Crabber 12’s first sail!
Thursday, 29 December 2011
A fantastic team effort gets the Crabber 12 afloat in time for Christmas.
The first launch of any new boat to come out of our workshop always creates an air of nervous excitement and the latest addition to the range is no exception.
Although this is the smallest Crabber in the range it seems to have touched the hearts of all our employees, eager to find out if she sails as sweetly as she looks...
Sailing trials went ahead with only half an hour of daylight to play with. We trailed her down to Rock on the first combination road / launching trolley which was designed and built by Tyrone Snell, our new trailer manufacturer.
We arrived in one piece and proceeded to rig the boat which took a matter of minutes. The aluminum lower mast section can be split into two parts so that it fits safely under the cover when trailing or even into the back of the car if you prefer to take it home.
We decided the rest of the launching operation should be done single handed so we left Peter Thomas to the job of separating the launching trolley from the road base and wheeling the boat down the averagely steep slip way towards the water.
Then the moment of truth.......would the open draining transom slip nicely into the water without shipping gallons of water? Hardly a drop went in as she floated off the trolley with the wheels only half way into the water.
With only boots and oilskins available Peter was able to manoeuver the boat head to wind and hold her by her turnover gunwale in total control. She floats in a few inched of water but shows no signs of being skittish in the gusts.
So, with all the nerves safely out of the way it was for Peter and Will Harris ( the brains behind our resin infusion moulding system and Crabber 12 project manager ) to take her for a quick spin before dusk fell. Although we only had a short time it became obvious that we were onto a winner. Half the dagger board went down and she held station whilst the rudder blade was secured down. Then the sheets were tweaked and she eased away from the rocky surroundings of the slipway.
Peter Thomas says:
“She felt great from the moment I stepped into the cockpit. I never feared that she would tip me in as I walked from bow to stern sorting things out for the first hoist. The mainsail went up quickly and effortlessly which is one of the great benefits of the Gunter rig. Will and I are a combined weight of nearly 200kg so this was quite a big test for the boat straight out of the box. She manoeuvred with ease away from the moorings and we instantly found our positions in the spacious cockpit. A little tingle of excitement preceded a couple of tacks before we returned towards the camera for a few shots. The flash from the camera made us realise we only had time for one last quick spin and then back to the dock. I managed to handle the boat single handed on the trailer which is vital if the boat is to be used with kids as crew. We are also intending to take some more weight out of the construction which will make her even easier !
I’d like to say a really big thanks to all our lads in the factory who have produced another winner. And yet another pat on my fathers’ back for being so blooming clever!!”
See two examples of the Crabber 12 exhibited for the first time at London Boat Show 2012.
Don't forget that the first ten Crabber 12s are at a special intoductory price of £4995. It's first come first served. After the tenth order, the price will be £5995. Contact us by phone or email here.
