Contemplating purchasing an NSM4 as a first Merlin, does this design have any known vices or weaknesses,sailing in short estuary "chop" helm and crew 23st

Merlins are all fast until you race them against other Merlins!

Peter

Below is the description of the NSM4 taken from the Merlin Rocket design guide, which you can find on the merlin website.

As you will see the NSM4 is an excellent all rounder which will easily cater for your sailing requirements and all up weight.

Which particular NSM4/sail No. did you have in mind? The builder will influence any decision as well i.e. Rowsell, Turner, Smart being the main players.
  
Hopefully this will help in making your decision and you will choose to join the association once you have aquired a boat?

Best wishes

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NSM4 

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.

Its a Rowsell

Check for rot.

Magazine Editor,
Thanks for your informative reply, I just needed verification that the design would suit,am on a budget so cant run to "CT" but wanted a design with some sort of track record.Yes will be joining the Assoc.
Welshharpist, thanks for the advise,this particular one has been stored under cover for most of its life,saying this I have been sailing wooden boats for last 26 years so have an idea as to likely problems

MY FIRST MERLIN WAS A WOODEN NSM4 WITH A GOOD RACING RECORD. HOWEVER, I WASTED A LOT OF TIME (& MONEY) TRYING TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE.

IF YOU ARE REALLY SAILING AT 23 STONE WITH A HEAVIER HELM THAN CREW IE A 13/10 SPLIT THEN I WOULD SAY FINE... JUST. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS THAT I FOUND THAT MY BOAT WOULD SIMPLY NOT CARRY WEIGHT, PARTICULARLY CREW WEIGHT, OFF WIND, IN WAVES, WITH A WIND ABOVE FORCE 3. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THE BOAT WAS UNMANAGABLE JUST THAT MANAGING IT WAS DETRIMENTAL TO SPEED. THE CHANGE TO THE SPINNAKER RULES MAY HAVE IMPROVED THIS SITUATION BUT I WOULD GUESS NOT BY ENOUGH.

ONLY A FEW NSM4'S WERE BUILT & MY EXPERIENCE WOULD CONFIRM THAT THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THIS - THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS CANTERBURY TAILS...

Actually, the NSM 4 design was very popular in the late 1980s and I believe nearly 40 were built.  In their time they were one the fastest designs offwind on a championship course.  However, the slightly later Canterbury Tales design effectively superseded the NSM 4 and offers noticeably better planing performance.  That said, a good condition NSM 4 would still make a great introduction to the class, and a well sailed NSM 4 will still beat a badly sailed Tales!

Cant afford a Cant.Tales, any other suggestions re suitable designs as an alternative to NSM4? we have 3 Cant Tales at my club so I'll have my work cut out whatever I get! I will be the fourth Merlin in the club

Hi Peter

If you are working on a restricted budget then the NSM2 is still worth a look.

Prior to my aquiring a Tales I sailed an NSM2 and I am by no means a spring chicken! I found it to be a good weight carrier specifically if you are helming. I must admit I did deck step mine, with a carbon rig, which made all the difference.

I am pretty sure that most NSM2's were low bouyancy as standard, so deck stepping would not be a problem.

Going back to budget and what you want to spend. 3428 (NSM4) I believe is still for sale and has been on the market for sometime so good opprtunity to negotiate and obtain a quality built NSM4!

Good luck & best wishes

I also meant to say that with deck stepping an old boat you have to be realistic and weigh up the pro's and cons economically to carry out the conversion, which in most cases doesn't make sense.

It might be worth contacting Justin Eddy down at Starcross. Whilst he sails a new spangled Wrecked'em Rocket, in the Winter months he sails his Turner built NSM2 'The Feet' and gives the C/Tales a run for their money. He might be able to give you some tips.

ATB

Having owned an NSM4 and NSM2 and Winder Cant, for your limited budget I would go with a well sorted NSM2, deck stepped with carbon and good sails being probably the most important thing (put it this way last year at least 2 MRs that aquired new sails went from back of the fleet boats to near front of the fleet in club races).

In my opinion, I think the NSM2 is easier to sail, more forgiving - less important to keep flat all the time etc, so whilst the NSM4 might technically be faster it loses out on the ability to tack quickly and suffers if you can't hold it flat, so in shifty, gusty or restricted conditions the NSM2 will beat the 4 and keep up sometimes with the Tales.

I'd have to totally agree having restored/rerigged an FRP NSM 1 the most inpresive thing weve done is new kevlar sails & big spinnaker at club level its very competitive. No CTs about though but sails well, next mod the carbon mast hopefully ready in time for the begining of the season

Twas ever thus; sails are the engine! Buy new, buy expensive buy often look after them.
DB

There is a Turner Canterbury Tales "The Quickening" with excellent racing record for sale at not exorbitant cost, why not consider this? I doubt that it has ever been beaten by an NSM IV.

I would second that observation Interested Observer, this boat has performed consistently well in spite of being pointed in the wrong direction!

Indeed...

Alan,  I will be sailing in the wide open spaces of the sea so surely the added beam of the NSM4 will mean that it is in fact be easier to keep flat? my original question was how do they perform in a short chop

I think that 'Second That' has hit the nail on the head here.

One of the sister-ships to 'The Quickening' - 'Whyte Mischief' was beaten into 4th by the NSM4 'Shared Affair' at the 1990 inlands at Grafham. NSM4 2nd and NSM2 3rd. So you don't need a Canterbury Tales after all in those days!

Can't find the answer to the question about the chop, but the previous design guide (link below) but it seems to suggest that if you can't afford a tales, you want to look at NSM4, NSM2, Summer Wine, in that order.

Gentlemen, I thank you for all your advice, it seems like a toss up between a 2 and a 4 NSM, will look at both whichever is better condition/decent sails etc gets my vote, the learning curve in the first year is going to be steep,will consider upgrading boat after first year.Hope to meet you on the water

Team Green, dad and son partnership, about 8 years ago sailed NSM 4 (3405) very enjoyably.  total weight was about 19 stone at the beginning getting heavier as time went by and the kid got older.  Not a bad boat.

Peter I think your logic is right, go for the best boat with the best gear that you can afford. A note of advice I was given was that rather than spend lots of money & time upgrading an old design with Harken,Kevlar & carbon etc I should seriously look at buying a newer boat (a CT) with with all that kit already on it. The advice is of course perfectly right, for my reasons rejuvenating an old boat for club level suits my needs even if it does make no financial sence!
So Buy the best you can & enjoy it, Regards Barry.

Took Mags Eds advice,have just purchased NSM4 3428,nice boat,little bit of sorting to do but will be ready for tail end of winter series,will be looking for a second hand lightly used main to suit Proctor ali mast in the early part of the season,but the rest no prob

Peter,

I'm looking at getting a new sail for 3389 (NSM 4) which has a proctor ali mast (deck stepped, fully raking).  I've got a good condition Mylar main which you may be interested in.  If you're on open water it should be pretty good for you.  Unfortunately on Banbury duckpond I need something a little more readable.

Let me know it you're interested

Jon

Peter

Delighted to hear that you have purchased 3428. A fine example of an NSM4, which you will get plenty of enjoyment.

Not sure if you have joined the Association yet? If you do you will receive the quarterly A4 magazine (Spring issue due to be despatched tomorrow to members) and a Year Book beautifully crafted by our Honarary Keeper of Class Records.

Most importantly, as a member of MROA, you will enjoy the huge benefits of being associated with the best and most exciting classes around today.

Best wishes