I have the good fortune to have bought the very beautiful 2806, which has spent 20 years of it's life in garages and is in timewarp condition (see the photos, link below).

However, the selection of sails from 1981 back to 1973 is rather vintage.  I have in mind that I might buy some ex-circuit racer sails as on the for sale board on this website, but have no idea whether they will work on my boat, or even fit.  Can anyone help?  Or should I have some new sails made to fit the rig?

The mast is hog stepped, then goes up through a slot in the deck, which has a rather ineffective mast ram in, and has no lowers.  The mast I believe is Proctor (and is likely to be the original 1973 model).

Also, is it possible to use a new rules bigger spinnaker on a boat this age?

Any advice is much appreciated!

Nick.

Ah, can't put two links in together.  See
http://www.guildandersonfurniture.co.uk/images/Merlin2806a.jpg
http://www.guildandersonfurniture.co.uk/images/Merlin2806b.jpg

Do not go for latest sails as will be cut for deck stepped mast.  Chris Martin has some sails for hog stepped boats on the For Sale section and these should be OK as long as foot/luff fits.

Do not even think about putting lowers on your hog stepped mast - I had some fitted on an NSM which I bought which was hog stepped and which went much better without them.

I've got quite a few suits of sails - one is bound to fit!! Please email if interested.

The only stumbling block with a new size kite is fitting it through the chute on some high tank boats. Other than that retro - fitting is pretty easy.

What design is that Nick?

...but you do need new-length poles and will also need to move the pole uphaul attachment further up the mast.  If you haven't got a twin pole system now is the time to convert

For info, this was Laurie Smarts own Infidel, a lovely boat, looks good.

RobH

Ah, I knew it was built by Lawrie Smart, but didn't know it was his own.  Does he still build Merlins?

Thanks for the sail advice everyone.

Yes he does, but not that many any more unfortunately atlthough he never built them to a production line even at the height of his success, he has had some very successful boats.

Lovely furniture on your site Nick, but it says I haven't got permission to see images of the Merlin.

Mike f, try this...

Got it. Nice light crew too. Have fun.

Nick if you get new sails we'll have to adjust your handicap - I'd like to see something other than the distant view of your transom!

Seriously we need new sails too for a hog stepped Procter mast. Now we've got the controls sorted we just can't get the sail shape we want with the old ones. How do you work out what fits? We'd want something fairly flat cut with a high roach for inland sailing in light winds. 
Any advice /help /chance to try sails welcomed - we're at Longleat in Wiltshire

Who's that (Half Cut)?  Sounds like you sail at Shearwater!

Get it right - we drift at Shearwater - that's us behind you (as usual) in my Lark in the photo on the jetty! (2121 Half Cut was packed ready for Upper Thames).

Pat

Ah, hi Pat!  The trouble is that we're both miles behind Chris in 507 - did 20 years of development come to nothing?  Or perhaps it's that peculiar Shearwater brand of 'wind'.  Or even Chris being a rather neat helm?