mags is right! What a shame it is that our ever popular sailing class should suffer at the hands of such extortion. Surely a publishr in our midst?

Yes, let's try and get a reprint - the demand is obvious.

Who's going to put up the £10K?

How many boats have been built since 3380? - 300 or so - so you're going to release a new edition to cover 300 boats when the first edition covered 3000.  Should be a short extra chapter 

Imagine it - "Well there was the Canterbury Tales.  And there was some boats that were the same as the 'Tales but a little tiny weency bit different.  Then there were some plastic boats.  Then the kites got bigger.  And then carbon fibre was invented and boats got really expensive because mass production meant that Laser and RS made loads of s**t boats really cheap and the Merlin builders couldn't compete.

Let's build another 3000 boats and have some more amazing designs before we reckon we've got anough to write another book.  How are we going to sell a new edition with anything like the tales of Jack Holt, Beecher Moore, Pat blake and Alan Warren and all that stuff that makes the original book such a treasure to have.  Especially when Mssrs Blake and Warren are still going out there and doing it 30 yrs later!!!!

Stop whining about the price of the damn book - it's the only thing you'll spend money on in your sailing life that wont go down in value.  Unless they reprint it of course..............

What about this instead of a reprint?

I have a simple solution to the problem.
Someone lend me a book.
I will OCR it and create a pdf file of the book (with pics) to go on the web site for all to read/print as they so wish.

I don't think it's a case of the number of new boats, or new information. Rather, one of merlin sailors who haven't got a copy of the existing one, wanting one. How many people new to merlins are wondering what all the fuss is about regarding this book, and would like to get one, but not for £48+ on ebay.

If people are willing to pay that price, it must be worth reading?

I know that eBay is great but there are other avenues - always try your trusty local charity shop.  I picked my pristine book up for 50p!?

Doesnt HAVE to be updated, just print some off so more people can get hold of a copy. I have frequented many secondhand bookshops for years now, and never seen the MR book, sadly.

I doubt the publisher has kept the type setting, who has the copyrite? It's certainly not the class, unless it has been asigned. Jim park or Ian Wright? Mags if you want good 2nd Hand book shops for boats try:
Beacon Hill Bookshop between Farnham & Hindhead
or 
The Boat Book Shop
30 Long Street, Dursley, Glos. GL11 4HR
01453 545755
[email protected]
I've lot's more I use if you want them but these two seem the friendlyest.