Making its exhibition debut at the Southampton show next month is an interesting new dinghy called the Dockrell 17. She looks like a good cruising boat, and Dockrell Yachts also supply a comprehensive range of extras specifically for this purpose.

The new boat has in fact been quietly on the market for about 18 months, during which time Dockrell have carried out a number of modifications to the original spec based on that experience — such things as ballast ratio, sheeting and adjustments to the rig.

The hull is a one-piece GRP moulding to which a foredeck/coaming moulding is glassed and bolted. Inside, a further GRP moulding forms the seating, buoyancy, lockers, and two bunks under the foredeck; and beneath this, in the keel well, 250 lbs of iron ballast is moulded in fore and aft of the centreboard case. It will be apparent that she is intended as a cruising dayboat, and a steel centreplate adds to the evident stability; down, this gives a draft of 3’, and up, there is the usual 9 or 10 inches. Positive buoyancy is moulded in the bow, under the floors, and under the cockpit seats, and it is claimed she is self-righting. All-up weight works out at 900 lbs, however, so while doubtless she’d stay afloat, a capsize might involve some fairly energetic baling, but with cruising comfort in mind a bilge pump is part of the standard equipment.

Aft there is a substantial wooden rudder stock fitted with a folding wood tiller and an aluminium lifting rudder, a practical point in view of the knocks it often gets. The cockpit is surrounded with a nice hardwood coaming, and similar slats are fitted on the seats. Here there is ample room for 4 people, or at a pinch even half a dozen, and with a cruising crew of 2, the bunks for’ard and the optional tent set up over the boom, she should be quite spacious. In the list of optional extras, both bunk and cockpit cushions are available, and it seems life would be most cosy. Between the bunks we are told there is room for a teeny loo, and a two-burner cooker is also specified. Stopping briefly for a night, or when the going gets a bit damp, there is a framed canvas cuddy which rises on a single pivot on each gunwale to cover the area between the foredeck and the mast.

Mast and boom are of anodised alloy, and the centre mainsheet is taken from a claw, leaving room for simple roller reefing. Standing rigging and fittings are in stainless steel, blocks are Tufnol, and she is provided with a topping lift. It is expected that any power would normally be outboard, and for this a moulded well is provided. There may be those, however, who feel that oar-power should be available, and it would be a simple matter to add the rowlock fittings if required.

All in all, this seems a most attractive boat, and we look forward to seeing her at Southampton. At £900.00 ex-works, her price is comparable with many of the larger dinghies, and with a comprehensive range of extras including such things as a tent awning, storm jib, 10 lb anchor and chain, it is clear she has been designed with the cruising fraternity in mind.

SPECIFICATION

L.O.A. 17’ 0” L.W.L. 16’ 6” Beam 6’ 4” Draft — plate down 3’ 0” plate up 10”

Ballast 250 lbs All-up weight 900 lbs

Sail Area 175 sq ft max (with genoa) Supplied with standard jib, genoa, spinnaker or storm jib options

Construction: GRP

Finish: Self-coloured white, with blue boot-top and lines; hardwood rubbing strake

Price: £900 ex-works

Sample extras: Trailer £142.12 Tent Awning £ 34.25 Bunk cushion £ 42.00 Folding cuddy £ 57.00 Genoa £ 57.90

STANDARDS AND OPTIONS AVAILABLE

SAILS AND RIGGING

Mainsail and jib. Anodised mast and boom. Mainsail reefing. Stainless steel standing rigging and rigging screws. Tufnol blocks. Ulstron running rigging. Topping lift. Jib and mainsheets. Cleats and fairleads.

Standard colour comprise white hull with blue boot-top and lines. Wooden rub-rail. Self-draining cockpit. Self-righting. Full float action. Non-skid deck. Moulded outboard well. Kick-up rudder. Bilge pump. Marine toilet. Two-burner stove. Trailer. Outboard. Convertible dodger completely enclosed. Two berths. Bow pulpit.