MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : merlin on ebay

looks like a bargain 160055627259
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Merlin-Rocket-no-reserve_W0QQitemZ160055627259QQihZ006QQcategoryZ98955QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Posted: 24/11/2006 19:03:59
By: sean
250 bid so far.

It will probably go faster in that last thirty seconds than its ever done before!


Posted: 25/11/2006 10:38:45
By: watching
i was thinking of bidding but if you have put in 250 i wont bid against you as you are being honest


Posted: 27/11/2006 18:29:39
By: dave
have not put in a bid.  just watching at present.  Current bid is actually 125. Looks like my memory was wrong


Posted: 28/11/2006 15:07:56
By: watching
If this is in fact 2508 - Witzend - she is a Bob Hoare one-off (I think). My mate and I started sailing Merlins in her at Burghfield SC back in the late 1980's, early 1990's (cripes is it that long ago?), when we were still in short trousers. Very fast at the time competing against NSM IIs, mainly in a straight line. She's a flatty, minimal rocker and a wide transom. We spent many a happy hour removing bits of wood - the mahogony crew seats went very quickly. Toby sold her on to fund his college education (in the bar I believe).

A good project and a good introduction to MR sailing. Let me know how the bidding goes!

Andy


Posted: 29/11/2006 13:04:13
By: Andy Hay
2508 was probably built in 1971 and originally called 'Princess' and that was the name of the Hugh Welbourn design. You're right, she probably was the only boat built to that design.
Bob Hoare was her first registered owner.
The next was B.C. Curtis a couple of years later and he became a member of SMYC, as was the next owner M.D.M. James in 1977.
The 1980 year book records the owner as J.Acton, Wishanger, Manor Lane, Chievely, Berks and Burghfield SC. The change of name to 'Witzend' is first recorded in the 1988 yb and J. Acton had joined Hamble River SC.
By 1990 she was owned by T.Dale (your mate?) and she returned to Burghfield.
In 1998 and 1999 her owner was recorded as Jason Hall,15 Mayfield Ave, Calcot, Reading, Berks RG31 4RE tel 0118 942 8601 and a member of Kennet Valley.
The year books show no more info. after that.


Posted: 29/11/2006 16:18:31
By: Tony Lane
Toby (yes, Tony, this is the T. Dale!) and I always thought that this was a Bob Hoare design and build. I wonder whether she is an earlier version of my "new" ship - Enchantment MR 3386! - as I can see some similarities in the turn of bilge / chine forward and the planing surfaces.

Toby bought her from James Acton, with whom I then sailed on the Silver Tiller circuit until Uni and first jobs split us. Some might remember James was unforuntately taken from us in the Turkish earthquote some years ago.

I wonder whether I can get my current employers to contribute and return her to her original name .........


Posted: 29/11/2006 17:17:33
By: Andy Hay

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