DRAKKAR 24
Dropping the spinnaker down the hatch
forward of the mast is simple enough.
There’s plenty of room in the bow
compartment for other things as well,
though of course you wouldn’t want much
weight so far forward and anything in
there is liable to get wet when a kite is
stuffed down on top.
Another hatch in the stern leads into a
sizeable space under the cockpit. This is
where you find the bilge pump, which
was needed on this boat because much
of the water that sloshed through the
centreplate case came straight in here
over the top of the bulkhead supporting
the aft end of the case.
Above-deck stowage is beneath the
cockpit seats, which are formed by
sub-mouldings. Access to the stowage
space, running the entire length of the
seats, is via lids all of 5ft (1.5m) long. An
outboard motor such as the Torqeedo on
the test boat will easily fit in. Circular
inspection hatches on the inboard side of
the seat mouldings just abaft the mast
open into the same space. Given the
length of the seats, you might otherwise
have to disturb several people to get at
your sandwiches. It would perhaps make
more sense to create some separate
smaller compartments further forward,
reached via hinged hatches, so you don’t
end up hunting for those sandwiches as
they slide along the locker’s 12ft length.
You could do this on one side and leave
the other as it is for stowing anything
longer.
Further inspection hatches on the
outboard side of the seat mouldings open
into the main hull. It’s very modular
construction, making use of plenty of
sealant between the various mouldings.
The outboard motor, incidentally, fits on
a transom bracket to port. As befits a
French boat designed to appeal to sailing
schools, there’s also a socket on the
starboard side for a sculling oar.Capable kit
In terms of construction and equipment,
everything appears to have been put
together reasonably solidly. Mouldings are
neat and the stainless steel work looks
good (at least it did when new).
Investigating inside the bow compartment
and beneath the cockpit reveals a
reassuring number of stringers, bulkheads
and stiffening members. Fittings appear to
be up to the job (the under-powered
kicker notwithstanding), spars are from
Z Spars and the sails come from the
Elvstrom loft.
The outboard bracket and the teak on
the cockpit seats are included in the
‘Croisière Pack’ or available separately. A
‘Voyage Pack’ includes a trailer, deck
cover and rudder cover, while the ‘Pack
Course’ gives you laminate sails and the
asymmetric spinnaker but still no
mainsheet traveller. Our test boat had all
three packs, taking the price before
delivery to just under £36,000 (based on
the exchange rate at the time of writing,
though Universal Yachting sell in euros).
Early photographs show a traveller,
which would help control of the mainsail.
A bridle might work as a simpler and
much less expensive alternative as long
as the kicker is up to the job.
Dufour’s priority appears to be on
keeping the layout clear and simple forsailing schools – it has already formed an
alliance with the French Sailing
Association – but a bridle would allow the
boat to fulfil dual roles and satisfy those
who would value the extra efficiency.PBO VERDICT
The Drakkar seems well suited for what
she’s designed to do: she’s roomy,
stable, simple and forgiving. She’s also
sufficiently sprightly to be fun to sail,
thinking nothing of slipping along at
8 knots on a two-sail reach. You’ll have
fun leaving 35ft cruising yachts in
your wake.
For all her positive attributes, in my
view there’s still plenty of unrealised
potential. Improvements to the rudder
assembly and centreplate case would
undoubtedly make her faster, drier,
more rewarding and more responsive
to sail. Preventing so much (or
preferably any) water getting inside the
hull would be a good idea too.
Our test model was an early example
and no doubt Dufour will be addressing
these points.
The Drakkar is not designed to be as
sporty or precise as the Seascape 24,
for example (see PBO August 2017).
Since the Seascape has a cabin, she’s
perhaps not directly comparable. The
Seascape is also appreciably more
expensive and it’s easy to see why,
though comparisons between
the two boats are interesting given
their similarities.
If you want an open daysailer of
this size that’s competitively priced
and neither a sportsboat nor a
modern classic, there are few
alternatives available in the UK.
The Drakkar is different and she
certainly shows promise.Locker lid/seats give access to stowage,
though you may have to move people first The forestay attachment allows the spinnaker pole to be on the centreline
The Drakkar is intended for multiple roles
as evidenced by the anchor locker