Confession time: I currently have five boats in the garden. It might seem a bit odd or extravagant.

Some people may say that I’m obsessive when it comes to boats. I’d argue that each of my boats does different things, just like the chisels in a carpenter’s box.

They each have a use. Let me explain the different attributes of each boat.

Dabber

The Drascombe Dabber has room for a few passengers

I live close to the commercial port of Rye. It has a very short tidal window, is narrow and has a strong flood tide.

The river dries out and so when out in the bay, if the tide is ebbing and the wind is not favourable, an outboard engine can be more than just useful if you want to get back into the river before it dries.

There is also a fair amount of commercial traffic to watch out for and my favourite boat for this situation is a Drascombe Dabber which is not only a good sail and oar boat but also has the benefit of an outboard well.

Getting stuck on the bar or the steep sides of the drying riverbank is best avoided as is straddling the nasty submerged training wall.

I have done all of these things over the years.

Engine wells are a much better option than just hanging the motor off the transom, especially if it can get into a tangle with the main sheet.

They are useful for motor sailing, particularly when at the river entrance where there is a high bank which can shelter sails from the prevailing wind.

The only problem is the steep, muddy slipway at Rye. I can’t launch or recover the Dabber without a tractor.

So, when sailing in new locations without a decent slipway that my car can cope with, I need something much lighter.

However, I keep the Dabber because she’s an excellent sea boat and has room for a few passengers.

Emsworth Lugger

My Emsworth Lugger with a taller mast on the beach. Credit: All photos Clive Marsh

This marvellous and most attractive little boat with her light trailer is about one-fifth the weight of the Dabber and I can launch her by hand without a tow vehicle.

This means I can sail on days when the tractor is not available and the conditions are favourable enough not to need an outboard. I can attach one to the transom, but it gets in the way of things.

I can also launch this boat from a beach with no slipway. She takes just a few minutes to rig and sails and rows well.

With no stays and a simple balanced lug sail, nothing could be simpler.

I have one on the lawn with a tall mast to give me space under the boom and one in the man cave with a standard rig.

Although these boats under sail are really for single-handers, when I’m feeling sociable I can pull her up onto any beach or river bank for a natter.

I sometimes drop her heavy anchor for a sleep just offshore.

The Emsworth Luggers are the lowest cost of all the boats I have owned and are by far my favourite little vessels.

There is a moral here maybe. One huge advantage of this little boat is being able to join the Dinghy Cruising Association (DCA) event at Cobnor by Bosham and launch there.

This would not be so easy with the Dabber.

Tideway dinghies

The Tideway 10 is about 40% lighter than the larger Tideway 12

I like my Tideways a lot and have owned a 10 and a 12.

I currently own a Tideway 10 which suits my pulling strength being about 40% lighter than the 12-footer.

For me, the great advantage of a Tideway is being a member of the Tideway Association.

This enables me to sail at their Cobnor event which is held some time before the DCA Cobnor event.

Thus, for a very modest fee, I get to go to both events.

The Tideway 12 has a 5ft beam and LOA of 10ft 2in

My Tideways have a gunter rig with both peak and throat halyards. Add to that the jib halyard, topping lift, jib sheets, main sheet, rope horse, shrouds, forestay plus all the rest and rigging takes a while.

The mast resembles a maypole and it takes me ages to get it all set but once done it all works perfectly.

She also sails closer into wind and tide than the Emsworth Lugger and I have never needed a motor for this proper little dinghy.

If I were to motor I’d have to attach the engine to the transom and remove the rudder.

It’s better to either sail or motor with a Tideway 12. Motor-sailing like a Dabber would not be too easy.

Lune Pilot

My Lune Pilot 11 with small engine well

This amazing boat has all the advantages listed above… to an extent.

I have the 11ft version which is the smallest Lune but still a heavy boat with a deepish keel. She has several additional advantages.

Firstly, she has no centre- or daggerboard. This leaves the whole cockpit free. Secondly, she actually has an outboard well.

How many boats of this length have a well? I can’t think of another right now.

She also has a tow hole low down on the stem/keel which is great for retrieval from a beach etc.

A simple balanced lug and unstayed mast add to the simplicity and speed of set up.

She could be a perfect boat but for the fact the outboard well is a bit tight and she requires a greater depth to launch than the other boats.

But compromises have to be made.

If you are new to trailer-sailing remember that weight is an important consideration – especially if you’ll be hauling a boat out single-handed.

Often slipways are busy at weekends and if you are able to launch without the use of a vehicle things will be a lot easier.

The table below shows comparable weights.

So, as we know, all boats are compromises and cannot be suitable for all conditions and situations.

If, like me, you don’t want to be constrained where and when you go boating then you could also end up like me with what other people consider to be too many boats.

There may be a cure to this malaise, but if you regularly read this magazine it won’t be too long before you start your collection – that’s if you haven’t already.

Let me know if you find a remedy.

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