Aspiration 1980 (aka "The Iron Lung")
This is an enormous boat with a very wide transom and exceptionally high freeboard.  Like Stiletto, Aspiration was intended to be sailed heeled upwind.  As with Stiletto, the gybing centerboard has been abandoned.  Aspiration's mast and centreboard are set further aft than usual, and this may be one reason why performance is disappointing.

NSM2 1980
The NSM 2 is still a popular design winning the Nationals every year but one (when it came 2nd) from 1981 to 1988 inclusive.  It also won the Inlands in 1984, '85,'88 and '90.  This puts this design on a level with the Proctor Mark IX (seven wins and one shared) and Morrison's own Smoker/Satisfaction - five National wins, three Inlands and two Silver Tillers.  The design is a development of the NSM 1 with fuller sections under the mast and in the bilge near the stern to carry more weight (around 24-26 stone). 
There are also two variants: Guy Winder modified the design to produce "Uptown Girl" (3338) which was filled out even more under the mast to carry more weight, and Jon Turner has produced a "Seventh Heaven" version which is slightly wider, has a slightly flatter rocker and a slightly flatter transom.  Jon's version produced most of the successes and "Seventh Heaven" herself was used as a mould for some foam sandwich NSM 2s built by David Naylor (six boats) and Simon Bagley (eight boats) although both have now ceased trading.  The success of Bagley's boats on the circuit encouraged Jason Bishop, who at times had worked for both of these and also for Guy Winder to set up in business moulding these boats, the first one having the landmark number of 3500.

The NSM 2 can be summed up as an extremely good all rounder, many were built and are still being built.

Gnome and New Potato
The Gnome is definitely a boat for the lightweights, excellent on open water - preferably a sea with a moderate chop.  It is a development of the New Potato and is a real flyer on the reaches.  Only two New Potatoes have been built, but it won the Silver Tiller in 1984 and was second in the 1982 Championships and 3rd in 1983.  However, while the flatter hull planes faster, it does make the boat less versatile than the NSMs which are perhaps better in all conditions.  The history of the design can be traced back to the Summer Wine and indeed the rocker is exactly the same.  Gnome came second in the 1984 championships and won in the heavy weather 1985 championships.

NSM3 1983
An NSM2 variant designed to carry a little more weight with slightly increased rocker in the run, and slightly fuller sections from the mast to the transom.  Only two boats have been built to the design 3327 & 3340.  Black Adder came 2nd in the 1983 Championships.

NSM4 1984
A popular design in the late 1980's.  This boat is a development of the NSM family and has moved the NSM concept closer to the Summer Wine.  This means that the boat is very flat, quick to plane, very wide to give extra power and is aimed at an all-up weight of around 22-24 stones.  The design is basically an NSM 2 flared out above the waterline, with slightly flatter forward underwater sections.  This boat won the Silver Tiller in 1986, 1987 and 1990, the Nationals in 1986 and the Inlands in 1987 and 1989.  There are many examples of NSM 4's on the water.  The minor variations produced by builder's tolerances and interpretations are alleged to significantly influence performance. 

What is a White Whale?
This is an NSM 4 built by Rowsell and Morrison which has spray-painted decks and insides instead of the usual varnish.  The subsequent reduction in man hours required to finish the boat have enabled this version of the NSM 4 to be produced more cheaply than a conventional Merlin.  Although these boats were successful on the water only four were built, owners preferring to pay a bit more for beautiful varnish.

Design 42 1990
Underwater sections are closest to the NSM 2, whilst above the water the greater sitting-out power of the NSM 4 is retained.  The design name apparently comes from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy "42"!!  Deep Thought and Roaring Forties have been built to this design.

Thin Ice 1992
A new design in 1992 by Phil Morrison which follows the thinking behind the Canterbury Tales but aims to give a very low wetted area and the ability to carry more weight than many of the current modern designs.  Second at the 1992 Nationals and winner of Salcombe Week the same year.  A vice free boat competitive over the whole range of conditions.

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Ian Holt Designs
Ian's philosophy is that since the Merlin Rocket class