Hi, I'm looking for some advice on getting my first Merlin Rocket!

I've never sailed one but wanted a hiking boat with a 'proper' kite and they look perfect. We don't want to spend a fortue  - we'll be mostly handicap racing in Essex plus the odd open meeting and possibly the nationals.

So....from my brief research on this (excellent) website the 'which model to buy' but is quite confusing! It seems theres about 20 different models, each with their pros and cons. Our combined weight is 24 stone (almost 14 of that being me at the back...)

What I was thinking of doing was buying a well looked after older hull (something like 3299 NSM1 or 3438 NSM2) with an alu mast for say £1200-1500 and then if we get the bug, later upgrade the boat with carbon spars and new sails in a year or so time.

My question is would this age/ model boat be worth upgrading as I don't want to buy another boat in a years time! Are there any models that are uncompetitive?

Thanks for the help - all comments appreciated !

An NSM II, IV or Summer wine will be perfect for club racing (Preferably of the adjusted PY) depending on weight. NSM II carries lots, IV slightly less and Summer Wine not much at all! A IV would seem best, though a II would also be fine. Wooden examples were generally preferred.

NSM Is fall into no-mans-land really these days unfortunately, and tend to be quite cheap. A well sailed and well set up example should be about as quick as an NSM II with your weight on board.

If you have designs on going on the circuit or are joining a club with strong class racing you will want a Canterbury Tales or variant thereof. These are more expensive than the earler generation, but at least you'll have the right hull shape. You'll be looking at £2000-£2500, but you'll have few problems selling it on in the extremely unlikely event that you don't get the bug

Admittedly, I am biased, but I would consider Enchantment (3386). We bought her for exactly the same reasons you mention - except that we were also working out whether the missus and I could still be civil with each other after racing.

I converted Enchantment to a "one string", carbon mast, carbon poles, carbon square top hoop, centreboard controls and gave her a new suit of rags, so you'll learn what all the bits do.

Yes, there has always been questions about a one off, but we used to regularly beat much newer boats (CT derivatives) at the Champs (we did 2008 & 2009 in her), and she will be a fantastic boat on a river / Essex creak. Carries weight well too and very competitive of the age adjusted handicap.

I'd definitely prefer to be sailing Enchantment to a NSMI, not least she is epoxy sealed throughout so no cascomite issues.

We only parted company as we took the plunge and made the then National Champion an offer for his ship at the 2009 Champs. Funily enough, both Enchantment and Business as Usual are painted in the same colour!

I would have thought that 3480 Riders on the Storm would be worth a look. It is a Tales derivative and will carry helm biased weight very well. It will be a well looked after boat coming from Jon and has had a deck stepped conversion done so it is ready for carbon when you decide the time is right. At £1,700 a bit of a bargin I think. Other wise an NSM 2 or 4 would be a good option. A summer wine is a good design but not sure it will like having the bulk of the weight at the back?

Your weight combination of 14st at the back and 10st at the front is perfect for the Riders on the Storm: it is designed with less boyancy at the front so that it can tack nicely in restricted water with a heavier helm. It is very stable in heavy weather (we loved sailing her at Rutland this year!) and the rig despite being aly is fully up to date. A good boat all round, but I am a bit too heavy to crew her!

There's not a lot of choice in your price range on the market just now and I would go for the Riders in your position.  Not very many built, as the Canterbury Tales became fashionable at that point, but will be more competitive on open water than the NSM series and if in good condition and deck stepped from the outset rather than converted (which it should be) is an easy upgrade to a carbon rig in due course.  If you actually weigh the people sailing Merlins (as Mark B did) you will find you are at a competitive weight.

Lee, The ROTS is not far from you in Waltham Abbey, Why not drop round and I'll show you the ropes.

thanks everyone for the advice, much appreciated. Tempted to go for a cheaper one for now and see how we get on. If we are keeping it the right way up and aren't swearing at each other every 2 minutes, I guess we can upgrade in a year or so time albeit this isn't ideally what I wanted to do. Cheers