Hi guys,  I'm looking for a rocket for a first time owner.  It needs to be a good sea boat will consider almost anything as long as its suitabel for quite a light crew weight and comes with a road trailer.  The real clincher though is that I've only got a budget of a maximum £1,000.   Don't mind giving a bit of TLC but need something sea worthy.  If you can think of anyone or anywhere to look please send me an e-mail or reply to this.  Oh willing to travel almost anywhere to get is aswell!  Thanks.  Oli.

Ollie 

Rather than state the obvious I assume you have looked at the For Sale list on thi website? There are several boats that would suit your budget and spec.

Good luck

In fact........ this one is on the for sale list assuming that is it is still available...

NSM 2 Good all rounder and good weight carrier. 




Sail no: 3401 Design: NSM 2 Builder: Rowsell 
Price: £950 Boat Name:  Location: Ashford, Kent 


Wood "MFI" build painted inside and out but could do with repaint. New combi trailer/trolley. Hog stepped aluminuim mast with raking rig. Hyde sails. Fixed rudder



Owner:  Michael Lomax 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 02075942716 
  07746812924

Yeah, spotted that one and have sent him an e-mail along with a few others but so far no response from anyone I tried to contact....Cheers Oli.

Olly, If you can stretch your budget i have an NSM4 in my garage being re-varnished, which has a new main sail, recent cmbi, new top cover, carbon poles, etc etc, will be ready in 10 days. e-mail me if it is any good but i wil want more then £1000

Olli,
My Merlin 3248 is up for sale as unfortunately I don't sail it as much as I would like to. It has a trailor/trolly and a reasonable set of sails. The hull is foam sandwich with wood decks which does cut down on the maintenance but means it isnt the lightest around. Still competitive tho. I'm looking for around £700. If interested, I can e-mail you some photoes.

Hi Graham, sounds like something I'd be interested in!  Could you send me some pictures please?  My e-mail address should be attached if not its [email protected]  As many pictures as you can muster please!  Also what design is it and how wide etc....I'm looking for a good sea boat for a light crew.  Thanks Oli.

Oli, you might want to look at the Gnome 3398 that is on the list. The gnome is a very good boat for light weights and a quick design. It has a combi etc. The guy is looking for £1500 but has been adverised for well over a year. You don't get if you don't ask.
Good luck, hope to see you on the water soon.

I bet Graham's pleased you posted that Jeremy...

Thanks, I'll give it a go and see waht happens.....Oli.

Sorry Graham! Why is your boat not on the list? At that sort of money it would look like quiet a good option.

Hi graham, just to let you know I haven't recieved any photos yet.  I'm really interested in the boat so am keen to see some and possible take it off your hands....could you tell me what design it is so that I could look it up on the pages (if anyone else knows feel free to e-mail me about it)  Thanks.  Oli.

I'll get the photoes to you as soon as I can , probably tomorrow tho'. It isn't on the list as a) I'm really lazy and b) boats tend to stay on the list for years and you never really know if its still for sail. 

Cheers

Graham

Thats great thanks.  I just didn't want you to think I had gotten them and wasn't interested.  Cheers Oli.
Oh is it a NSM 2?  Think I worked that out by using the design guide and sail number though could well be wrong!  Cheers

3398 "Out of the Blue" was the first Merlin I owned, bought from Judith Massey, and proved an excellent introduction to the class.  She has had very little use in the last few years, but was in very good condition last time I saw her.

To clarify, I meant 3398, not Jude, who of course is always very well turned out!

Oli,
Photoe's sent, let me if they arrived OK.

I notice that there aren't that many of the newer winder boats advertised for sale on the site and having seen Glens new boat come out of hiding recently, I wonder if there are any other places that you should look, pleople to talk to, to find out what's available but not in the for sale list.  wadoyuthink?

The problem with the Winder boat is it is such a good product there is very little reason to get rid of it, either people habitually change their boats every 3 years say, or hang on to them until they are well worn. When I was looking for decent 2nd hand Winder my conclusion was I might as well pay a few thousand more and get a new one.

It is a case of being 'in the know' as good 2nd hand one disapear fast. If you want to pick one up, then you'll need to plan ahead, ask around about who is ordering or planning to order a new boat (lead time is about 6 months) and then make an offer to take the old one off them when the new one arrives.

i'll be open to offers shortly for my Winder

Not useful staying annoymous with acomment like that, is it?

dOOOOOOh. And they haven't even given an email address. Nice one!

don't call me shortly!

Thanks for all the replies guys, I've done a deal on 'Blondie' a wooden NSM roswell build so hopefully I shall see you all at some of the events (as a merlin owner not just wanna be!)  All going to plan i should have it nestled at home in a couple of weeks  Thanks....Oli.

when good and ready it will be present saler!

And very nice in the pictures she looked too, I shall look forward to our battles on the vintage circuit in 3 years time when our boats reach that age!
I am a little shy of attending a silver tiller meet, but I am tempted by Earlswood and Sutton on the Midland circuit, both seem to attract older boats and appear to be relatively low key but full on open meets at the same time fancy ago?!.

You would be most welcome at the Midland events which tend to be more forgiving than the ST events.  Mind you, they are are no less testing!

see you there

Steve

There are a few older boats at the Bolton Open only 6 weeks away. It is a Silver Tiller but don't be shy it was my first open last year; everybody was very supportive.

Dont let the silver tiller status put you off - they are perfectly suitable for newcomers. My only advice is to go by the bit of water instead - i.e. only go to Shoreham when you feel good and ready!!! Them waves is biiiiig.

Think we'll take our time to get into it a bit first at club level and see how we go.  Gonna take it over to Findhorn and Edinburgh with me whilst I'm doing some teaching there - perfect excuse to teach from my own boat rather than a noisey rib!  Deffinately going to try and make it to one of the Dalgety bay meets if there is going to be another one?!  And might try to make it down to something else in Englandshire though think this will be a challenge for next season having never sailed a rocket yet!  Have raced an RS400 a few times which I am lead to believe was modeled on a merlin.  Certainly looks similar anyway!  Hope to be able to put faces to names sometime soon.  Cheers Oli.

Dear 'future saler'

Perhaps you can let me know a little more about your boat and when you are thinking of changing so we can see if this might be a good fit?
I've added my e-mail this time ...
Kr
Mark

Also looking for a Winder if any one knows of any?

Heard that Glen and Jim aren't fussed about their new merlin anymore and weren't going to Rutland since a bust up at Salcombe.  You could put an offer in for their wooden tub? Good condition. (is Storm Cloud cursed?)