hi all,

we have recently got a national 12 for some lake racing but i fear we are too heavy to be competitive in her. i am guessing that a merlin would suit us better (23 stone) however would some merlin designs be unsuitable? if anyone would consider a swap please drop me a email and i will get some details and pics to you.

many thanks iain

You might be better off selling the 12, I can't see many people who would swap. Why not put an ad on the 12 web site? - Waht design is your 12? (some carry weight better than others)

thanks dave, but i am not desperate to change. i was just wondering if there where any MR who might fancy changing to a 12. we will try to get faster in her but my wife was keen on using a kite.

its a 1977 windfall 4 planker.

cheers iain

Oh Dear a lightweights boats but could be worse, you could have a Street Legal. Best boat of the time for carrying the weight is a slightly later design, the Mike jackson one - Tigress. Original Baggy's not bad either but beware of ones with low freeboard centreboard cases as you will be to heavy.
Have fun

Where are you based as there's probably a Merlin or two near you for a "have a go and see if you like it" ???

I would suggest that the Windfall and Pipedream are probably the best designs for the river ... ever.  What is the sail number?

thanks for the replys, its 2994 and we sail at dee sc on the wirral, north west.

The nearest Merlin Clubs to you are Blackpool & Fleetwood, Bolton & Hollingworth.  I'm sure that there will be people at each club who would be willing to show you the boats and let you have a sail in them if you wanted to take it a step further.

Hi Ian
Your welcome to have a play in mine (3582) at Blackpool and Fleetwood after Salcombe week?

thanks kev, very generous of you. if i take the plunge to sell the 12 then i will look you up for general advise. but i guess if a swap isn't available i should stick it out for a bit longer. i think the 12's and the MR's are such beautiful boats i am really reluctant to admit defeat yet.

You will just get fed up with the 12 if you are too light ... just bite the bullet now & make the switch ...

I mean too HEAVY of course ...

We have two elderly Merlns(1620 & 2988), and recently have just acquired N12 3109. I confess we love them all and tend to sail them on alternate weekends, or as a function of weather or venue.

One does need a big barn as part of the package, particularly since we also sail OK Dinghies, and have one of those each!

sounds a good mix, i must admit our fleet is rather complicated as we have a 49er and dart 18 for on the tide and the 12 and a mirror (under restoration) for the lake. so i don't think i could justify the addition of a merlin as well.