Some 38 years ago, after a short career in the American Merchant Marine, my need to be on the water prompted me to begin looking for a small sailboat. At the time, I was living on a tidal river that had low bridges between me and open water, so I needed a boat with a mast that could be lowered easily. A friend told me about a Drascombe Scaffie, as the Devon Scaffie was then known, that was for sale in Portland, Maine. It turned out to be the perfect boat for my situation and now after thousands of miles, I am still sailing this very enjoyable and versatile boat. The Scaffie has two unusual horns aft, which support a rope traveler for the mainsail sheet above the tiller and the outboard.
Tom Hepp
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Just bought one and in the process of rehabilitation.
http://www.GeekTechSailor.blog for rebuilding photos and comments. Enjoy, Jude
Enjoyed the article. I bought my Scaffie in 1984 used for $3900, still in great shape. Sailed on Spruce Run Reservoir and Barnegat Bay in NJ. Now it’s in Lincolnville Maine at our lake house. There are a couple of them in Camden Harbor and there was an older gentleman in Stonington who had one. Great little boat. There used to be an owners group but it disappeared a couple years ago.
Great article. I have recently purchased one myself. She was built in 2004 by Honnor Marine and has been well looked after. I will be spending the winter months re-varnishing all of her woodwork and getting her ready for our first adventure together in the Spring. So many places that I am looking forward to going with her. The first place will probably be Bala lake in North Wales. Roll on Spring!
Hi Tom,
As your boat is forty years old, it will be a Drascombe Scaffie made by the original Honnor Marine. After they went bankrupt, the Honnor Marine name was bought by a company who markets their boats as “Devon Scaffies,” The Drascombe name was bought by a second company, who retains the Drascombe brand. A bit confusing, but both companies build their version of the Scaffie.
Hi Tom and Dick,
Just to clarify – all the pictures in this article of the “mustard” yellow Drascombe Scaffies are of boats built by the original Honnor Marine, in Totnes, Devon. These boats are all around 40 years old and still going strong. The current, third incarnation of Honnor Marine is based in Poole, Dorset – marketing their boats as Devon Scaffies – is the only builder, as Drascombe by Churchouse Boats don’t build Scaffies – though they do supply spares.
Dick, That was a really lovely sail you made me for my Scaffie you see in the picture.
Has anyone started a Google Map and registry for Scaffies? Would be interesting to locate some nearby to sail with. I’m in Louisiana but sail from Texas to Florida—Northern Gulf of Mexico coast. Anyone nearby?
Hi Tom, thanks for the article. The boat is described as a keelboat, and I’m interested to know if it has any ballast, either fixed or water ballast.
The Scaffie is a full keel day sailor. It does not have ballast.
I thoroughly enjoy reading these stories whilst learning about small boat cruises and camping.
John,
Australia
.
Interesting to see those little bilge keels. I have just recently completed building a Bernd Kohler Eco 6 sailing catamaran. The designer called for a dagger board in one hull which I was reluctant to incorporate because it really impacted the interior. Bernd came up with an alternative of an inward facing bilge keel on each hull. The hulls are simple chine hulls and each bilge keel is 900mm in length and 90mm deep, and as I said face inward and do not protrude below the bottom of the hull giving a hull draft of only 200mm. I was a bit skeptical as to just how well these bilge keels would work, but they were very quick and easy to build so I thought they were worth a try. Happily after 8 months of sailing I am very happy with the windward ability of the little catamaran. So it is good to know that for a cruising yacht there are other workable alternatives to a deep keel or centerboard.
Tom, great write up. Good to ‘see’ an old shipmate from way-back, making good with small boats…
Hi everyone, A bit late to the party on this one, but I’ve been a Scaffie sailor in Washington State for some years. Still a novice. Re ballast and bilge keels: The DA Forum had some posts on water ballast. Apparently, John Watkinson had mentioned to someone that water could be used as a ballast. Having accidentally tested that hypothesis, I can say that it does smooth the ride. Dunno about other aspects of performance. The better option per Elizabeth Wade-Brown is iron chain. Easier to install, remove and does not promote mildew if left in place. Tested that one with leaky boat cover one winter. The long keel can make coming about a bit slow. Techniques that work here are having some speed up, fully sheeting in the sail at the start of the turn, pushing the tiller fully over and weighting the lee side, letting the hull’s curvature help her around. When water comes in the scuppers, that’s about right amount of lean in my experience. Hoping that’s useful.
Full sails and fair winds,
Ole
I missed buying one by >< this much a few years ago. I have seen the same boat come up for sale several times, but increasing in price each time. Last time she was double the price, had a mouse-eaten and repaired sail, and was missing some hardware, but was still commanding a price double that of what I almost got to pay for it.