i am looking to buy a merlin but i am not too keen on getting a wooden one i hav arund 5000 to spend is that enough money for a fiberglass merlin?

A good starting point is to have a look at the for sale page and contact the seller.  See below

Tim,  ignore the unhelpful comment above.  It's not obvious which boats are plastic and which aren't!

The two plastic boats around your price range are the Turner FRP 'tales at 4000 and the winder tales at 6200.

Both have carbon rigs and the Winder is pretty much the "Industry standard" plastic merlin these days (although the winder has evolved a little over the last few years).  I don't know much about the Turner boat (does it have wooden decks?) but someone is sure to comment on it here.

Whereabouts in the country are you?  An open meeting or Merlin club would be a great place to go and see the kind of thing you'll get for your money.

thanks jon 
is there much difference in the make of hulls? ie is one faster than the other?
i am in broadstairs (south east kent)

Was not meant to be unhelpful - sorry if you thought it was.

Was not meant to be unhelpful - sorry if you thought it was.

Tim, If you are plannign to spend £5k on a Merlin and you live in Broadstairs you will of cause be aware of the fleet at Whitstable. If not go have a look, most are still on the beach and available for viewing - fine selection of Winder Mk1,2 & 4s in plastic and a few wooden decked boats to look at as well.

That's the best advice there is!

And someone will probably take you for a test drive too!  Follow the 'try one out' link from the home page...

Hi Tim

In terms of shape, within your price bracket you shouldn't find much difference in shape.  The Winder hulls are based on the Turner canterbury tales so for this money the shape will be very similar if not the same.  The newer winder ones have changed a bit more but I'm finding that with my Turner CT, if you get the rig right, have nice foils and point it in the right direction, you will be on the money.  The main advantage of a Turner CT is that it will have a gorgeous wooden deck and will leave you some money in your budget for some new sails.

Good luck!

Thanks everybody. Many of the the Whitstable Merlin fleet know Tim and we've contacted him for his test sail and boat tour next Saturday.

PS At risk of embarrassing him - Tim is ex top of the National squad in Toppers, well up in youth Lasers and an apprentice sailmaker to boot. Isn't it nice that yoof take an interest in our class. Watch this space!

thought you were yoof, Mike

I am. As in "yooforgot to tell me the years are rolling by"

thanks for all the help guys i could well see you all on the circuit in the summer