Does anyone know of a reasonable project that might be available? I have a hankering to sail a Merlin before I get too old and decrepit. Funds are tight so a project seems the best way. A weight carrying boat needed and it would be nice to save something from a similar fate to Shaft or the way Steppenwolf nearly went. Reasonably handy, so not afraid of some wood/epoxy/carbon work.

Drop me an email
 
paramedic3602ATyahoo.co.uk
 
Chris 

Not a project, but the very first NSM1 has come up for sale.
Lucky Strike 3112  less than your budget
 
see

https://www.facebook.com/groups/merlinrocketrevival/

Miles, 
Thank you so much for your response and the link to the Facebook page. There have been some interesting boats on there. Do you know if the Turner/Locke CT sold in the end? That looks the sort of thing I'm after. I think the NSM I won't suit my weight and it seems sensible to go,for as modern a design as possible. 

The project part is part to keep costs down but also because I like working on boats and at 14ft it would fit in my drive and garage whereas my Swallow at 26ft and 1000kg doesn't and I have tired of Fettling it. 

There also seem to,be a few interesting boats on the MROA site but I don't know how current that is. Some boats seem to have been on a very long time, does that mean they are too expensive or the site hasn't been updated. In particular the boats I was thinking of are a Thin Ice, a Couple of wooden CTS, Rush in Blue,(is the dacron foredeck putting people off) and After Hours. They don't appear to be projects but I suppose they represent what I might be aiming for. Any thoughts would be welcome.

Simon, someone on the facebook link might know about the Turner CT, and you could also ask about a project on there directly.
 

Smartypants 3506 (see advert) is very very for sale: new boat is not far away and space (contrary to popular belief) is finite....

From the website dedicated to Smarty Pants and the pictures I have seen she looks stunning. So only the pickiest of individuals could describe her as a project. I don't think my budget runs that far at present. I also think she might be too good for me at this stage. Apart from those impediments I'd love to,have a boat like her.

MR 1944 - Flying Wild is for sale
She  is a Proctor 9b and is good for the river. It sounds like she'd be good for you - very much ready to sail, although with a few bits that could do with a tart up this winter. I can send you details if you would like? 
Cheers, Chris
 
[email protected] 
07751986251 

Hi Chris, 
Many thanks but not what I'm looking for. My hunch is that it needs to be a late 1980s design ideally Tales or later and not a river boat as I'm unlikely to do any river sailing. 

Simon, Thunderclap 3466 has just appeared on eBay and might be just what you are looking for, though it is an auction so depends on the final bid as to budget.  A well-known boat that has been properly updated with a decent rig.  Glad you have seen the light at last!
 
Andrew Mills 

 Hello Andrew,
 
Thanks for the heads up; it is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for depending on the price. Funnily enough its previous owner, Tim Boswijk is a friend and I have just got off the phone with him. He's contacting the owner to see if a deal can be struck. He was however, a bit dismayed by its condition as I know there wasn't a scratch on it when Tim sold it! He also said price was a factor, and reckoned that the Honeymoon 3551 would become a better deal as their prices converged and thought it was probably a better all round boat.
 
How's your Heaven Sent going? I don't know why but I thought you had a CT. 
 
No doubt If i get hold of one and get out on the water I'll bump into you at one the classic meetings, off the water that is. We've been lucky in the Swallow but there were two collisions last year and with repairs at over £4000 each time I tend to take the cautious approach rather than insist on my rights.
 
Simon
 
 

I was at the Nationals with Heaven Sent and the turnout of older boats was disappointing.  However John Donague was kind enough to come with another old red boat and we had good racing with him right at the back of the fleet.  I would have liked a bit more wind but it arrived in spades on the last day, which we sat out!  Heaven Sent is a Canterbury Tales variant according to the design guide but in fact has little in common.  Honeymoon is IIRC another one-off design, that one from Alan Jackson, that would be a good open water boat.
 
Hope to see you on the water in due course,
 
Andrew 

I had Thunderclap new. Fantastic boat, in my view a better hull shape than Honeymoon but all depends on condition and price. Good luck whatever you choose.