea.

Of course the first Drascombe was made of wood by the designer John Watkinson. The early history of Drascombe development is described in "Drascombe 10/30" where you can read that the construction method used by John Watkinson is glued plywood lapstrake (clinker). Four broad plywood strakes are glued together to form each side of the hull with minimum framing. This gave a strong, light, easy-to-build structure. Using this method John Watkinson tried out many design ideas.

The boats were produced in wood at "Kelly and Hall" then "John Elliott Boat Builder" from 1967 until 1980 by John and Doug Elliott. Eventually the successful designs were then mass-produced in GRP.

Over the years other builders have been licensed to build Drascombes. In the 1970s John Kerr set up his workshop in Llandysul, Cardiganshire. John built wooden boats ranging from small clinker dinghies to ocean racing yachts, for over 20 years. Following a meeting with John Watkinson, he was one of the earliest licensed builders of the Drascombe range. John built approximately 10 Drascombe boats, many finished to the customer's exact requirements.

In 1980 Norman Whyte started his own small boatbuilding and repair business in the village of Findhorn on Moray Firth. Initially he did not specialize in any line of boats but Norman had always loved the lines of the Drascombes and wanted to build one for himself. He built 25-30 between1982 and 1995. He moved to the USA in 1996 where he still works as a wooden boat builder.

Several other builders made one-offs, sometimes two.

There is still a demand for wooden Drascombes. East/West Custom Boats, Inc, (Maine USA) who built nine Drascombes in the early 80s, have recently finished a Lugger "Yonder", a gig "Otter" and a Coaster "Annie".

Here is a series of photos that show how the wooden Drascombe Coaster Annie was built. This is the usual building technique.

Building in wood gives the builder great flexibility to try out new ideas or to adapt boats to specific customer's requirements so the boats end up being individual.

Last updated: 23 May, 2008

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