Repair and Maintenance of a Drascombe Lugger

Fixing a loose centreplate axle
In Retrospect March 2003

I am now convinced that the 'sealed axle' is a possible design weakness at least in the older boats (may be a different design in the current production models?). There have been several reports of Luggers mysteriously losing their centreplates through the bottom of the boat and I am sure this is due in part at least, to the sealed axles becoming loose and wearing away the surrounding GRP until there is no support left. Because the axle is hidden there is no easy way of checking as to how well it is fixed. My through bolt approach (tried and tested on a whole range of dinghies), worked well for me last summer. The Lugger was on a mooring for 12 days on Loch Sunart in Scotland and there was no evidence of water ingress at all.

Another advantage of the through bolt is that it is very easy to inspect/remove the axle simply by removing the floorboards and inspecting/unbolting. Also, if the boat is on a swinging cradle type trailer, it makes it much easier to remove the centreplate without having to careen the boat.