Guide to using 'Dibber'

Dibber is a Devon Yawl. She is a safe and dependable day-sailer with a heavy lead retractable centre plate which ensures she is stable in most conditions you will meet in the river. She floats about 3 hours either side of high water. Check your tide timetable before booking. Use blue tender from the club dinghy park to reach her, or any other. Dibber includes an electric outboard, see electric motor instructions. She is available to book by all members who have paid their £40 annual boat use fee. Points to remember (refer to the images above):

1. There is a bilge pump under the thwart. Ensure she is relatively dry before heading out.
2. Caution: The centre plate is very heavy. Get a good grip on the lifting line before releasing the cleat (located under the port thwart). Keep fingers and children clear of the drum when lowering. Try to gently ease the centre plate down while being careful not to tangle the halyard in the lifting line drum. While lowering, watch the line to ensure it does not jump off the drum.
3. When the centre plate is fully up there should be one turn left on the drum (see image above). One turn is needed to ensure the centre plate can be fully retracted. If necessary add another turn on the drum but only when the centre plate is down and the line is not under tension.
4. The halliard is the blue line, the grey line is the topping lift. The halliard cleat is on the starboard side of the mast.
5. Before leaving ensure the centre plate is fully retracted. This stops the crabs climbing in and worse mud packing the centreboard slot
6. Before leaving ensure the rudder is fully up. You may find you need to lean over the stern to help the rudder up after which the up-haul line can be used to secure the rudder in its fully lifted position. Ensure the outboard is lifted, the covering cap is on the cable.
7. Securing to the mooring buoy. Add an extra turn on the mooring line, to avoid the mooring line chaffing and raise the mooring buoy out of the water to prevent the buoy from banging against the hull.
8. Use the halyards (main and mizzen) to raise and tension the boat cover. The cover should not be raised off the decks as the elastics become too tight.
9. Check the buoyancy bags are inflated and if not you can add more air using the tube and your lungs.
10. Main sail and mizzen should be left in the boat on their respective booms, and flaked.
11. Do not feel you need to use the mizzen on your first trip, she sails well under main and jib or just main with CB raised a bit.
12. If it is rough you can use Mizzen and Jib only
13. The Jib is a roller reefing one. Use it to reduce the size in strong winds.
14. The outboard is an auxiliary and should not be considered as the boat's main source of propulsion.
15. There are oats and rowlocks. Check they are there.
16. Be aware of the bow sprit when coming alongside a pontoon.
17. There is an anchor aboard. Make sure the end of the line is attached before deploying.
18. Remember SGBA club boats are not permitted past Dartmouth Castle.

Additional considerations for the outboard

• Raising and lowering the outboard requires that it is turned sideways otherwise you can't lift it to free the lifting lever.
• The outboard should be set to straight ahead when motoring and Dibber's own rudder used for steerage.
• Please study the detailed electric motor instructions before use.

If in doubt ask at a Sunday Sailing and boating event.

Last updated 13:53 on 31 July 2026