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Niska is a beautiful 18′ 9″ yawl rigged family safe daysailer, equipped with a maintained 6HP outboard and oars. She can be towed and launched using an average car and sailed single-handedly. She is in very good condition, has been cleaned and polished, and is ready for a season’s sailing.
Niska comes with an easy launch roller trailer, many extras, and a number of useful additions which were incorporated during her construction.
As with all Luggers, Niska’s lifting centreplate, metal keel protector, lifting rudder, and shallow 9″ draft allow her to be run ashore or anchored in the shallows for easy access to beaches. Knowing Luggers well, I also had rubber brushes fitted around the centreplate to prevent annoying stones from shingle beaches getting into the housing.
Niska can carry up to six people and is rated RCD Category C for coastal use (up to force 6). Niska has spent her two sailing seasons happily exploring the Solent and related mainland and island inlets. With favourable conditions, she can make around 6 knots as measured by GPS. Like other Luggers, she is extremely versatile and can be propelled by sails, engine and oars.
Niska has been fitted with a tabernacle and her rigging designed to allow quick and easy single handed lifting and lowering of her main mast, either on land to speed preparations for launching, or on water for ducking under bridges.
Like other Luggers, Niska’s sails are all loose footed, so there is no boom to catch crew/ family members unawares. In addition to the usual jib, mainsail and mizzen sail, Niska has been fitted with a detachable bowsprit which allows carriage of roller reefing flying jib, so when fully rigged her sail plan resembles that of a traditional small coastal fishing boat. As well as adding to her looks, the extra sail provides additional power in light to moderate winds and can be used alone up front when reducing canvas in blustery conditions.
Niska comes with a raisable sprayhood which provides shelter from spray or a change in the weather. This hood has been fitted with a roll up rear flap which converts it into a private changing room.
Whilst all Luggers have a roomy stern storage compartment, Niska’s has wooden floor boarding to keep contents away from any bilge water. The removable hatch has been fitted with a marine lock. Luggers come with open lateral cubby holes under the moulded seating. In Niska, these have been converted to small dry lockable compartments for storage of valuables when going ashore.
During construction, Niska was fitted with a battery and electrics for an electric steering arm (Tillerpilot), which is included. The steering arm will maintain Niska’s course whilst you adjust sails, pour your coffee, look after the kids or admire the view.
I ordered Niska from Drascombe in July 2016 and she was delivered in Feb 2017 after starring at two boat shows. She has been kept in my garage and trailer launched locally for two seasons. She is in very good condition.
After sailing these wonderful day craft for several decades, of which Niska has been the star, I am now moving on from sailing.
Niska has been priced attractively to promote her swift transfer to a second owner.
PS If you buy Niska, the main problem you will encounter when trying to launch her is passers-by stopping to admire her looks.
Standard Features (what you would get for the manufacturer’s sail away price):
White hulled GRP Lugger with light grey decks, bronze fittings, masts and sails including roller reefing jib, rigging, lifting centreplate, manual bilge pump, removable rudder, floorboards, built in foam buoyancy, drain plug.
Included Optional Extras:
Green toplan (decorative stripe), ‘Extreme’ roller trailer, lighting board, 6HP Tohatsu four stroke outboard (little use, serviced), 12L fuel tank, oars (with locks), rowlocks, removable rowing bench, sacrificial strip on jib, fitted ‘Weathermax’ sprayhood with rear flap, cockpit cover, mast crutch to support lowered mast, hardwood rubbing strakes, anchor, chain and warp, two mooring lines, two fenders, spanset for securing boat to trailer, rudder rest to support lifting rudder, turnbuckles for tightening mainstays (rather than fiddly cord).
Included Additions to the Standard Build (made by manufacturer):
Tabernacle for easy mast raising, removable bowsprit (5 min job), roller reefing flying jib, lockable side
compartments, centreplate brushes, centreplate inspection hatch, Tillerpilot TP10 steering arm, battery and electrics.
Specifications
Length Overall 18ft 9in (5.72m)
Beam 6ft 3in (1.90m)
Draught 10in (0.25m)
Draught With C/plate down 4ft 0in (1.22m)
Weight (ex engine) 850lbs (384kg)
Current Price: £10300.00
This 2016 Drascombe Lugger Daysailer, Trailer, Outboard, Extras++, Vgc, Ready To Sail boat is located in Gosport, PO12 2BG and is being sold on eBay by gordobrook_4.