For the past 16 years I have been sailing 3133, a MR I took to the US when the family moved there (for three years!) in 1990. The boat is much admired but at 28 years old is getting close to the end.  She needs a new deck (plus other stuff) and I am not sufficiently brave or skilled to attempt the repair.  I want another MR (how can one possibly sail anything else?) but am getting too old for all this annual revarnishing stuff. Terrabyte would have been perfect (plastic hull, wooden deck, right price) but I missed her by hours. Seller might have to be sufficiently generous-minded to deliver boat for shipping (I have yet to get full shipping details).  I will be in the UK (Gravesend and Tooting) for about 10 days over Christmas so could go and look at a boat or two.  I will need a good weight carrier (NSM4 or CT?), would prefer plastic hull but all the very latest bells and whistles (carbon, deck-stepped mast etc.)are not that essential for a boat that can never be raced in class.  Condition (pretty and robust) will be the key.
3133 will get a good home - perhaps one of the wooden boat museums on the NE coast of the US might like her?  She is still handsome and can provide a thrilling ride in a blow.

Any ideas?  I have looked many times at the For Sale list but few ads have useful photos and I am a bit out of touch on designs and construction.

Nick,

The only boats that would meet your requirements of some plastic are
Omega 1/NSM1, plastic hull, wood deck, these are cheap (£500 - £1500) but getting old now, not many on the market.

NSM 2 'wembley one designs', all plastic, fast inland boat, most without carbon, variety of build quality by different builders using the mold over time, £1500-£3000 rarely on the market and get snapped up quickly.

CT, Jon Turner, plastic hull, wooden deck, not necessarily all carboned up, e.g. Terrabyte. Few on the market as owners upgrade to the Winder CT, The Quickening was on the market last year, and there is one at my club that hasn't been sailed much this year so it might go on the market. Still quite an old boat, with some build flaws so needs to be checked, £2000 - £4000.

The best will cost you the most, but if you want a trouble free boat that is a pleasure to sail you'll want the Winder CT. All plastic, carbon rig. £6000 for 5 year old Mk1, £11,000 ish for a new Mk4. In my opinion, if you plan to keep sailing for the next 10 years in Merlins then if you have to cash then you should invest in one of these.

Alan
Many thanks for the useful hints - I had imagined that more plastic/wood combos were available.  What make the MR such a curiosity piece here in the US is the wood construction as well as the design.  To me, the wood really defines the MR and sets it aside from the crowd - craftsmanship and incredible utility....so some wood would be essential or I might as well switch to a common US class (Lightening, Thistle, Snipe) and save the hassle of importing the thing.  I confess to having looked at getting access to an RS400 (still not sold here) as a sort of 'poor mans MR without the varnish' but I quickly came to my senses. As shipping a MR may well cost $1500, I am 14 stone, can only compete in handicap racing and am the only one in my family even marginally interested in sailing a MR, spending more that 3000 pounds might be hard to justify. 
For you interest, there is now one other MR in the US, a Keith Callaghan design built recently in New York state by John Keeling - see http://www.bluelightning.co.uk/Merlins/haz170pics.htm for some photos.

Alan
Many thanks for the useful hints - I had imagined that more plastic/wood combos were available. What make the MR such a curiosity piece here in the US is the wood construction as well as the design. To me, the wood really defines the MR and sets it aside from the crowd - craftsmanship and incredible utility....so some wood would be essential or I might as well switch to a common US class (Lightening, Thistle, Snipe) and save the hassle of importing the thing. I confess to having looked at getting access to an RS400 (still not sold here) as a sort of 'poor mans MR without the varnish' but I quickly came to my senses. As shipping a MR may well cost $1500, I am 14 stone, can only compete in handicap racing and am the only one in my family even marginally interested in sailing a MR, spending more that 3000 pounds might be hard to justify. 
For you interest, there is now one other MR in the US, a Keith Callaghan design built recently in New York state by John Keeling - see http://www.bluelightning.co.uk/Merlins/haz170pics.htm for some photos.

Hi Nick
I share you feelings about wood but old age, laziness and getting thrashed by Winders saw the back of the last wooden Merlin 5 years ago (still got a vintage sapele International Canoe awaiting re-birth in the garage though. Got a feeling I may have met you in Canoes?)
So now I am the owner of an epoxy Winder CT Mk1, converted to Mk3, "Same Old Magic" 3586. The name says it all. Epoxy FRP should not be confused with common or garden glassfibre. These boats are beautiful in a new way. They are tough as old boots and will outlast donkeys. However this one is for sale because the Mk5 seems to have a real edge and my lady partner, in life and the boat, is fiercely competitive and wants a new one.
Whitstable, where we sail has a large fleet of modern Merlins and it is only 40 minutes from Gravesend by motorway or train. We also have a very modern fast wooden CT,3579, which is being cashed in for a Winder and hasn't yet been put on the Merlin site. Why don't you come down and see us. Have a look at a big fleet of modern boats and a few older wooden jobs and maybe have a sail, weather and North Sea permitting. No pressure to buy here but you might gain some useful insights. Click on my name at right to email me, but I am away 19-26 Dec

If you want wooden decks you don't need a plastic hull for low maintenace, modern expoxy & 2 pack finishes are extremly tough and last for ages. I have seen boats that are 10 years old that have been well looked after that look like new.

Mike,

The last merlin built in wood was Pat Blakes 3640 Smart Tart which is glass skinned wood with Carbon skinned decks(i think) and also Mike Calverts Business as Usual is all wood and for-sale! Both 2 years old.

There is, fortunatly, still some good wooden boats being built by Laurie Smart and Kevin Driver. Alan Jackson will still build in wood and Spud Rowsell Built mine to order 8 years ago and might still do one if asked.

OK - I am persuaded - I will consider all glass versions.  The attraction of maintenance being a quick hose-down at the end of the season has appeal.

Nick, to get a good idea of what the Winder CTs are like go to the Photo section of this web site, and look under Open Meetings, where you will find many pictures. Here is a link to a picture of my Winder CT being helmed by my daughter (I'm at the front).

Nick You may be interested in a wood C Tales in pristine condition will not need any work for at least 3 years if looked after Rowsell built profesionally looked after won everything at Parkstone and has all carbon rig and new sails plus trailer and trolley ,covers etc a snip at £35850 e mail if interested TB

Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony...

Inflation is low currently and we really don't need to fuel the accusation that the Merlin is an expensive boat.  In the nicest possible way, could I ask you to reconsider your pricing policy, in all our interests?

I know we all like to recover our investment, but £36k seems a bit excessive for a second hand Merlin Rocket.

On the other had, if you get a buyer could you let me know, we have a couple we might shift for that mark up!

GGGGGGGGGG

Yes - I was impressed too.  I just assumed that a large spinnaker and more carbon than usual must have a severe impact on price...or do wooden boats fetch a premium now!!

Presumably means £358.50!!!