I am thinking of moving into Merlins, and sailing it on the Thames, and hopefully Salcombe Week. What would be a good design with a budget of up to £2k. All up crew weight will be 23 stone.

Also, what should I look out for when viewing a second hand Merlin?

Many thanks for your help.

Summer wine, Gnome, NSM IV or if you're really lucky you might get an older Tales with metal spars at that price.

Of the the IV is probably the best all rounder.

There's a nice Gnome for sale at the moment (3398)

...or a plastic NSM 2...

On the Thames the NSM2 remains probably slightly better than the 4 as is quicker tacking.  In this price range condition is very important, no point in buying a boat with threoretically the ideal hull shape if it continually springs planks and has all the fittings ping off or not work

Come down to Tamesis in Teddington one sunday when we have club racing, you will see boats ranging from Passing Cloud, Adur 7's, Bad Company, NSM 2's, Tales all racing.. If you speak to any of the members in the merlins they will be more than happy to help or let you have sail.. Or contact me to arrange.

Or, if you're based further out West and want to sail on the Thames, try Cookham or Upper Thames. Both nice places and nice people in the fleets.Contact Pat Blake for Cookham and Alan Markham for Upper Thames.

Forgot to do my usual bit of marketing!
Let me know if you want a look or a sail at Hampton.
Andrew Mills 3511 Hampton rep

020 8241 4216
07903 955 271

Thank you all for the advice and offers of help it is very much appreciated.

I guess I am going to move towards the NSM II or IV. 

Andrew and Rob, thanks for the offers of trial sails, and I hope to be able take you up on the offer, though I suspect it will be at Hampton as I am already a member.

Again, many thanks to all on their response, it is terrific to see a class that is so welcoming.

All this anonymity on this forum!  Now I will be trawling through all the possibles wondering who I should be enlisting for a trial sail!!  There are some bargains to be had on the 2nd hand list at present & there's a good NSM1 going cheap on e-bay, low bow tank wooden Rowsell needing some straightforward work on the foredeck if the seller is to be believed.  Would be a good cheap entry into Merlins.

I'll give you a clue - Roehampton Institute.

Roehampton Institute hasnt existed for many years :-)close though.

Isn't the drunks clinic the Priory there?

There is more to Priory than drunks

Oh yes the crack heads and social misfits too. Seriously if you are rich (very) and have that sort of a problem I'm told its THE place to go, gladly most of us eeem to have these habits restricted to social!

The Priory clinic is close by, but its a different place.

Andrew, I tried to call you, will try again over the weekend.

Actually, I used to have a Merlin many years ago - a Rowsell Fadeaway Satisfaction.

On the river it doesnt matter what design of boat you have, it is how you sail it that counts, and also how lucky you are.  I would say stick with the Satisfaction.

Following all the advice I have receieved (thanks to all!!), and after looking at a couple of Merlins, this morning, my crew and I purchased an NSM II, which we will pick up next week.

Anyway, thanks to everybody who proffered advice.

hampton..a good choice...have fun!