MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Merlin Design 'Bullit'

Can anyone enlighten me to this design? How much weight would it carry/not carry, any good at sea etc.,?

Thanks again!!


Posted: 11/04/2007 21:37:22
By: Andy
Bullit is based on Bad Company, Kevin Haynes used this to good affect winning the Silver tiller and salcombe, but even though it won at sea was never considered a fast planing MR. I myself had a Bad Company, terrific upwind and good in sub planing conditions. Watch out for nose diving when sailing in very heavy winds.


Posted: 11/04/2007 22:33:23
By: Rob Holroyd
Carries weight well, see bad Company design guide

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/design%20guide/page08.html#Rob%20Inglis%20Designs

Posted: 11/04/2007 22:36:55
By: Rob Holroyd
Ah heady days when 25 stone was considered lightweight!! Kevin and I had great fun and much success with Bullet - at the start of the 1979 season I was given a weight target of 12.5 stone and Kevin ( I think) was aiming for around 13- we had a fantastic season and consistently lied about our weight all season! We found each other out at Hollingworth and the scales revealed we were about 14 stone each!! Still enough weight to win the Felucca that  and Silver Tiller that year!!
So, yes, the boat carries weight but did struggle in planing conditions on open water. I would guess the design would still be handy around lakes, rivers and reservoirs today but would suffer on open water.
Oh the memories come flooding back...........!!!


Posted: 12/04/2007 08:40:53
By: Peter Scott
Peter

When you say it struggled planing on open water, what did you mean?


Posted: 12/04/2007 09:23:12
By: Andy
Hi Andy, It planed ok but it wasn't the quickest, the flatter designs just generally went quicker downwind on the plane, but to windward well not too much came close in any condition


Posted: 12/04/2007 19:24:56
By: Rob Holroyd
Hi Rob

Thanks for your input - can't make up my mind between this boat and a Summer Wine. I'm mainly going to be handicap club racing - how would she go at this level?


Posted: 12/04/2007 20:36:09
By: Andy
where will you be racing though? Small lake go for it, larger lake or the sea is summer wine territory.


Posted: 12/04/2007 21:57:44
By: Chris M
But if you and crew weigh more than 22 stone then unfortunately you will be on the heavy side for a wine, if you weigh combined 25 stone plus then for club racing you would be better in the Bullet


Posted: 12/04/2007 22:34:51
By: Rob Holroyd
If you can go a little more 3477 a canterbury tales is for sale both on the MR For sale and on ebay, with a make me an offer


Posted: 12/04/2007 22:37:24
By: Rob Holroyd
Do both large loch and sea sailing - we're a dual base sailng club! Reckon we're around 25 stone - ish!! Have seen the CT - and am keeping my eye on it - but would need the price to come down a wee bit.

Am downsizing from my 505 - she's worth a fair bit - but need to get an MR and something cheap and twin wire for the money...the Merlin wil be the serious racing boat - the other will be a plaything!!


Posted: 12/04/2007 22:52:08
By: Andy
If you would like a cheap Summer Wine, I have 'Moonshine' MR3085 for sale. Make me an offer!


Posted: 13/04/2007 08:20:21
By: TT
Pete's recollections got me thinking.  As the other crew in "team Haynes" along with Pete, "Bullit" brings back many happy memories. Harry and I had some success with "Spring Fever", a Bad Company. We found that it carried weight (Harry 14 stone, and me about 12), that it went really well in light winds on all points of sailing, and it went really well upwind in all weathers.  In light winds it was awesome, even with 26+ stone on board! "Bullit" was designed to be slightly flatter under the mast to promote earlier planing and had sightly more freeboard.  I don't think we ever determined which was the quicker boat despite racing against each other every week.  However, I can still recall the familiar sight of Pete and Kevin when looking back over the transom .


Posted: 13/04/2007 09:56:12
By: Old Man

REPLY

To Reply, please join/renew membership.

Owners Association


Developed & Supported by YorkSoft Ltd

Contact

Merlin Rocket Owners Association
Secretary