Drascombe Drifter Sailboats for Sale

John Watkinson·1977 – 1984·~110 hulls·Honnor Marine Ltd.
Approximate drawing

Hover a measurement to read its value

Hull Type
Monohull · long
Rig
Yawl
LOA
21.5' · 6.55 m
Disp.
2,646 lbs · 1,200 kg
First year
1977

The Drascombe Drifter is a small sailboat designed by the British maritime architect John L. Watkinson in the late seventies, and fewer than 200 of them were ever built. Honnor Marine Ltd produced the type in fiberglass from 1977 through 1984. At 21.5 feet overall with an 18.33foot waterline and a beam of 7.25 feet, the Drifter is a compact monohull whose longkeel pedigree and yawl rig mark it as a traditional coastal cruiser.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$9,446
Asking price · 7 listings
Recent listings · 90 d
2
7 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
+43.5%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
4
United Kingdom (57.1%) · Germany (14.3%) · Netherlands (14.3%)

Recent Listings

4 for sale · showing 10 newest

Drascombe Drifter Buyer's Guide

Shopping the used Drascombe Drifter means looking at a small Watkinson-designed yawl built by Honnor Marine between 1977 and 1984, with under 200 ever made. She is a 21.5-foot long-keel coastal cruiser of solid fiberglass with an outboard and a shallow 2.00–2.30-foot draft, so the appeal is traditional simplicity rather than modern volume.

Layouts on the Used Market

Each used Drifter should be treated as an individual inspection case. The 7.25-foot beam and 2,646-pound displacement set the outer bounds of what any example can offer, but buyers will find no standard interior to compare across boats.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the brokerage market, Drifters often carry solar panels and autopilots as owner-fitted conveniences for extended coastal use. These are practical additions for a boat whose outboard and simple systems leave room for modest electrical independence, but a buyer should verify the wiring and mounting rather than assume a tidy factory install.

What to Inspect

A used Drifter presents no design-originated structural defect or systemic fault, so the inspection centers on age-related condition rather than design flaws. Because Honnor Marine built the run from 1977 to 1984, every hull is decades old: check the solid fiberglass hull and clinker-effect deck for crazing or previous repair, and confirm the iron ballast remains bonded and untapped by corrosion. The yawl rig’s standing rigging and wooden or metal spars should be assessed for fatigue consistent with the boat’s age, and the outboard well and long-keel hull junction should be examined for earlier grounding damage given the shallow 2.00–2.30-foot draft that invites shallow-water use.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Drifter typically appears on the used market in the United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, and Germany. For a buyer, the short checklist is:

  • Confirm the hull is the 1977–84 Honnor Marine Drifter
  • Inspect fiberglass and deck for age-related cracking or repair
  • Check iron ballast for corrosion and secure bonding
  • Assess yawl rigging and spars for decades of wear
  • Verify outboard well and keel-hull junction for grounding damage
  • Test any fitted solar or autopilot wiring and mounts

Where they're listed

Drascombe Drifter listings appear across 4 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 4 (57.1%), followed by Germany and Netherlands.

Median ask by country
USD
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country view

7 listings · 4 countries
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
United Kingdom$9,4774257.1%
Germany$4,8951014.3%
Netherlands$11,3641014.3%
United States$6,0001014.3%

Comparable models

Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.

Similar boats to compare

6 similar designs
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Westerly Griffon 2626'$ 10,8664711
Honnor Marine 1923.62'$ 19,195287
Cornish Crabbers 24 Mk V24.02'$ 86,556114
Norfolk Gypsy23.83'$ 21,746112
Honor Marine Classics Coaster21.75'$ 18,51980
Drascombe DrifterYou are here$ 9,44672

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Drascombe Drifter cost?+
The median asking price for a used Drascombe Drifter over the past 12 months is $9,446. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Drascombe Drifter sailboats are for sale?+
2 Drascombe Drifter listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 7 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Drascombe Drifter prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Drascombe Drifter is up 43.5% over the last 3 months compared with the 12-month median.
04Where are Drascombe Drifter sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Drascombe Drifter listings over the past 12 months are United Kingdom (57.1%), Germany (14.3%), Netherlands (14.3%).
05What should I look at instead of a Drascombe Drifter?+
Comparable models include Westerly Griffon 26, Honnor Marine 19, Cornish Crabbers 24 Mk V. Use the comparison table above to check pricing and availability.