Drascombe Drifter 22

For such a venerable name in the world of boating as Drascombe, the launch of a new model is quite an occasion. And so it was back in 2008, when the Drifter 22 was introduced to fill the gap left by the original 21ft (6.5m) Drifter. The last of the original Drifters had been built 20 years earlier and it was time for a new one.

Classically styled designs like this arguably need replacing less often than their modern counterparts because they don’t date as quickly, though that’s not to say that a little refreshing – or even a totally new design – isn’t a good idea now and again. Just look at the five incarnations of the much-loved Cornish Crabber 24 since the early 1970s. They show that it’s possible to retain the character and many visual attributes of an original model while taking advantage of developments in design and technology to make a new boat roomier, faster, lighter and easier to handle both afloat and ashore. Few people would object to that.

For a comparison with a boat that fundamentally hasn’t changed, look at the Drascombe Lugger – launched in 1967, famous the world over and still unmistakably a Drascombe Lugger from at least 1,000 paces. A fine example if ever there