I have just acheived a sale on my restored Merlin on e-bay and wanted to share my experiance with you good people and warn you of an e-bayer trying to stop people buying Merlins!!

I was forwarded an e-mail from one of my bidders, who had stopped bidding, last night received from a gentleman claiming to be a member of the Merlin Class. In a nutshell he was warning the bidder that the boat was not worth anywhere near what i had been asking for it and that he had seen it on the Merlin site for £1500 then £1200. Hew also mentioned that he had restored a couple of old boats Number 111, and another old one which i forget, and that they where not worth that.

All i can say mate is that if you don't think yours are worth that then you might want to think about getting someone else to restore them as your workmanship is not up to my standard as someone else thinks that it is worth that!!! I am sure many of you know me and my father, having been members for 15 and 50+ years, and know the standard of work we produce.

If you see this, then please answer why you are trying to stop potential new Merlin members from buying boats and joining up, and also why my boat sale is any of your business!

Jeremy 3446 and Merlin people generally.  My sincerest apologies and I am deeply embarrassed.  I did not intend to  prevent your  or anyone else's sale, merely to flag up that there were other Merlins available - in a follow up message I wished the potential buyer luck. When I bought my Merlin on ebay at the time I received several similar messages about alternatives and found them helpful to look around. I also received a couple of offers after I had bought, to sell at a higher price which I declined.  There was NO intent to prevent anyone buying a Merlin or from joining up - why this impression was given I have no idea.   Again I can only apologise and it will never happen again.

I am sure you did'nt intend it to coome across that way, however my top bidder stopped bidding! I did sell it in the end but wonder if i may have got more if they had continued.

I thank you for your apology and accept it. The boat is now going off to France to join the growing French fleet!

Excellent news and I thank you for accepting my apology.

Does that mean some helpful members will be emailing potential buyers of my boat currently listed on eBay, against buying it because it is of undetermined origin?  True, may be of concern if they want to race it but if not...what is the issue?  Again, it is a cheap way to gain entrance or experience with the class, and I intend to build or buy a Merlin when I can afford it, in the U.S.  Sometimes helpfulness hurts.

Out of interest, what boat did you sell and how much did you get for it?

It was my Star Rocket 1781. Got my reserve of £800. Pity considereing i spent nearly £1500 fixing her up! Worth it though as it is a stunning boat now.

www.merlinrocket.co.uk/adverts/view.asp?id=274

Ah hah!  Beware the French Fleet.

Perhaps we should blockade them in Calais

Kiss me hardy

Alan, Just a thought but you may find a buyer for who's a pretty boy on e-bay. I did not think there was a market for Quality boats on there but i have just been proved wrong. Since you are asking so little for it might be worth a try!

Frenchies seem to be keen these days, think a blockade is a bit extreme at least until they start taking trophies home!

How about a european event/open in France then? Lots of benefits - great food, cheap wine, Gauloise Blonde Legeres.....

How long does it take to cross the channel in a dinghy then?

Hey, maybe we could have a worlds, then If I came 50th out of 50 I could be No 50 in the world, even if I am a lap behind lol!

A race to Calais and back....?

Used to be one in the late 1950's a Merlin Rocket 710 "Sarah Jane" Robin Beauclaire even won it! X Channel traffic and class regattas did for it.

Jon, does that mean i could be 51st?

how many planks down should i cut in the gun ports?

what about sailing the atlantic in a bosun (Y&Y august)?

it would take forever - rather take the MR and do it in a weekend.

Jeremy, no, probably not in a 50-boat race, 51 would be a bit tricky.

Trust me if anyone could come that last i could!! Have you seen the results from the Champs?

Glad to hear that you have sold 1781. If visitors to the Dinghy Exhibition had the chance of seeing it after your extensive refit, I am sure that you would have had no trouble in selling at your original price! I saw the boat when when you first bought it ...and saw it after all the work that you put into it. The result was quite simply stunning, an opinion that was shared by all who saw it. Your problem was essentially one of getting people to actually SEE it instead of relying on a written description and an old sail number!

Thanks JB a great compliment coming from someone so wise! I am sure the new owner will feel the same. You are right i just could not get anyone to make the trip to view it. Still it has made room for my new boat, and much to parents dismay i have spotted a potential new project! See you on the water or tomorrow for our Thursday night drinkies!!

Does anyone know how many Merlins there are in France now? Just curious really as i know of a couple that have gone over there.

Well, I've got two;- 1620 & 2988. A guy called Michel Jambon in St. Malo has brought a few across, and 3 years ago we counted 10-15 total; I'd guess less than 20 in all now, and not clear how many are actually sailed; certainly we never come across them.

Thats a pity that you don't see them. I will try and find out where abouts mine is going to and post it on here for you.

So there are other Merlins over here.

Have any of you been sailing together ? If there are enough boats then its easy to ask a club to do an open meeting, or just link in to any of the mixed fleet you get when the Fireballs turn up.

You would all be very welcome at any of the Breizh Skiff events if you're happy sailing windward/leeward courses. Great enthusiastic crowd with RS and other plastic skiffs, but also 14's, Cherubs, Moths, and a Canoe.

Please get in touch if you're interested. I'm in Nantes and currently rebuilding 1333 Gem.

My boat never made it to France the guy buying it pulled out. I have since sold it again on e-bay and again the guy pulled out!! It is now safely tucked up in my garage going nowhere, so if anyone wants an imaculate star rocket, Champ winning design, let me know!

The French have already arrived. If you attended last years champs at Hayling we had a french entry, Florence Piriou and Anne in 2248, L'Enchanture, from the Yacht Club de L'Odet they had a fantastic time and have vowed to return, hopefully with some more boats?

Thanks for the information and contacts. Two mails today.
I've started a string on the French Skiff website, so do join in if you're interested.

Hi Jeremy,
If you haven't sold your Star-Rocket by next July/August, I challenge you to attend the Plymouth Classic Boat Rally to race in the classic dinghy Class.
Regards,
Nigel ( 2156 : Star -Rocket : Roly-Poly )