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Speculation 1974
Derived from Mike's very successful National 12 design, Cheshire Cat. It is very fast and stable in force three upwards, especially on open water. However, the design is not a good weight carrier in light airs. Suitable for up to about 22 stone. Only two boats were built to this design.
Rigadoon 1975
Development of the Speculation for improved light weather performance. Rigadoon has narrower waterlines and much less wetted area, especially in the aft sections. These changes make Rigadoon a very responsive and rewarding boat in light airs. Rigadoon is reported to be very fast all round, but very easy to capsize in a blow. Only one boat has been built to this design, despite the good reports of its performance.
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Tom Booth Designs
All Tom Booth's designs were intended to carry weight in the range of 23.5 - 27 stone. They were designed with sea and estuary conditions in mind (Exmouth), but also have a good reputation for inland performance.
Intrepid 1965
Also known as Rustler, a conservative design with V'd sections. Went through the sea well but narrow by today's standards. Beam 5'8" (1.73m). Displacement not really enough for heavyweights.
Rampage 1966
Wider with less wetted area than Intrepid and a better weight carrier. Fuller sections forward give good planing, but slowed the boat to windward at sea. Beam 6'0" (1.83m).
Rumpus 1967
Also known as Rage. Finer forward than Rampage. Very good all round. Won a race at the 1968 Championships at Falmouth. Beam 6'0" (1.83m). This design could still be competitive at inland clubs, stable and easy to handle downwind in a blow.
Outrage 1969
Wider development of Rumpus with finer bows, fuller aft sections and a deeper transom. Beam 6'0" (1.83m). A good weight carrier. Fast in light airs and good to windward, but a handful offwind in a blow. Still a good inland boat. Third in the 1969 Championships at Whitstable. Third and sixth in Pwllheli in 1970. Only six were built but they all went
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well, especially Gigolo, 2222. Definitely worth finding and modernising for those sailing inland. An excellent boat of its time.
Courageous 1970
Combined the best of Rumpus and Outrage and flared the topsides still wider. Displacement spread more over the length of the boat for better marginal planing and improved offwind stability. Very good all round, and a good weight carrier. Beam 6'2" (1.88m). Second and 9th in the 1970 Championships at Pwllheli (heavy weather). Safe boat for middle aged adults learning to sail. Handles well in difficult conditions.
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Martin Jones Designs
A shallow entry and sheerline are characteristic of this designer. On the sea his boats tend to slam when going to windward against a short chop. His Xpectant design is widely regarded as marking the beginning of the age of wide boats.
Expectant 1965
The first Merlin Rocket to reach a beam of 6'3" (1.9m). V'd bow sections merging into a rounded mid-section and a flat run with hard bilges. Very quick tacking and good in light airs. Good on restricted water, needs careful handling offwind. This design came second in the 1967 Championships, third in 1968, fourth in 1969 and 1970.
Expectation 1968
The first design built to a beam of 7'3". Maximum beam was subsequently set at 2.2m, which is slightly less than 7'3". So the first Xpectation is the widest Merlin Rocket ever. Except for the slight softening of the bilges near the transom, the underwater shape is much the same as Xpectant. A very good inland boat for lightweights (under about 20 stone). Must be sailed upright. Too much wetted area when heeled.
Admiral Benbow 1974
A very shallow hull with buoyant ends. More keel rocker aft than in the earlier Martin Jones' designs, but still has more than average for recent boats in front of the mast. Slams badly in a chop, so not recommended for the sea. A good inland boat, at its best offwind in a blow. One of the few designs which are both quick tacking and very stable. Beam 6'9" (2.06m) suitable for up to about 25 stone. Only two were built.
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