Marlin Marine 3 metre speedboat- anybody heard of them?

[driver0606]

Hello,
I have recently purchased a small speedboat. The only information I have on the boat is that its just under 3 metres long with 2 seats, in GRP and 16 were apparently built by Marlin Marine in the UK in the early 90s, 15 of which went to the Med. Two photos are attached.
Does anybody know anything about these speedboats, please, good or bad, also, how they behave at sea? I have not been able to try it and am about to start extensive modifications. It only has a 10hp Evinrude (which will be uprated to 15hp), so I am not expecting it to be a rocket ship!
In the meantime, a happy New Year to one and all!
John.

 

[spannerman]

I had a 22ft Marlin Marine powerboat back in the early 90's, it was built near Exeter, then they went bust. A customer of mine rented them an industrial unit, when they went bust he took their one year old demo model in payment, then it was stolen and dumped in a field after they nicked the old Mercury 200hp and the 3 axle trailer. He sold it to me for £500! as it was taking up space in his workshop. I fitted a new Yamaha 225 hp and bought a new trailer. I had it at Seaton for several years and it was a great ski boat, some one tried to steal it unsuccessfully as I always wound the brake adjusters up to lock the brakes, they sawed off the wheel clamp and trailer hitch lock but couldn't tow it away as the wheels were locked solid. Then I sold it to a mate and it was stolen from him while in storage at Poole.
The reason I think it was by the same firm as your boat has a similar side profile, if you inserted another 12ft the resemblance is striking, although mine had a solid screen which was faired into the deck and around to the side moulding , and it had two bucket seats and a 4 seat bench seat then a huge sun pad and the engine was mounted on an extended transom, it also had a very pronounced planning wedge which made it very stable at high speed. I frequently left my rich neighbour with his Ring 20 with an XR2 engine with a cleaver prop standing much to his irritation.
I too am interested to know more about the boats/builder, it was very solidly built and had very pleasing lines and performed well at 60knts!

 

[PCUK]

Probably the old Spitfire moulds.
A great little fun boat with surprisingly good handling for its size.

 

[driver0606]

Thanks for your replies. Thieves seem to think highly of them, at least! What was the Spitfire, please? The comments on handling are interesting as the bow seems very fine without much reserve buoyancy, and I wonder if it is inclined to bury it at low speeds when the waves are too large to go faster.

 

[propnut]

It could be an Archway Commet .Not sure who produced the moulds in the first place.The moulds changed hands many times