I'm interested in buying a Merlin.
What I want is a boat to sail open meetings in, primarily around the South Coast. So a boat that is good in waves, not a river boat!
I want a boat that is capable of getting at least to the middle of the fleet, although I'm sure it will take us a while to get up to speed. I don't have too many delusions about getting to the front of the fleet, but I'm not looking for a boat that gives me an excuse to be last!
I think I'm looking for a wooden Tales or similar, as the modern FRP boats are above my price range right now.
Must have properly sorted twin pole system. I'm looking for a boat to sail this spring, not a project, but a bit of varnish touch up won't put me off.
I have a budget in the region of £3500 for a boat complete with carbon mast, sails fit for racing, trailer and covers etc.
Would welcome any advice about what to look for, or contacts for boats not advertised in the obvious places.
Thanks in advance
Chris.

Hi Chris,

Take a look at this link. 3525 is a Rowsell CT's. If you scroll down to the very bottom of the same page that too I is a picture of 3525 when it was up for sale first time round. Possibly a bit above your price range but the owner may be up for negotiation. A start anyway.

Good luck.

That's pretty much what I had in mind, alas he sold it yesterday!
Good luck to the new owner and all that.
Anything similar, please let me know.
Cheers,
Chris

Always this; Heavy Artillery was a good boat a few years ago

Yes I am in touch with 'Heavy Artillery'. It's quite a way from home, so I want to know about any other choices before rushing up there. I would perhaps pay a little more for a similar boat that was freshly varnished.
I'm in the closing stages of sorting out a garage but don't have it yet, so this year I need to minimise refit time.
I've no idea what it would cost to have the decks stripped and revarnished, and if I was doing it myself, I should have started ages ago.
When you say it's a good boat, did it have good open meeting results?
What are the merits of different builders of 'Tales?
This is much harder than deciding what colour string to put on an RS400!
Cheers,
Chris

The Jon Turner examples have the best track records, but they were being sailed by the top boys of the time. JT built the only "true" Tales as he co-designed the boats. Modified version were ver built by other builders, of whom Rowsell and Chipstow (Alan Jackson) were the sought after ones. Ron Hall built two to my knowledge, Heavy Artillery did well in it's time, I think Chris Powell may have owned it and he was a good yotter.

yes chris you were right, chris powell had it built and had some success in it ,im sure its one of the ron hall boats that has a thwart and not a coffee table (should be a little bit stiffer)last time I saw it the decks looked a little bit rough but redeemable.Budget £400-500 to get the decks into a good order,hope this helps my no is 07973 720732 if I can be any help rgds phil scott

Looks like Armed Forces (3442) built by Turner is for sale with a carbon mast and boom, newish sails, updated rudder and centreboard - could be a good buy at what is being asked for her. Has a good record as a really fast wooden Canterbury tales...

Please don't tell anyone else!
It's even local to home but I'm away on business for the rest of the week.
Fingers crossed.

I used to own Armed Forces, arguably the best boat I ever had! She's knocking on a bit now, and I would think her days of ST winning are over but should she still be capable of turning a few heads and would make an excellent club boat.

She was always very fast to windward, and if she's been maintained up the standards Davo, Myself and Jon Silk kept her to she will be in beautiful condition.

If I was lookinf for a boat at around £3k i'd be on the phone now and viewing tonight!

I would bite his arm off if I were you. If you are away I wouyld call him and tell him you will give him his price if he will hang on till you are back.

Even if it need a bit of TLC I think that is a fair price for a Good Turner Tales with carbon.

all jt's boats were good, but armed forces was a bit special, went well for anyone who  had it. glen rates her,cracking boat, as jez says ideal !!

But if you neglect her, leave her out in the cold rather than in a heated garage you will be in trouble! Davo, James and John all looked after her so fingers crossed she's still in top condition.

Sailed her once at Whitstable and was amazed at how fast she was for her age. For the money AF will put you closer to the front of the fleet than anything else currently on the for sale list.

John Silk owned "Armed Forces" for a short while recently.

....you will be in trouble....
Is that trouble with the boat or from MROA members?
I will have a dry, frost free garage, no actual heating but integral with a heated house.
Will occassionally be putting a boat in cold wet sea though!
Chris :-)

He hasn't sailed Armed Forces at the club for over a year but was looking after it well when I last saw it.

Armed Forces is in the the top 10 famous boats in the class, arguably the best never to win the champs. As such she holds a special place in many people's hearts!!

If I hadn't bought 3583 i'd probably have had her back.

What are the top ten most famous / infamous boats then ?

Here's a few I can think of :

The Feet
Restless
Once Bitten
Savage
Passing Cloud

Any more ?

Gently?

I'm going to add Second Chance to that list as it finished 2nd, 3rd, 2nd in 3 consecutive champs.

Unfinished Business
White Whale - not pretty but important from a design perspective
Krakatoa
Dangerbat
Seventh Heaven
Charge

After myth
flying cloud
Gangsta
rong number

Kate

Judging only by the number of top 6 finishes in the Champs:
Charge Of The Light Brigade 6
Gangsta Paradise 5
Gently 5
Crew Cut 5
Flying Cloud 5
Savage 5
Beat Nik 4
Restless 1V 4
Rong Number 4
Seventh Heaven 4
Summer Wine 4
Clare 3
Dik-Diki 3
Dilly 3
Filthy/Gorgeous 3
Once Bitten 3
Second Chance 3
Unfinished Business 3
Yesterday Man 3

How about :

Shaft
Bullet
Blow Job (Gavin Willis)

I would say this but I believe that one of the quickest Merlins ever was Deep Thought (3451)

A beautiful boat and vastly underrated. I still kick myself that I didn't buy it a few years ago.............

I think it is about achievement rather than potential isn't it.

Modesty almost forbids me to point out Beat Nik also won the Silver Tiller three times as well.

Might be an interesting exercise to rationalise Tony's list against the sailors. COTLB had a 1 & 2 with Mike Lennon, then a string of top 6 results with Mikey Calvert. Savage, Minstry & Gangsta were only driven by Phil King in his pomp and it might be argued that he would have won in any old shed. Flying Cloud won with two different jockeys - the late Richard Estaugh & Richard Whitworth - isn't that a better measure of the boat rather than the helm?

BAU was missing from the list but she has three top 6 results with two different helms - sorry could't resist that one - and an inland win too. He he he ........

what happened to gangsta paradise?

Dan Alsop owns her and is regularly seen on the circuit.

im sure gilt complex should be in their too,will was soo fast ,went well for dave lee too, as a design perspective dont forget guy'svery different creation stilletto!

One ahead of her time and other than Gangsta, probably the fastest of her generation (still think a plastic one would be on or at the Front (Winder Mk4-5 very close in shape) would was Moondance Assassin. Never won the Champs but always had the capacity to overhaul one on one. Let down was the rig till we had the Chipstow and then I left the class just as she hit the sweet zone. Alas a lost opportunity.

Dear ): 
Regarding Deep Thought:
Three consecutive River Championship wins (see Year book)

Phantom Rider was always a quick boat

OMG Barnsie, will you ever shut up about Moondance!

does phantom rider still exist,what a fabulous boat for the classic circuit.

Thank you guys for all your positive comments about Armed Forces - I should pay you all a sales commission!

I can confirm that she has been sold to Chris & Kathy Isles down in Portsmouth. They will be moving to MR's from an RS400 and I know she will be in safe hands. They plan to do the Chichester Open and are looking for helpful advice and support, which I assured them would be forthcoming.  

Interest in AF was great, I could have sold her 5 times over, including back to the very first original owners (the Lewis family). 

It is great to have been a custodian of a piece of Merlin history and I hope she continues to provide enjoyment and success for many years to come.

Congratulations Chris and Kathy and a good move from the RS!! Armed Forces is a great boat and will serve you very well. I look forward to seeing you at Chichester in March.