The Droleen, a 12′ lapstrake catboat, was designed in 1896 by W. Ogilvy of Bray, a town on the east coast of Ireland. It was intended to be launched off a stony beach and to be sailed “in any weather, plenty of wind and sea—not infrequently encountered off the coast of Bray,” according to H.C. Folkard’s 1906 book, Sailing Boats from Around the World.Eight boats were built—some, if not at all, by Mr. Foley of Ringsend, Dublin—but it is thought that the development of the class was hampered when some of the original owners, who were in the British Army, were called away to fight in the Boer War (1899–1902) in South Africa. There was, however, some class racing up until the First World War, after which the boats gradually disappeared. None survive today. The trailing edge of the 3/16″ galvanized steel centerplate is fully exposed when retracted in the open-topped trunk.
Photographs by the author
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Lovely boat. I am currently rebuilding a clinker sailing dinghy here in New Zealand that has the same length and beam. The design is a bit of a mystery but something may come to light in the future. Great to read that the sailing and stability aspects were favourable and also the rowing performance of such a beamy craft, bodes well for my boat.
Cheers,
Mike.
What a lovely little boat! It wasn’t just the boat that attracted me but the name of the design. Droleen, surely Irish for the little wren (The wren, the wren, the king of all birds…!), or in Irish, an Dreolín
I’ve spent the last few years rebuilding a 21′ wooden gaff cutter (re-launched 2019) which was originally built in the early ’80s by Liam Hegarty of Oldcourt boatyard.
And I need a little boarding boat….
How coincidental to find the first post by an O’Dwyer!
I am currently writing the history of the Bray Droleens. I am expecting it to be complete by the autumn of 2021.