Looking at buying either NSM2 built by Kenyon or NSM4 built by Hoare are both builders good and weak points. the NSM 2 has been there for a while does anyone know why?

Am sailing at sea with total weight of 23 stone.

Whilst not answering your question directly as I know nothing of either boat, perhaps these questions will help you make a decision....

As regards making a choice Is either deck-stepped?  What are the sails like?  Do either have full-length carbon spinnaker poles?  Does either boat have a full-sized kite?  Are they wood or FRP?  Has either boat been revarnished/painted?  Has it been done properly?

People generally go for builders or designers with track record. To get a track record you needed a top yotter as your jockey and the top yotters of NSM IIs and IVs were almost all sailing Rowsell or Turner built boats.

Thats not to say that the boats were slow, just that noone at the front ofthe fleet was sailing one.

The kenyon built boat is Billy Wiz 3397. Tho the builder has no track record in Merlins the boat has been around on the circuit with some success at my end of the fleet for a couple of years.  i don't think there's anything wrong with it but I suspect the carbon mast has moved on to the vendor's next boat.  It probably hasn't sold because it's in Wales and no-one knows the builder.  It was in good condition with a decent set of sails.  You are probably better off with an NSM4 on the sea but either are good starter Merlins.

We had an nsm4 from hoare, watch the weight, ours new was 112 kg urghhhhhhhhh

good in a blow upwind though

possibly coming up Turner NSM2 "Turncoat" deck stepped etc will be cheap as inwhales need gluing (new non-slippy boots required!)