MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : NMS 3

I am looking at a MSM 3 No 3337. I started sailing this year and this would be my first merlin. Would this be a good boat to start club racing with.


Posted: 06/03/2013 10:10:38
By: Peter Wainwright
Hi, any of the NSM range are easy to sail and quick, particularly inland. My copy of the Year book suggest that it is an NSM2


Posted: 06/03/2013 11:31:36
By: Mr X
Thanks for that. Unfortunately I have got the number wrong, it is NSM 3327. Only 2 ever made. But it sounds from what you said that it’s worth looking at.


Posted: 06/03/2013 12:14:42
By: Peter W
Black Adder 3327 is on the for sale list.  If it really is going for £900 the rig is probably worth that if the sails are any good and you are getting the hull thrown in for free.  There were 2 NSM3's built, this one and Silver Dollar, 3340, which was at Hampton for a while.  The design guide says modified to give a bit more buoyancy for heavier crews, but the changes from the successful NSM2 probably quite small.  Silver Dollar didn't set the world alight at Hampton in Keith Edwards' hands, but that may have been him not the boat.  You won't keep up with Canterbury Tales variants offwind in planing conditions but will be easier to tack and good in lighter conditions I would think.


Posted: 06/03/2013 12:17:25
By: Andrew M
I also understood that the main mod between NSM II and III was to do with the rig.

Where are you intending to sail? Inland restricted waters you will have fun but on larger waters / sea, you will be a long way behind.

If you want to keep up, get a Canterbury Tales.


Posted: 06/03/2013 13:49:51
By: RichardT
Black Adder was designed for the 28st.crews. It was at the Burton Inland Champs.around 1997, not seen it since.
You will need to get the fastest boat for the water you sail on, that way you will get a race at the back of the fleet, which is better than floundering around on your own.


Posted: 06/03/2013 14:11:27
By: broz
Hi Peter

I owned the other NSM 3 (3340) up until a few months ago and loved it. It was very competitive at club level, and particularly so in the lighter stuff. I must admit that we sailed it quite light (about 22 stone on board) so never really tested it's weight carrying ability, but it was definiety a quick boat in my opinion. It did have a slightly unusual rig with a big main/small jib configuration which I quite liked.


Posted: 06/03/2013 15:16:39
By: Simon3477
BlackAdder has been at Hollingworth for the past few years and is in Beautiful Condition for her age, has gone well against the newer boats at times.


Posted: 06/03/2013 15:49:09
By: Stuart Bates (MR3615)
The trouble with older boats is the mix of ambition/ability/capability of the boat.

Handicap racing with a scientificly arrived at age related handicap that works on that stretch of water - no problem.

Racing amongst a fleet of similar boats - no problem.

Trying to mix it in a fleet of new or newish boats - you won't be able to compete on a regular basis.

The boat in question has had the rig sorted out, and if Winders did it it will have been done proprly. The hull shape will be outclassed downwind in planing conditions. I don't think it's a bad first Merlin, and we do at Blithfield have some similar boats to race against. But my advice to you is that same as to Luke T a few weeks ago, it's probably a good boat, but one your ambition may outgrow quite quickly.


Posted: 06/03/2013 21:44:14
By: Chris M - 3744
As an ex-Merlin sailor, and still very interested in the class, I have a question: what makes the Canterbury Tales design such a must have design ? A previous post suggests that it's superior to previous designs downwind in planing conditions. Looking at photos of current designs, they do appear to be wider at the stern than older designs. Are they close to a skiff type design, with lower rocker overall and more planing flat ?


Posted: 09/03/2013 16:02:52
By: Davec

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