MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Anyone sailed an RS400?

Hi, not picked up my boat yet (3170) but I'm trying to get a feel for what she will be like when I finally get to sail her.  I've raced an RS400 in endurance events and heard that the 400 was based on a merlin rocket when RS were designing it.  Can anyone who's sailed both draw any comparissons?  Also the tippyness factor worries me a bit because my crew is not the most subtle - if you catch my drift!  So if anyone can compare the stability with something else I might have sailed that would be good.  Thanks in advance.....Oli.

Oh and i know its against the rules but has anyone ever fitted an asymetric to a merlin??


Posted: 04/05/2006 13:07:14
By: Oli. Webster
Ollie

Dinghy Sailing magazine did a comparison between the RS400 & Merlin a couple of months back. Claire Stopps who acts on the Merlin Committee has an involvement with DSM. If you ask her nicely she might let you have a copy. If all fails I can dig out a copy I had and send it to you.

With regards to asymetrics on Merlin's, a prototype was left on the beach at Salcombe a few years back for any interested takers to try. There was not one! That in itself told it's own story. Has never been and doubt ever will be mentioned again!

ATB


Posted: 04/05/2006 13:49:44
By: Richard Battey
Thanks for the reply...having never used a twin pole symetrical system its hard to draw comparisons of ease of use between it and asymetrics....I'v been brought up on newer boats so prefer it due to less hassle....though I imagine I could be persuaded on to the other team after I get to grips with it!  If anyone has the article and would be able to scan it in for me I'd be hugely appreciative....Thanks Oli.

Ps.
Can anyone compare the tippyness factor for me of an NSM1 (looking for general sailing - especially at sea in swell....so I can try to gauge what we will be up against!) Thanks in advance.....Oli.


Posted: 04/05/2006 15:24:58
By: Oli. Webster
I'd have to say assymetrics on 400's & 200's have given me a hard time in the last two club races both held in light to bu**er all breeze with the line officer giving two very tight reaches up & down the shore with (whoppy!) a 60mtr beat & no run,offshore southerly zephyr. It was very frustrating but the assymetric boys were chuffed to bits. I suppose it all equals out in the end but I might make up an assy kite just for the hell of it! just a thought Barry.


Posted: 04/05/2006 19:00:11
By: Barry Watkin
I don't believe (being in the small minority that has experience of both on the same dinghy) that symettric kites per se make an enormous difference to speed, all else being equal. The thing is all else is very rarely equal, because the sprit system enables a two person crew to competently handle a much bigger and more efficient sail than they would be able to manage with a pole kite system. 

Put an appropriately cut 150 sqft kite and an 11 ft pole on a Merlin (so that you can have much the same area at much the same distance from the mainsail and jib as a 400) and you'd have a boat with considerably improved downhill performance. Spinnaker handling might be a bit advanced for some though...


Posted: 04/05/2006 20:41:17
By: JimC
Barry, I think you'll find the current rules permit a triangular one - good for fine reaching - not so good for down wind though!


Posted: 04/05/2006 20:49:37
By: Anon
See Rog and Debs comparative boat review - Merlin Rocket vs RS400 - in the Spring 06 Merlin Rocket magazine


Posted: 04/05/2006 20:55:14
By: Rog and Deb
Anon, I see no reason why not to make a 10m2 close reacher the problem is how many times would it be usefull (apart from my last two club races) & frustration apart it just peaved me to have these plastic tubs virtually beating with all canvas up.
Another downside would be all the tweaks needed to change from conventional to assy & back again!
All for just a club race! Of course I could plead with the race officers to give us a run & a beat but I suspect his ear has been bent by the 40 sailors in our club with assy boats, Never mind the Merlins always the one getting the admiring glances.


Posted: 04/05/2006 21:40:36
By: Barry Watkin
Oli, I have sailed a 400!

We sail a 400 when we go on Neilson holidays in Greece, They're really heavy, have a nasty metal mast and make a whining noise when they get up to speed which I assume is down to the quality, or lack thereof of the foils/slot etc. On the plus side, the asymetric is good fun and the main is really powerful - being fully battened.


Posted: 04/05/2006 22:09:38
By: Jon
Barry, 

I understand extactly what you are saying - mine is still very crisp - OK its not full size so I can use it on a standard rig - drop the pole and you can nearly beat with it.

It was worth ago!


Posted: 04/05/2006 23:28:00
By: Anon
Oli, I've sailed both, although I must admit the 400 was when I was trying different boats and decided on the Merlin so I didn't sail it that much...
The Merlin is more tender (tippy) when upright but as soon as those big slab sides hit the water it becomes relatively stable. The 400 on the other hand will just keep rolling over until glugggg!
Having been sailing a GP*4 for many years before the Merlin it's not a problem. You soon get used to it.


Posted: 05/05/2006 09:18:50
By: Blackie
Two years ago I tried the RS400 before getting a Merlin Rocket. Both are great fun to sail, but the important factor is where you are sailing and if you are sailing within a fleet as all boats are more fun in a class fleet. Sailing a RS400 can be cheaper sailing as the old ones are the same shape as the new ones and ali spars are cheaper than carbon.

Regarding stability. I capsized the RS400 a number of time when gybing the kite in a breeze, but with almost a year of sailing a Merlin with the same crew, I am yet to capsize the Merlin. I think this is mainly due to the carbon spars significantly reducing the weight of the rig in the air.

Just to add my Merlin is a Wooden Canterbury Tales and can't comment whether a NSM would be any different.


Posted: 05/05/2006 10:23:16
By: Jon S
"I am yet to capsize the Merlin" 

You've had it for 2 years and you've not been for a swim?

I reckon you need to get out in some more wind and try harder! Even the pro yotters will have had a swim or 3 over the season.


Posted: 05/05/2006 10:42:45
By: Chicken Plucker
I think I said almost a year. I admit I don't do strong winds but I have been out when other Merlins have been falling over.

The point was to demonstrate that the Merlin is less likely to capsize than a RS400. With me driving at least!


Posted: 05/05/2006 10:46:27
By: Jon S
Thanks for the replies...Impressed to hear that you haven't capsized it in just under a year...my intention was to capsize it on the first sail to get the drama out of the way and see how it handles (before in a racing environment!)....Cheers Oli.


Posted: 05/05/2006 19:47:01
By: Oli. Webster
Took me a long while to capsize my Merlin when i rejoined the fleet last year but since my crew had never been swimming before i thought we should have a trial go before we went to hayling. Turned out it was a good idea! We capsized in the last race as we where so busy watching Ben Capsize behind us we went in in sympathy!!

Have noticed a massive difference in righting my Let it Ride compared to my NSM2. Seems alot harded, guess bcause there is more underwater.


Posted: 06/05/2006 09:23:44
By: Jeremy3550

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