i have bought myself a merlin 2508, and am pleased with it, only thing that needs attention is a bit of soft leaking wood in the bow where i suspect some water has sat inside and rotted the wood.
its a patch running a couple of inches back from the stem.
does anyone know where i can get any good info on how to do a neat job or does any one have any expierience of doing this.

Where abouts are you?

barrow in cumbria

Hi Sean
I have spent the last 4 years racing and restoring 2914 at Roa Island Boat Club and around Morecambe Bay and the Lakes. In that time I have had to replace large amounts of rot, its a bit like painting the Fourth Bridge. Its sat on the dinghy park down at RIBC now. Give me an email or you can ring me on 0790 3399 783 if you want any help.
According to the year book 2508 was designed and built by R.E. Hoare in 1972.
Regards PB

A little more info. on 2508 "Princess". She was built probably in late 1971 by Bob Hoare for himself to a design by Hugh Welbourn. She may be unique in that no further boats seem to have been built to the Princess design. Someone will quickly correct me if I'm wrong about this.
In 73/74 Bob sold her to B.C. Curtis of Sussex Motor Y.C. By 1977 she was owned by M.D.M. James at the same club.
By 1980 she is recorded as being owned by J Acton of Burghfield S.C. and it is in the YB of that year that the designer is first shown as R.E Hoare. This may be an error that has been repeated in later YBs.
In the 1988 YB the boat's name has been changed to "Witzend" and she was at Hamble River S.C.
In 1990 the owner was T. Dale and the boat was back at Burghfield but when and where she went form there is unfortunately not recorded.

thanks for the history tony, certainly interested in hearing about this, good stuff.
paul as luck would have it im in ribc as well and noticed you were down on the berthing fees list as having a rocket, so will catch up with you soon, (im sean tyson i have drumbeat the hunter horizon 272)

Welcome to Merlins Sean.
I will be at the club between Xmas And New Year getting ready for Blackpool and Fleetwoods Frostbite. Ive got a lot of wood work repairs to do after sinking on Windermere and being run down by the rescue boat. 
Might see you down there.