Any thoughts on Westerly Merlin

[MatthewOsborne]

Does anyone have any experience of owning or sailing a Westerly Merlin. I am in the market to buy something from 28ft to 32ft and Merlin's are coming up. My intention is to buy a bilge keel boat because of the sailing we do in the SW but we want to extend are current cruising ground to include cross channels, Scillys, Southern Brittany etc so would like a solid sea boat with reasonable performance. I am interested, therefore, in general comments but experience on average boat speed and close windedness etc. Thanks.

 

[richardbrennan]

I would suggest you contact the WOA. Geff Brutty, who was one of the officers of the Association, has or at least had a Merlin and sailed it extensively. There is also one for sail on the website.

 

[johnalison]

I've not sailed one but I believe they are considered to sail well, though I imagine the bilge keel is less effective. It was one of the designs we looked at over 20 years ago. The reason we didn't choose one was largely due to the accommodation which we though was trying to get a quart into a pint pot, with the result that the saloon is further in the bow than traditional designs, so that the saloon bunks are very narrow and not very comfortable. I would expect a Fulmar to give better value, both in performance and accommodation, for the sort of cruising you propose.

 

[Bajansailor]

I have (I hope) attached a scanned copy of a Merlin catalogue I have - I hope it comes out ok.
I have a pal in Portugal who has one, and is very happy with it.

Edit - they all seem to be rather small - if anybody would like a copy sent by email, please PM me.

 

[Cerddinen]

My first boat was a Merlin. Amazing space for the size although there is not much height above the berth in the aft cabin. The boat had bilge keels but the sailing performance was fine except for occasional slamming in short choppy seas -they are very flat between the keels. I had the boat for 7 years and did my first channel crossing in it. Other than that it provided very reassuring performance in all situations.

The only design fault is the track location at the back of the cockpit. This means that the mainsheet can swip you across the face as you tack if you are not careful.

The boat also has the usual problems of Westerly headlinings. I replaced the forecabin and main cabin linings and it was an awful job. Also, mine had leaking windows when I purchased it. When I removed the windows I discovered the hole was too large so the window could nto seal. Once built up with fibreglass filler the leak stopped. So, don't rely on Westerly building standards without a careful inspection.

Would I recommend a Merlin? Of course.

 

[theoldplucker]

I purchased a twin keel Merlin towards the end of last summer. Early days yet, but pleased with her so far. Accomodation is massive and luxourius compared to my previous 26' long keeler. I wouldn't expect it to be as close winded or so quick, but was passing a few things in the few trips I got in at end of season, such as fin keel Seamaster 815, Tradewind 35. The Bukh engine is like silk, almost as quiet and smooth as a Dolphin. Could take you for sail towards end April when in commission if your are not fixed up by then.

 

[alant]

Does anyone have any experience of owning or sailing a Westerly Merlin. I am in the market to buy something from 28ft to 32ft and Merlin's are coming up. My intention is to buy a bilge keel boat because of the sailing we do in the SW but we want to extend are current cruising ground to include cross channels, Scillys, Southern Brittany etc so would like a solid sea boat with reasonable performance. I am interested, therefore, in general comments but experience on average boat speed and close windedness etc. Thanks.

From the WOA website -

"In the Spring of 1981 a Griffon which had been moored in deep mud all her life failed to rise with the incoming tide. The problem lay in the fact that the Griffon's keels were much narrower than the Centaur's, so that more leverage was applied by the keels to the keel-stubs, as they sank into the glutinous Welsh mud. Since the bracing of the Griffon's keel-stub was much the same as her predecessor's, the strain proved too much and cracks appeared at the front end of the stubs. If unnoticed, these would eventually widen until the inevitable happened.

I believe that the last Griffon without fortified stubs was sail number 281. Sadly the Warranty work involved in correcting the problem was one of many factors that made Westerly Marine Construction sink as well. About 20 boats were brought back and modified before the demise of W.M.C. in October 1981. The good news is that, once identified, the problem is easily rectified with some additional stiffening 'floors' bonded across the stubs. It is unlikely that there are many unmodified Griffons around nowadays, but this is not a job for the amateur."

 

[mrming]

From the WOA website -

"In the Spring of 1981 a Griffon which had been moored in deep mud all her life failed to rise with the incoming tide. The problem lay in the fact that the Griffon's keels were much narrower than the Centaur's, so that more leverage was applied by the keels to the keel-stubs, as they sank into the glutinous Welsh mud. Since the bracing of the Griffon's keel-stub was much the same as her predecessor's, the strain proved too much and cracks appeared at the front end of the stubs. If unnoticed, these would eventually widen until the inevitable happened.

I believe that the last Griffon without fortified stubs was sail number 281. Sadly the Warranty work involved in correcting the problem was one of many factors that made Westerly Marine Construction sink as well. About 20 boats were brought back and modified before the demise of W.M.C. in October 1981. The good news is that, once identified, the problem is easily rectified with some additional stiffening 'floors' bonded across the stubs. It is unlikely that there are many unmodified Griffons around nowadays, but this is not a job for the amateur."

A shame for the Griffon but unless I'm mistaken the Merlin is a different boat and doesn't suffer from this problem. One comes out racing in our fleet occasionally. I believe it's the twin keel version. It goes pretty well downwind but upwind it's not so hot. It does have a furling genoa which looks not too new so that's part of the problem.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

I brought one back to the south coast from Western Ireland. Very spacious and solid boats - I was really impressed! Sailed very well and had the feel of a bigger yacht...

Cerddinen is spot on and I entirely agree.

Pete

 

[Lakesailor]

I have sailed on a friend's Merlin. It was very surefooted and comfortable. Not sure about upwind performance as we motor-sailed a fair bit against a foul tide and wind.

 

[Ravi]

Is the thing that attracts you to the Merlin, (above other similar boats) the second cabin? Otherwise, you could look at the Westerly 31 footers which sell, inexplicably, for much less than the Merlin. The Berwick is a fantastic twin keel boat and the Pentland is also a Bilge keeler but with a (second) aft cabin. I can only think that these boats are so cheap because of their rather ugly interior but they are so much cheaper that they could be completely refitted with modern cosmetica and still come in cheaper than the Merlin. Strange.

If you want a seriously impressive boat that is just one foot over your 32 ft. limit, PM me. It is a Westerly boat in the UK that I came within a whisker of buying before, bizarrely, opting for a 30' plastic soap dish in the Med. It is the most fantastic deal on a real bluewater cruiser and it is still for sale - only because the list price is ridiculously more than they, actually, will accept - so they are getting no interest.

 

[Tranona]

The original post was 4 years ago so expect the OP is sorted by now. Old Westerly sell for little money because they are old and few people want them. Whilst they can represent good value if in good condition their low monetary value does not justify significant expenditure on major updating.

 

[aidancoughlan]

Whilst they can represent good value if in good condition their low monetary value does not justify significant expenditure on major updating.

I know this is an old thread, but I've currently got one for sale and came across this staring me in the face while searching for "Westerly Merlin". We've had it for the last 10 years and we did exactly the opposite with ours - totally refitted it over a 3-5 year period (replaced practically every major system - put in a new engine/gearbox/prop/switchpanel, new furler system, renewed headlining, new main/genoa/cruising chute, new rigging, new sprayhood/stackpack, re-wired throughout with tinned cable, battery charger, AGM batteries, new shorepower, new tacktick sailing instruments, chartplotter, new toilet & plumbing). Yes, it cost a packet over a three of four year period. Would I do it again ? Well, probably not - not to the same extent at least (I will try stop myself). But I don't regret it. As a result, the boat has given us 10+ years of trouble-free regular weekend & summer holiday cruising.
Like other earlier posters, I found the merlin to be spacious and solid. They are ideal coastal sailors for a couple and/or small crew and has looked after us in all kinds of weather. They are not a racing boat, but with decent sails and a bit of basic attention to them we've never been left behind in a regular cruising fleet of a dozen or so mostly 32-25ft boats.

BTW, did I mention ... it's now for sale and represents excellent value for money - a 30 year old boat, where most things on board not made of GRP or Wood are less than 10 or 11 years old ! If you know someone looking for something in that range, check out the YBW ad here, or more photos and info on the boat www.westerlymerlin.com. Like/share the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/westerlymerlinforsale and you should get any updates I post.