Hi 
I bought 3261(nsm1/Rowsell) some months ago. It�s actually my first sailingboat and the main reason for selecting just it, was that it seemed difficult enough for me (I tend to get bored with things that are too easy). Second reason was of course the looks (it was rather nice before but after a new varnish it looks really good). It seems to be the only one here in central Finland and might even be the most northest Merlin in the world (please let me know if you know better).

And now to a question: when I sail alone and capsize it seems to be really difficult to get the water out. The rear sinks too deep and even when I get some speed the wake just brings more water in and down I go. I�m rather heavy (90kg) and it would help to move more forward but it seems that steering is a bit too difficult if I�m totally in front of the bench. The rear tank hatches leak so I need to learn how to do this properly and on the first try (my brother has towed me already a couple of times and it�s a bit embarrassing). I haven�t been able to test this with crew as he seems to move really fast and all the errors that I�m doing are compensated by him ( complains being scared when I order him more over the side but I do like the speed)
So, any good advice?

Thanks in advance


Ps. I�m amazed how fast this thing is, and I don�t even know how to sail it properly yet.

...I wish that I could help you I am 90kg in an nsm2 and had many of the problems that you face...my crew is rebellious as well as being scared...get all the water out before you get started..fix the leaks, sit forward...smile as you go along!

I have to say I weigh more than that, when I capsized my Bad Company,  all I had to do was open flaps,bear away, once you are moving sit back, water went out over transom adn through flaps boat soon lifted and remaining water went out through bailers. Big thing though is not to capsize in none planing winds else a quick trip to the shore is required.
This even worked with a bust rear bouyancy bag although no where near as well. Keep bags low and well strapped down and as near transom as possible.

This is a well-known problem and there was a good thread on it in the forum that I can't find now.  If it is windy there is no problem getting water out of the boat.  Open the bailers and transom flaps, bear away onto a broad reach and as the boat gathers speed if you keep the weight in the back of the boat (even if this puts the transom underwater) the boat will pop out leaving the water behind.  Unfortunately, if it was just a sudden gust that got you there is no alternative to bailing it out with a bailer or a bucket, once you have got the water down below the level of the centreboard case it's easy.  Have a look at the article on this link - letting the kicking strap off is very important.

Do you have any bouyancy bags (flotation devices)attached to the back of the boat...?  These are typically yellow and filled with air.

Hi, 

If you're anywhere near Helsinki drop me a line as I'm quiet often out there with work. (Possibly again in Sept..) - it would be great to have a pint or two or perhaps go for a sail. I also weigh 90kg so we could have a proper go at sinking her!! 

Cheers, 

[email protected]

Finland eh? How did a merlin manage to make it's way over there? Or did you yourself have it shipped over?

Can we say that when Andy goes to sail with that bloke that at 90 kilos

"He'll Sink He"

Har de har.  I wish my sailing was better than my jokes but it ain't...................

I make 90 Kgs about 13.5 stone in English money... right?
I used to single hand at 11 stone and found it hard work up wind but great fun down. At 11 stone I didn't have a problem emptying it. I suggest tons and tons of bouyancy!

Some answers
No bouyancy bags, just the built in tanks
I think 90 kg should be 14.17 stone (if 1 st is 6.35 kg)
The boat was in Tampere (150 km south from us) when I bought it. The previous owner (a brit) had to sell it as he was moving back (wife insisted on selling it (a finn and finish women are really persistent)).

I�m going to try with the new instructions. It seems I should be sailing more downwind. It�s just that I have already been too close to the shore, so I�ll try capsizing on purpose further away.
I hadn�t noticed the fact sheets, really useful reading.
Thanks (you guys are really quick)
TH

...my 1st girlfriend was from tampere..sonna maria...but that was in 1977...I was 12..never even kissed her...she told me that she ski'd to school...

Try not to capsize, isn't the water a little cold up there...?  Brrr

I am 17 1/2stone and crew 13 stone and can get the water out our smokers no problem

2 points
good fitting slot gasket(stop water entering boat)
abandon crew in sea!! as it was his fault that we inverted in the first place

Really difficult here. Lake full of polar bears and icebergs.
Actually a week ago the water was 25C and shadow 28C. Been like that for some weeks already, but just now it�s raining heavily.
First girlfriend also from Tampere (Teija), about the same time (strange).
Slot gasket installed and in good order. Going to replace hatch sealing rings (looking much too thin).
Rain gettin even more heavy. 70mm in two days and seems to continue.

I have been told that there is a distinct advantage in having a 63kg (10stone) crew as polar bears won't even get off the ice floe for anything less than an 80kg meal!!!

If you've ever seen a Polar Bear in Lapland it will have been in the company of a Penguin - In a Zoo! Or you should drink less schnapps or vodka!

How far from Sanhamn are you or Marriennholm?

Soon there won't be any Polar Bears at all...

did she ski to school?

Here�s a map of my location
http://map009.viamichelin.com/mapsgene/dm/48a0O_fj_=34RwJcUa-vvb6Y9nwl8L8G4lxH_TtDZ4MUl3HSzUCwRNCllWg6Q1Ly7_4R_vDYJMHPAxnpuk2Eqsg5PCESX991x8Y4XsqMHaa_T9gw=ac9OR2x16Tmg8XjabrBZ8YTEo19jRb-rJQTaFf8UJtfcPglmPe0XoVYlSJVsI8vI_VAvv3i3feUe_gXVW9mdnTJ7qVxftu7=b6EkC8ONgjjkyFE_fOWJEdje8b=W17kOkNvCdZYn=wwtUrARR94avD1Ow2=uvVhNHx4hcVEd60F7nyWYeBTGG

AG wait... I�ll ask these pink elephants if they see any polar bears... Yes, they see them too but they say I shouldn�t disturb them as it totally messes up their flying patterns.
But  seriously we do have the usual brown bears here and even wolfs lately. Brussel says that we may not shoot them as they are totally harmless and easily scared (Not so). So shooting is out ,but no one said that we can�t transport them to Brussel (anyway most of them came recently from Russia). We are thinking about it.

!    She might have skied to school. We had more snow still at the 70es, but skiing to school was not very common. Only those ones who were close and didn�t get free public transport did it sometimes.

Sorry. I made this really wide now. Hope you have big screens.

No we do not have wide screens!

I love Helsinki even at 09.00 on a work-day morning it's Like Copenhagen at Midnight Christams Eve! Very quiet no need to look before you cross the road, - Chickens are safe!

she never mentionned the chickens...

Why did the Finnish Chicken cross the road?

To end it all? -Finnish gedit?

From sailing to chicken... what next.
Just replaced my transom flaps (broke one of them while swimming.
Now 2mm flexible polycarbonate. Should last now.

2mm polycarbonate flaps will be fine when bedded against a foam draught strip.
You'll find that the better you are at sailing the MERLIN, the fewer capsizes you'll have.
THEN, the only capsizes will have is when the wind is blowing a gale, then having enough speed to get the water out will NOT be a problem.
Have Lotsa FUN !!
Nigel

Where do (UK) people buy transom flap material from?
I think its time to get rid of my 6mm acrylic!

model shop

Pinnell & Bax website