Hello all, I am interested in buying a MR to race around the London area, and was wondering what the PA costs are for this kind of boat? am thinking of spending 2K on the boat and wondered how much things like sails, insurance , dinghy club fees (as i don't have a yard!) etc cost any info gratefully recieved.I might even buy you a real beer one day!!!

Sails £1k+ brand new for the full suit, second hand season old ones around half that.

Insurance for £2k approx £100ish

Club fees vary.

My Balance sheet for a 1600 boat.

Annual expenses : ins 100,club 160, MROA 25

some occasional expenses since I bought the boat a year ago : sheets/haliards 100,big kite 50,carbon poles 200,epoxy 20,toplac 20

2 x bottles Whisky for my girlfriends dad for painting/fixing/use of garage/teaching me woodwork £50 (I can't really buy him Bells as a thankyou now can I??)

I'm not gonna buy a new suit of sails each year - if I was that serious I'd be pretty dumb to buy a 2 grand boat.  I might spend a grand later in the year for some new rags and about 500 for a carbon mast but they will last me a little while.

Add to that about 100 plus accomodation/beer/petrol to go on the fantastic race training weekend next year with your new boat.

Hi Jon,
Membership at Ranelagh is 65 pounds per year, indoor boat storage is 120 per year paid in two 6 month periods. We have a lot of vintage boats at the club but not any newer boats apart from Paul Gilbert who sails around the country but not much at Putney. We'd be happy to see you though, email me if you have any questions.
Nick

Membership at Hampton SC £56 berthing over the sailing season £64.  Insurance probably about £100.  Have a look at the 2nd hand lists before the major events as the top sailors sell off their sails quite reasonably - say £150 for a good spinny, £400 for a jib and main in good condition for club sailing.  Boat maintenance is the tricky one.  If you buy a boat in good overall nick you may not have to spend much for a while, but a wooden boat will cost more to maintain.  If you get a professional job done on the decks that's about £800 (down to bare wood and revarnish).  Cordage and fittings in a used boat you should probably budget around £150 a year if it's an old boat and you are going to race it hard.  Once you get the open meeting bug you can spend a lot on accommodation and a surprising amount on beer and food!

I'm going to blow my own trumpet - Ranelagh still hasn't got an active Merlin fleet, we have, and the core of it is boats of your price range.  Contact me if you want more info - you could come down to the club one Sunday and poke your head into a few boats and see what you get for your money.

Andrew Mills 3511 Hampton Rep

P.S. home phone 8241 4216, mobile 07903 955271.  I will be down at the club this weekend for very certain as I wish to introduce my refurbished boat to the water after 6 months!!!

You can also kip in a car or camp at opens to save costs

Or you could come down to Tamesis Club in Teddington, easier parking than Hampton! We have probably the largest fleet in the UK of Merlins. Boats range from new Tales to 45 year old Holt design boats all shapes can win on the river. We sail all year round and average around 14 Merlins each sunday during the winter and around 10 in the summer. We have a great steward who makes the best lunches.. Always welcome to come down on a sunday if you want. Our fees are £136 for the year or £83 for summer membership(April-October) £83 for winter membership (November-March), £63 per year for boat parking. If you look at the Merlin clubs section on this site you will see details and links for all the clubs mentioned. Plus my contact details are on the committee page.

Rob Wilder 3656 "Wild Card"

I'm surprised no one has done an advert for Wembley!.

Rob, of course there is no parking at Hampton S.C. as you can't get to the Island by car. But there is plenty of parking, especially on the Molesey side.

Well i should have guessed that the offer of a free pint would bring all the Commodores and fleet reps out!!
Thanks to all for the information, it all seems very promising and dare i say quite reasonable!
I shall start my search in earnest as of now,
PS anyone want to come crewing, come last , get wet , be thoroughly embarrased and humiliated, but afterwards to be bought enough beer to sink a battle ship! give me a shout:)
Commodores need not apply!

Bit outside the M25 but look at the Harlow Blackwater web site, creek and open water sailing. Check the results to see how the Merlins are doing

Ok here is an advert for Wembley, located just off the North Circular near the M1 junction with panoramic views of North London and the new Wembley Stadium. The sailing on Sunday is always competitive from the front to the back with a regular turn out of a least 10 Merlins of almost every vintage, you are sure to get a good race, the racing ends at a civilised time to allow for domestic duties, and there are hot showers and a bar for essential refreshment, come and visit.PS ample car parking too.