Ranger 265 vs Merlin - Hopefully my last what boat for a few years :-)

[yachtorion]

So after much back and forth in past threads (thanks for bearing with me), I've sold the old boat, and I've got finance in place for the new. Plan is to buy early-mid season (two/three months) - though I will be waiting for the right example to come along - not expecting to sail this season, more planning to prepare, re-requip and learn about the boat ashore.

I've decided my budget is limited to about 20k. I want a bilge keel boat for maximum flexibility and hopefully a swinging mooring in the 27-29 foot range with aft cabin and a good heads compartment with space for at least one adult in the forepeak, preferably screened in some way (would be happy to fit a blind/curtain on the ranger). The idea is that people can sleep in separate cabins and go to the heads (or ashore) without disturbing each other too much.

From looking on various sales sites, with a bit of negotiation it looks as though I could get a Merlin or a Ranger 265 for the money.

I'd like a boat with reasonable performance - I'm a dinghy racer, though I'm not planning to race it and I recognise there is some trade off with bilge keels. I'd be prepared to accept the self tacker on the Ranger as it might make single handed sailing easier.

Won't be going further afield than occasional possible Channel/North Sea/Irish Sea crossings in settled weather (depending on where I end up keeping it), but mostly coast hopping.

Anyone got any experience of the above or an obvious candidate I've missed please?

 

[JimC]

Westerly Merlin & Hunter Ranger 265 both v.good boats IMHO. Both 'modern' layout with aft cabin under cockpit & aft side-deck. Both fractional rig but Merlin has large genoa whereas Ranger has larger mainsail and small self-tacking jib. Neither boat likely to disappoint, I would base choice on rig preference and poss' larger aft cabin on Ranger. Other boats? Sadler 29, Westerly Konsort, Moody 27,28,29, various Cobras & Seawolves, various Leisures & Mirages etc. etc. but the two you've mentioned would be at the top of my list too.

P.S. If you don't like the S/T jib on the Hunter she can be fitted with a conventionally-sheeted genoa of about 110%, I've just done this on my Channel 31 but I've kept the S/T jib for single-handing.

Good Luck

 

[30boat]

On looks alone I'd go for the Hunter.

 

[Laurie]

Outside the box, and not necessarily twin keelers.......Feeling 286 (I have one, shoal draft, fast and v. roomy), also 850, 960 siblings, Jeanneau Sundream, lift or twin, Kelt 29 lift or twin, Beneteau 285 lift......jus' thinking?

I wasn't looking specifically for it, in fact my search criteria weren't far away from yours...found the 286 by accident and am as pleased as punch with it: a real surprise.