Lymington River Scow Sailing Dinghy (Sail #75) With Bespoke Road Trailer

1936 Lymington River Scow Sailing Dinghy - Sail #75. I have owned ‘Prawn’ since 1984. I bought her from Poole and refitted her in my mid teens. She has the mahogany sheer strake and transom that Berthons, who I believe were the builder, offered as optional extras. As a pre-war example she has a bronze centre plate and I have fitted period bronze fittings and wooden blocks in my ownership.

There are ash blocks on the rope horse and boom for the sheet. The standing rigging is stainless steel. There are 2 Crewsaver buoyancy bags but these dinghies are sailed upright and I was brought up that it was bad form, as well as unwise, to capsize one. The duckboards are scrubbed pine. She is in good all round condition and is in sailing trim.

As with all of these dinghies, it takes a few days for them to take up when first put in the water. I have always endeavoured to maintain her well. She has had a new foredeck fitted, a graving piece in the bottom of the transom and one bottom plank doubled up by the Maritime Workshop in Gosport circa 1994. The sail is by Dolphin Sails and has some wear and small holes but is serviceable. The trailer was built for her specifically in 2004 by R M Trailers of Alton and has mini wheels, softer suspension and larger pads to spread the load.

The trailer has only been used to tow her from Surrey to Northumberland in 2004. The bespoke cover was made by Storrar Marine in 1994. She was last sailed in 2003 and has been in dry storage since. As of December last year, 2017, she has had to be stored outside but has a secondary cover to provide additional protection and she remains perfectly dry. Oars, period galvanised bailers etc.

Pictured are all included. I will be sad to see this dinghy go but due to ill health and mobility issues I will sadly not be able to sail her again. When I was young and growing up on the south coast these dinghies were highly prized and very desirable, especially pre-war examples. I hope a new owner will treasure ‘Prawn’ as much as I have over the years and, most importantly, get her sailing again. Thank you for looking.

If you have any questions or wish to inspect the dinghy, please do not hesitate to contact me via classifieds board.