MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : MR 3386

I am "interested" in a boat on the forum, but it appears to be a bit of an odd-ball design. Guy Winder says that she was built for a certain Mr Chris Rathbone back in 1986 (ish), but he did not know how she went. As Guy says that she was not built to be on the limit of the rise of floor rule, I presume that she didn't set the world alight. 

Still a cheap way of getting back into Merlins ...... and would rescue her from a rather sad state of affairs at Milton Keynes.

Any info / history would help me convince the missus that Enchantment is a nice way to re-enter the fleet!!

Cheers

Andy


Posted: 14/09/2006 12:58:55
By: Andy Hay
Andy, this was discussed a while back:

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/forum/main/topic.asp?topic=2227&forum=main&comments=6&page=1&sort=5&order=1&search=enchantment

Posted: 14/09/2006 14:07:39
By: Rob Holroyd
Enchantment came about as a result of a lunch that I had with Hugh Welbourne, having remembered and admired King Louis at the 1969 Merlin Championships.
You will have seen the correspondence previously on the web and will be aware that the original design was altered and the transom dropped by about an inch and a half. This improved downwind performance quite a lot and the plan was to drop the transom further to see how it all panned out. However, when the best Merlin Rocket wooden boat builder of the time calls, says he's back from overseas and wants to build you a boat, that's pretty difficult to argue with!
I never capsized the boat (buoyancy tests excepting!) and the upwind performance was pretty good.

Due to increasing family commitments, I am selling my Laurie Smart "Make it So" design (3570) as I couldn't justify keeping a fully carbonised Rocket ship for the little sailing that I am currently doing. Frankly, I was thinking very seriously of re-acquainting myself with Enchantment and considering dropping both the back and stem to see what change in performance, once I'd sold Second Thought.

I can't comment on the current spec but she was full of the best Harken kit and won a surprising number of races, culminating in finishing in the top half dozen against the Merlin elite at the Tideway race when it still went down to the Tower.

Call me if you want any more details (01708711508-Work)

Chris


Posted: 14/09/2006 15:32:34
By: Chris Rathbone
Chris,

I think you may also previously have owned Desiree 3354 built by Laurie (and re-decked by him last winter). If so, I would be interested to know more about the origins of her name.

Thanks


Posted: 14/09/2006 15:40:53
By: Nigel C (3354)
Wow! Where do I start.

Some of the older members of the fleet may remember a Stephen Sondheim musical called " A Little Night Music". Desiree was the name of one of the major characters in that musical and I was carrying on the Little Night Music theme from the previous boat, "Perfection".
Both were Laurie Smart NSM2 designs and there is no truth in the rumour that I originally planned on getting Laurie to build me a New Potato design.

I have owned a large number of Merlin Rockets (the Magazine Editor might like to make it the subject of a competition in the next magazine) but the quickest boats without doubt were Gigolo (2222, built by Rowsell Bros),Desiree(3354 built by Laurie Smart) and Deep Thought (3451 again built by Laurie Smart). Please don't laugh but all these boats just had that extra zip from the word go, irrespective of brand of sails or whatever. If GGGG casts his mind back to when he was sailing with John Shorrocks, Desiree beat them very convincingly in a good breeze at Ranelagh for the Autumn Trophy. Pat and Jilly Blake won a Championship race at Abersoch and I believe that Richard Page won his first Silver Tiller Meeting at Ranelagh in Desiree.
Gigolo was 4th in the '71 Silver Tiller Series and Deep Thought won the River Champs three years on the trot.

I can give no rational explanation for why these boats were so quick but they were. Mind you, they were built by special boatbuilders!
A question for the fleet-Are all the boats now of a similar speed or do some just have the edge?

Chris


Posted: 14/09/2006 16:17:34
By: Chris Rathbone
Chris,

Thank you very much. If you are interested to see Desiree as she is after Laurie & Steve's work last winter, you will find a picture of her under the heading "overpowered" in this year's Salcombe Week pictures in the "photos" section. She is certainly quick although I am still learning to sail her properly.


Posted: 14/09/2006 16:32:28
By: Nigel C (3354)
Chris & everyone, thanks.

Enchantment is in a bit of a state, certainly missing a fair bit of the Harken kit and would need a winter of TLC - complete strip down, etc. so playing with the stem & transom would be a definite possibility.

Always fancied "different" Merlins, my mate and I used to sail 2508 Witzend which was a rather special Bob Hoare design, very flat with a hard chine. All great fun.


Posted: 14/09/2006 16:50:04
By: Andy Hay
Nigel,
Did you but know it, I was watching you from the shore at Salcombe while playing "buckets and spades" with Daniel and Katie. Richard had tipped me off about her being at Salcombe and she looked very pretty to me.
As I recollect, the gunwhales were all mahogany when she was built and then we went back to sycamore with Deep Thought.


Posted: 14/09/2006 17:05:10
By: Chris Rathbone
I remember Enchantment when she was a bare wood hull in the old mans garage. I always thought she was a great looking boat and remember Chris going pretty quick in her. As for Deep Thought she is still as fast as she ever was and is now fully carbonised too. I think you have always had lady luck watching your boats being built Chris so i am sure your Make it So will go to very good hands.

I was also considering making Enchantment my next project but need to finish the current one first!!


Posted: 14/09/2006 19:21:34
By: Jeremy3550
Chris,

She did have mahogany gunwhales when built. Laurie persuaded me to go to sycamore when he did the re-deck because he thought it would contrast beautifully with the grain and colour of the ply he was using for the deck. He was right.


Posted: 15/09/2006 10:03:49
By: Nigel C (3354)
A bit of an artist , Mr Smart. I hope he comes back to the Class soon.


Posted: 15/09/2006 10:21:35
By: Chris Rathbone
Hi Andy. just catching up with the goss - new job is a bit less flexible than I am used to! Good to hear that you are planning a come-back and look forward to seeing you afloat.  Where are you based now, and what about the paroids, are they still around Reading?  I miss the annual call to pump up the buoyancy!

Please pass on my regards.

GGGGGG


Posted: 20/09/2006 13:31:25
By: Chairman GGGGGGG
Chris,

I have no recollection of ever having been beaten anywhere, let alone by John Shorrock! I think the brain cells are wilting!

Still see John occasionally - Jackie is a member at Papercourt and John sometimes does the 'Grandad on the shore' bit - but not for long. Cycling seems to be the current interest, and he was last seen pedalling manically dressed in unflattering lycra.... Dress sense was never a strong point!

GGGGGGG


Posted: 20/09/2006 13:35:21
By: Chairman GGGGGGG
GGGGGGG

Watchya, been a while I guess. The missus and I are now in sunny Devon, wondering whether to sail at Starcross or Rock - what a decision! Sprogged up too, so that's the light weight option sorted. Parents are OK, not really sailing a Tasar, but I'll pass on your rgds.

Looking forward to rejoining the fleet - after all Merlin yachting gets into the bloodstream, and once there it is impossible to shake.

Andy


Posted: 21/09/2006 12:39:44
By: Andy Hay
Hi Andy

It has to be Starcross if you want fleet racing! Let me know if you have any questions, but if you'd like to test the water, you can join as a temporary Winter member for our Autumn and Frostbite series (October - April).

Regards

Dave Lee


Posted: 21/09/2006 13:08:18
By: Dave Lee
In an earlier forum discussion, someone mentioned that Enchantment was the subject of a Y&Y review. Any idea which edition? I have got the lasses at Y&Y looking through their archives and it might help narrow the search.

Any idea on the review of Dangerbatt too?

Andy


Posted: 09/10/2006 13:00:21
By: Andy Hay
Andy,

It would have been in the second half of 1986, I think. Shaun Frolich wrote it up after I'd sailed her at Whitstable at the Silver Tiller weekend (I think the meeting was in July.)
Chris


Posted: 09/10/2006 13:35:12
By: Chris Rathbone
Andy,

I remember reading the article about DangerBat and the rather odd curved transom. I also remember something in the article about the compass being mounted on the inside of the transom... all very bizaar!

The article was produced aroundabout 1990/91, maybe even 89 just after Dick won the nationals in her at Whitstable.

Happy hunting!

If you do manage to find it perhaps you could scan a copy and send it to Mags as it does make an interesting read.


Posted: 09/10/2006 14:41:57
By: Richard Battey

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