Testing the Silmaril

I test the new larger Silmaril from Arwen Marine on a cold December day in 2022.
This is my first proper boat test and it is not perfect. The voice-over does not really work and there are other flaws. But I decided to post it as a helpful service to you all, as it still shows off the boat. More boat tests are planned for the future. Let me know what you'd like me to test, and I will see what I can do.
Arwen Marine are based in Compiegne and specialise in light and very well considered plywood cruising dinghies.
Arwen Marine - 1 rue de Roye - 60280 Clairoix, France
Téléphone : 06 80 37 50 18 (speaks English).
www.arwenmarine.com
Bonjour les francophones ! Il y a des sous-titres français sur cette vidéo - avec mes excuses pour la grammaire et l'orthographe incorrectes.
INTERESTED IN DINGHY CRUISING?
Read my book, "The Dinghy Cruising Companion" - second edition out NOW!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/dinghy-...
And join the Dinghy Cruising Association:
dinghycruising.org.uk/
MUSIC
Piano Ballad
- KZbin audio library
Easy Now - Melanie Bell
- from Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com
AVEL DRO
Do you want a boat like mine?
Avel Dro is an Ilur designed by François Vivier, and built of clinker plywood by Les Charpentiers Reunis of Cancale in 1994. I bought her in France in 2003 to import her into the UK, and more recently returned her to France again before trade restrictions were imposed.* The design is based closely on the traditional inshore fishing boats of Brittany in the early years of the twentieth century - hence her simple boom-less lugsail rig and lack of a mainsheet horse, (sometimes controversial among my viewers). Although rare in Britain, Ilurs are relatively common in France. Modern Ilurs are however slightly different internally from mine, as they have more built in buoyancy. The name Avel Dro is Breton, and basically means a whirlwind.
Length 4.44 m
Sail area 12.2 m²
Beam 1.70 m
Draught 0.25 / 0.86 m
Design category C3
François Vivier's website (in English):
www.vivierboats.com/en/
Similar dinghies can often be found for sale on the website of the French magazine Le Chasse-Marée:
www.chasse-maree.com/revue/
Or try Le Bon Coin, (where you can buy anything in France):
www.leboncoin.fr
*Since January 2021, when Great Britain (but not Northern Ireland) left the European Single Market, if you buy a boat in France or elsewhere in the EU, with the intention of importing it into the UK, (other than NI), you must pay VAT and other duties on the import.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

What a wonderful video to start my Christmas weekend. Love every new boat you show us. Thanks Roger and happy holidays to all.

[@brucebrown9604]

A really enjoyable video for Christmas! Arwen has a really nice line up of clever boats for sailing, rowing or motoring, and each one for homebuild, accompanied building, semi built up, or fully built up, which is quite unusual. Many thanks for entertaining us, informing us, and allowing us to escape with you throughout the year! 😎

[@tizme6105]

What a lovely dinghy, i'd love to see how this one performs at sea with that water ballast. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from New Zealand.

[@davidstopher3834]

A Grand Day Out..thankyou Mr Barnes...all the Best for 2023 from the Isle of Wight.

[@joeh773]

I very much enjoyed the somewhat technical introduction to Silmaril, it's rig and construction. I would welcome more vids like these. I think they help me, both a veteran dreamer but very green sailor, to learn what i might like to look for in a dinghy. So does your book i finally gifted myself this past Xmas, very fine reading to endure frozen Midwest with. Thanks for sharing!

[@PicoMicroYacht]

A classic video post - thanks so much - just the antidote for a winter day .... and now Christmas! Seasonal greetings from Kent.

[@Tearlaich64]

Nice to read the article and watch this. Thanks for both.

[@donsilsbe6134]

Roger, I always reserve the right to be wrong. Occasionally, I need to exercise that right. Thanks for sharing this design with us.

[@maryjomagar7154]

Merry Christmas, Roger! I look forward to as many videos as you have time for in 2023. All the BEST to you in the New Year!

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

Merry Christmas Roger! Thanks for all your work filming.

[@alfamelba]

Thanks Roger - a very enjoyable and peaceful interlude in the run up to Christmas - hope you have a good one.

[@user-ku7dg4wq8g]

How lucky you are to sail in December! Thank you! Have fun! Happy New Year of a good sailing!

[@roxyknight4909]

Great video ... was really cool getting indepth look at another boat. Please do more boat reviews if possible

[@erikhedl2084]

Thanks for taking the time to show us this boat!

[@robkunzig5795]

Roger, what I love about the Lug rig is the foot of the sail is always outboard of the gunwale. The cockpit is clear, open and danger free! Love that about the lug rig! Now getting all the power out of the pocket at 160 degrees off the wind sans boom, now that takes skill. Still working that...

[@RogerRoving]

Yes. Off the wind a boomless rig can be a handful.

[@philiporourke7896]

So much fun to watch, thanx.

[@canalemdar3772]

The Silmaril has been a very nice boat. Thanks a lot for sharing your good experiences. Merry Christmas. Love from Amasra, Turkey.

[@rossbarnett3759]

ha you got a knack for how to do these vid's Roger. Merry Christmas and keep em changing and coming and bringing in new ideas with new boats, people and places...

[@derekperkins7343]

Beautiful. A real treat. Thanks Roger.

[@RogerRoving]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@markdwestwood]

Another fascinating video, thank you Roger.

[@hettybuttery3109]

Thank you Roger for this and for all the joy you've provided this year through your inspiring, informative videos. I'm off to try out, gingerly, my newly-acquired Bel Ami (Canotage de France) before this clement weather changes.

[@RogerRoving]

Happy new year!

[@rboutside]

Chesapeake Light craft is just down the road from me. I used stitch and glue method to build their wood duck kayak. Nice folks there

[@TheBoatRambler]

Great Video! I do love my balanced lug sail!

[@geraldtrumpp2340]

Thank you, Roger. Very interesting to see the Silmaril so detailed. And yes, now as you say it, it's a kind of Chester Yawl to sail with. It's really a beauty. Merry christmas!

[@RogerRoving]

You are very welcome

[@bosse641]

What a lovely boat. 🥰

[@rockykoast7065]

Looks really well thought out! 👍

[@MrLindegger]

Merry Christmas Roger. All happiness. Never stop.

[@waynejorgensen4433]

Great video. Balanced lugs are my preferred rig for single up pleasure sailing.

[@rickwhitehouse]

Thank you Roger. A very happy surprise on Christmas eve. I always look forward to a new video from you. A time to just sit and relax. Very Merry Christmas to you.

[@RogerRoving]

Many thanks

[@Pawdee]

Wonderful stuff, Roger!

[@johnsmall9729]

Lovely boats, lovely location, and....lovely hats!

[@hakkiketenci3263]

Lovely boat merry Christmas and happy weekend thanks for all

[@johngregg3222]

Nice one Roger, and Merry Christmas.

[@ianscott3180]

As a boy I sailed a clinker built gaff rowing/sailing in the West of Scotland. I taught myself to sail her, just as well she had oars, I was always miles downwind at first. I was told that she was built as a yacht tender in the 1930.s at Dickies in Tarbert. Maybe true as I lived not far away. Latterly I salvaged an old long shaft Seagull outboard and my life became complete. It gave me the bug and at seventy having sailed all my life I still fondly remember Molly.

[@RogerRoving]

I've sailed small boats in that area too. Lovely.

[@davidpickett]

Nice review Roger. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

Lovely boat Roger

[@dennisbeaver5958]

A nice outing to enjoy on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas, Roger, and all the best for the New Year!

[@robinengland5799]

Very nice boat!! Thanks

[@jeremyrowley1240]

Great video, keep them coming.

[@henrytownend6748]

Great video! Wonderful to hear the old intro music is back too! Have a great Christmas Roger.

[@skaraborgcraft]

Good review Roger. I went from a traditional Swedish sail n oar boat with sprit rig, to a home built Michalak "family skiff", with a balanced lug. Absolutely a better rig, especially down wind . I wouldnt have anything else on a small boat, much as i like pulling string and jib sheets.

[@michaelfinn8818]

Hey Roger. Just watched all your videos. Great to go sailing with you. Hope to watch more soon.

[@noahrichards3152]

Well done Roger! Merry Christmas

[@jctothel]

Merry Christmas Roger have a bloody lovely festive period!

[@loicgalmiche5821]

Simply marvellous...

[@coalfieldbeelovergerald3687]

Great presentation Roger ✍️. Nick

[@spencerdodds2207]

Beautiful boat.

[@stefanbattige7988]

What a wonderful boat! Merry X-mas!

[@PeterSchenck]

Hello Roger Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love greetings from Hamburg Germany. Peter 🎄🎆🎉

[@robstevens5503]

I was thinking I hadn’t seen a video from you for a while and was wondering why and then this appeared and I saw the puffy jackets and beanies and it became clear! Thanks for the video. I know it wasn’t intended as a “how to” guide but there are some useful tips. I do hope to learn to do that one day but I am still learning other skills and my boat isn’t set up for that yet but I will book mark this for future reference

[@JakobEngl]

Great Video !

[@fosterkennel649]

Merry Christmas Roger. Blessings to you and yours coming at you from the hills of Southern Oregon

[@scottastell9415]

Was very enjoyable Roger; watching french boats. Similar but different to Oughtred Fulmar/ shearwater craft. Like the balanced lug rig as I have on my SCAMP (12 foot cruiser with water ballast).

[@johnstride9642]

What a lovely boat! I’m a fan of John Harris designs and am scheduled to build a smaller one of his boats early next year. Have a great Christmas Roger and I look forward to more of your rather relaxing videos next year!

[@johnstride9642]

@@hywelbatten1508 I know. The starting point was a Chester Yawl design by John Harris according to Emmanuel Contrath. Hence my comment.

[@andjo4413]

​@@johnstride9642 well done John......know alls who dont do there research 😂

[@Batlaw1]

@@johnstride9642 Ah, got it now.

[@Batlaw1]

@@andjo4413 Many thanks for your polite comment. My grammar/spelling was ok though?

[@andjo4413]

@@Batlaw1 your welcome 👍😁

[@MikStorer]

A nice idea to have other boats around while testing!

[@ricochetrabbit4618]

I have been enjoying your video on this Christmas morning 😊 Merry Christmas to you and yours and thank you so much for all your videos!

[@RogerRoving]

Thank you!

[@wayfarerchris.4116]

Another excellent video Roger and a lovely looking boat isn't it? Thanks for sharing and a very Merry Christmas to you 👍

[@benmills7407]

Looking forward to more spring maintenance videos ⛵⛵

[@paulthew2]

Wonderful

[@rockykoast7065]

Seasons greetings to all. 🎄⛵🎄

[@mikewooldridge9583]

Another excellent video, lovely boat, I fancy a lighter boat for easier handling a shore, with the water ballast giving you more stability on the water this seems to be the way to go. You have an excellent slip at your location, looks to have protection for the boat and set up for single handed recovery, impressive.

[@tgotsman]

Thanks for the reminder what it takes to enjoy the bliss, and the effort it takes bearing the baby. I was horrified at the glass pane flooring the bank. Let's remember to keep checking on what we let be until we can love it. Gratitude

[@RobertSmith-jl4yw]

That was ice, wasn't it?

[@RogerRoving]

Yes, it was ice.

[@colrodrick8784]

Merry Christmas to you Roger. Great Xmas morning gift you’ve sent my way. A bit too hot today (which I know I should be used to- except the last few weeks it has been like winter). Bon Noël

[@tonywrobleski5185]

Thank you merry Christmas

[@RogerRoving]

Thank you too

[@rolfpiotrowski4325]

What is more beauty than wood in his own color? It´s a real nice boat, I guess! And the options you have with the water ballast and bowsprit promises some toys, you can use! I like it! 😃👍 So So let me thank you for your nice entertainment all over the year and wish you a 🎄 merry Christmas✨ and a happy new year! 🎅

[@RogerRoving]

Thank you very much!

[@romantiachristiana5147]

"Big disadvantage with centreboards". I appreciate the long ballasted keel, but it does draw more depth. Great video.

[@rsb62rsb]

Merry Christmas to you! 🥃

[@chriswilson3009]

Looks a like a great way to clear away the christmas cobwebs.

[@proutsos]

Wonderful video and boat! I have a very similar lugsail on my GIS and it is so simple to setup and use. Reefing is identical to your illur, a couple of carabiniers at the tack and clew and a few tie ups! Mind you the "bad" tack points a little ... bad... upwind.

[@RogerRoving]

Emmanuel makes the GIS too.

[@leedunham5997]

A perfect video for a very cold Christmas morning in Ohio. Many thanks!

[@raymazzuca5263]

the new boat loos great,,

[@maxmarbeya]

Some lovely well thought out cruisers 👍

[@lone-wolf1248]

I've been trying to find the correct term for what "your" style of boat is called Roger, and now I know, you say "ilur" it's been very hard to try to find your style of boat without knowing what it's called. Thankyou for your videos Roger, always relaxing and educational. I hope one day I will be able to enjoy sailing the sea as you do. Just me and my boat 👍

[@mikefule330]

I don't think there's a single universal term for the general category of boat. The Ilur is only one model of boat. It's an open dinghy (no foredeck or cabin) or a cruising dinghy (designed for practicality and stability rather than racing) or even a "traditionally styled" dinghy because it does a fair job of mimicking the overall appearance of a traditional small workboat. Roger's Ilur has a single boomless standing lug sail. The Ilur shown in the background in this video also has a bowsprit and jib. The boat featured in this video has a balanced lug sail. At this end of the market, numbers are quite small compared, say, to the Laser or other popular racing designs. There are many competing approaches to basically the same thing: making an attractive open dinghy that is practical and stable and suitable for long day sails or overnight cruises.

[@Lightw81]

It's a day boat.

[@mikefule330]

@@Lightw81 A day boat specifically designed to have room for two people to sleep overnight.

[@RogerRoving]

In France it would be called a canot, in England a cruising dinghy.

[@thomascking]

Every time I see your videos I'm reminded that I really want a beautiful tender for our narrowboat. Not, unfortunately, a plastic one, which would be far easier to find. But the much smaller inland rowing-boat equivalent of these romantic dinghys.

[@RogerRoving]

They could be a little vulnerable if you're intending to tow them into a lock shared with steel hulled narrowboats. In many ways a plastic tender is probably a better option.

[@hero2006]

Happy Holidays.

[@paullaviolette2610]

My son and my neighbour both had boats with water ballast and it was quite affective.

[@sailingspark9748]

Thank you for giving me another alternative to my rather high strung GP14. While I love my "spark" she can be a bit much to single hand in the weather here in the mid-atlantic region of the US. Now to find out how to get the plans or kit here on this side of the Atlantic.

[@pangurban9579]

What a gorgeous-looking boat... not sure that those bailers wouldn't get jammed - but it's a truly lovely boat - the arse ringed with pasta - lovely - I never had that one in O-level French but it may stand me in good stead for any future trips to France...

[@RogerRoving]

Difficult to translate "Cul" (as in cul de sac) but it is certainly rather vulgar - hence "Arse".

[@robhosailor]

Very nice boat and very good video! I like both the shape of the boat and the idea of water ballast below the floor. * Several years ago, balance lug sails were completely unknown to me from a practical point of view, but in 2010 I launched my first BETH sailing canoe with rigging as a balance lug cat yawl, and in 2016 I launched the Goat Island Skiff balance lug cat - both designed by Michael Storer. Today, I consider the balance lug rig to be extremely simple, effective and safe, even ideal, for a small tourist and recreational dinghy and I am surprised that, for example, in my country it is still very little popular. I can confidently say that my sailing canoe BETH had one of the first balance lug sails in Poland - today there are maybe a few dozen of such rigs. Regards

[@RogerRoving]

I like the rig more and more.

[@wisenber]

I was hoping to test the changes on my boat this week, but the water here is in a solid form for the next few days.

[@Akitene]

"Ass ringed with pasta": the Google-ish translation does quite a poor justice to that deliciously absurd French expression. It made me laugh, though. By the way, the Silmaril is really exquisite.

[@user-ey7lz7tk1o]

多謝分享！👍💪

[@Floridanwa]

Roger, I really enjoy these cruising dinghy reviews. I would love to see you review the sleeping room on these. Also, some more information on price or how they are sold. Kits?

[@RogerRoving]

This was a first attempt at a dinghy review and in doing it, I learnt a lot about what to do in subsequent ones. Unfortunately this particular dinghy is still at a prototype stage and so many of these issues are not yet settled. I will probably do a second test of it when it is more developed.

[@okcantbelieveit294]

Merry Christmas! 🥃🍺

[@RogerRoving]

Same to you!

[@christophe6065]

Thank you for this video. Are you going to put a boom on Avel Dro ? That would be a revolution ! 🙂

[@sailorpedal]

Love your videos Roger. I used to be a DCA member, back in the Nineties when Peter Bick was head honcho! I built a Roamer dinghy and put a cuddy on it. Now in my 81st year, those days are long gone I'm afraid! We also love France having been motor caravanners as well. One thing I'd like to know, is how do you cope with 90 days in Schengen, or are you a French resident? If so how difficult is that to get? Keep up the good work on the filming. Best wishes, Peter Ingram.

[@jonstivers]

Back in the day we called those Elvstrom bailers.

[@RogerRoving]

Vide-vite in French!

[@sbvictory]

Hi Roger. I've been watching your videos on dinghy cruising and I plan to take it up when I can. I did a lot of around the buoy racing in my younger days, but would like to try the cruising side of sailing. By the way, I just watched a video of yours with guest John Welford. You mentioned his book "The New Zealand Backyard Boat Builder". I went to buy a copy on Amazon, but they are selling for $200! Maybe you could contact John and ask him to republish, or sell a downloadable on-line? Anyway, thanks for your KZbin videos!

[@chalonerchute2316]

Another lovely video for watching on Christmas Day, thanks Roger! I am now convinced to convert our charming Aber to balanced lug. Does Silmaril have a small jib too? Perhaps on a small bowsprit? Nick Gates will help in March. Roll on Spring!

[@chalonerchute2316]

Ah, I see it will have a jib!

[@RogerRoving]

Yes, lots of variety of rig.

[@andersholmstrom3571]

What will the tent for this boat look like?

[@bernardboulanger898]

Cool. Lovely the Tolkien references (Arwen, Silmaril) On the website there's a whole explanation of the Silmaril. Water ballast is a great idea in small boats. The Scamp has water ballast and it is said to be very seaworthy. I was pondering a small retrofitted water ballast system for my Gartside 130. How did the "the sunshines out of your @$$" become "pasta around the @$$" ? Those nutty French!

[@urbanwikstrom9246]

Thanks for a great video! I`ve got a question. I`m planning a trip to France in 2023. Do you know where one could rent a dinghy in the Golfe du Morbihan? Just for a day or two? I have a Marieholm IF and about forty years of sailing experience in the Baltic. It would be nice to see the Golfe not just from the shore. Happy New Year! Cheers!

[@RogerRoving]

I don't know where you can rent dinghies I'm afraid. But you could try the Ecole Glénan on the Ile d'Arz.

[@PIEROPIEROU]

think you pére noél!=)

[@xavierbell3526]

Thank you for this great video, and all your others! Do you know if the larger version of the Silmaril is going to be sold as a kit on the Arwen Marine website?

[@RogerRoving]

I imagine so, when Emmanuel has ironed out any snags.

[@williamokeefe918]

Thank you, Roger. I had been aware of this design but hadn’t looked at it in detail. Perhaps Fyne Boat Kits will produce a kit for it one day… What’s the next video going to be? An AC 75, perhaps?

[@RogerRoving]

Possibly you could get a kit from Fyne. Emmanuel uses them to cut his components, of course.

[@jakobandersson1944]

God jul!

[@philoulabroche2808]

Bonjour Roger. A quand ton livre en version française ? Hello Roger. When will your book be available in French?

[@cvanscho]

Just one mistake: Roger, you are NEVER wrong!

[@RogerRoving]

Aww, shucks. You are too kind.

[@vladkass1086]

Good day Dear Roger! I would like to make sail as on your boat. Please say, what kind of material you used on your sail. Thanks for answer and your beautiful videos.

[@timequest9802]

Hey Roger, Quick question. What do you like best. Sailing or the destination?

[@RogerRoving]

It's a mixture of both. I think you need a destination to give a point to the sailing.