We have been looking for another Drascombe Lugger to restore, and found a 1974 MK1 model on ebay. Took a trip to pick it up, the couple selling it are very familiar with sailboats but are streamlining to get a bigger boat. First owner had it imported to Michigan and owned it for40 years, made some modifications but overall it is in great shape. Second owners had it 2 years and sailed it a few times. We named the boat Roamer.
I like the magnetic stick on trailer lights! The permanent lights didn't work so the seller threw these in as part of the deal. They will be great for other picks where we show up unsure if trailer lights will be working.
One tire was in good shape, other had dry rot, spare was usable for emergency. We threw on a new tire for the ride and the trailer pulled great.
Newly minted Captain Scott came by and helped us rig the boat, we wanted to see what original parts we had and what extras.
Mast steps easily and jib secures to the forestay.
Luggers were built in Totnes, Devon England. By Honnor Marine for many years.
Original sails are in great shape.
Port lazarette went missing in Montana windstorm a few years back.
First rigging with spare mizzen sail.
First owner rigged the boat to be single handed and also had a different main with a boom.
MK1 boats had line travelers.
Mast head needs a ring with 3 tangs, this contraption will go away.
Rigging the original main sail.
Started cleaning up the gelcoat and peeled off the pinstripe.
Had a special bead delivery from Murray, sailing his ODay Widgeon "Widget" across the Bay to our dock.
Jack and Murray sanded all of the teak, and then we oiled it.
Starting to look like a Lugger!
Cut a new starboard side sole from pine, secured with brass screws.
Roamer came with a 5hp Mercury.
Started working on the mast, gaff and mizzen, they are a little crunchy.
First coat of Helmsman SPar urethane applied.
13 May 2014: Took Roamer to Coastal Marine Works to have the hull waxed. Our friend Viper owns it and he turned loose his best man Brad to clean the hull, compound it and put down a nice coat of wax. The results were amazing! Plus we got to prank Brad, the Skipper pretended to be upset and told Brad that it wasn't what she asked for because "there is too much gloss." The look on his face was priceless.
16 May 2014: Cut the port side sole from 1x6 pine, fastened cross braces with #8 1 1/2 brass screws. 1 1/4 would have been better, but I was careful to not overdrive the screws and get the tips poking through the deck.
I have built a lot of things with this tiny table saw. I made a cart that put it at the same height as my utility table, that way the utility table can catch the boards on the other side.
Trimmed the sole for final fitting. It looks good from a distance but I goofed up by buying soft white pine, real soft. After one week it is already starting to crack, so I will have to scrap these planks and start over. So much for the pine experiment, although a select grade of better quality should work fine.
13 May 2014:
Coastal Marine Works cleaned, compounded and waxed the hull, Roamer looks awesome! Quick turnaround and the Skipper got to prank the artist who did the work, told him "I'm upset. I don't know what you thought we wanted, but it is TOO glossy!" The confused look on his face was priceless
17 May 2014: Yoke is glued and screwed back onto the Lugger main mast gaff arm.
Titebond II works well for applications like this, or you can go with thickened epoxy as well.
28 May 2014: Taking some measurements of the mast head so we can order a mast ring for the MKI Lugger. Also need a port side locker cover and row locks.
12 Jun 2014: Well the boat floated off after the trailer dropped off the side of the ramp. It is easy to get an empty trailer back on a ramp because the tires help it float, but you will get wet :)
It followed me home, can I keep it?
Roamer enjoyed some time in the slip while we replaced trailer bunk carpet and sprayed the trailer with cold galvanizing compound.
Used outdoor carpet from Lowes and roofing nails.
13 Jun 2014: Picked up some cypress for a new sole, the pine sole was too soft/dry and is already splitting.
Adding trailer guides, they will make recovery a lot easier. Our local trailer stores carry them.
2 inch PVC slides over the guides.
Trailer is looking better with cold galvanizing compound and new bunks.
14 Jun 2014: Rigging Roamer for sail. Lashed mizzen with a marlin hitch, tied downhaul.
Bending mainsail to gaff.
Parrel beads to hold upper gaff to main mast.
Roamer rigged and ready.
Under sail. Every boat needs belaying pins. The starboard pin holds the main halyard, port side is for the downhaul.. We rowed with the new oars and sailed today, motor needed fuel.
That Aladdin water jug has seen many a cruise, and it serves up the coldest water ever.
The Lugger features a roller furling jib. Port side belaying pin is for the downhaul, starboard side for the main halyard. Red line is the jib sheet.
Mizzen lashed on with a marlin hitch, 1/8 inch line. This early model Lugger uses a rope traveler, later models have a metal pipe.
I jumped out to take some pics.
In the mid 1970s Webb Chiles sailed solo from San Diego, headed west and made it all the way back to the Atlantic in his Lugger Chiddiock Tichborne. Actually 2 Luggers...FMI check out his book "Open Boat Across the Pacific."
Skipper does a low pass in the Drascombe Lugger "Roamer", a gaff rigged yawl.
15 Jun 2014: Drascombe Lugger stern. Trailer guides and LED trailer lights.
20 Jun 2014: 8 foot oars from Chesapeake Light Craft.
Downrigging the boat, storing sails in the garage until we can find a good cover.
21 Jun 2014: Laying out the cypress for port side sole, using sole from a MKII Lugger as a pattern. It actually fit pretty well, but we'll need to add a couple of planks by the centerboard, as the MKI centerboard case is narrower than the MKII case.
Traced the pattern with pencil and cut out with a jig saw.
Drilled a pilot hole for the #8 1 1/2 inch brass screws. 2 crews in each plank batten, on opposite corners.
Cypress looks great, need to cut out planks for the gaps by the centerboard case.
New sole came out great!
28 Jun 2014: Roamer is looking great and has new Skippers! She will stay in Gulf waters, close to Tampa.
Roamer is now "Adagio." Her new owner is quite crafty and made her a new mast collar, tabernacle and put her name on the transom.
22 Dec 2014: I think the new owners are enjoying "Adagio." :)
Jul 2017:
Adagio is offered for sale, $5400 USD.
Feb 2018:
Adagio is sold!
...to be continued...
Wow Really great work. You well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for nice sharing with us.
Thanks and you're welcome! We have had a Lugger in the family since 1982, and had been looking for another one to restore. We are having fun with it, the Lugger is a very solid boat and a pleasure to sail, we can't wait to get all the bits back onto Roamer.
DeleteNice job, just bought an old lugger and starting out the restore project soon. Would love to contact you for some ideas and info!
ReplyDeleteCool. Post a note here when you start!
DeleteW"hat a great restoration. My Lugger Muckle Flugga is a 1971 boat bought new in 1972. She is a Mark I rig on a Mark II hull. I repainted the hull and stripped and Dutch oiled the woodwork recently. I also made new floorboards out of red fir which works well (SS screws and epoxy to fix)
ReplyDeleteVery good luck for your further sailing. Quite a few people are 'down sizing to Luggers from big sail boats and also from Coasters etc - they work well. BTW I do not dunk my wheels on a T trailer and use an electric winch to haul out the boat. Saves the bearings and does not need docking arms. I wish we had your weather - deep winter in the UK :-)
Nice! Any pictures on fb?
DeleteHave an early Lugger for sale in Virginia. Have two keeping the older one that needs the most work. Trafton Marine was one of the original importers in the states.
ReplyDeleteHowdy. What year and, price what condition?
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