BoatsMerit 28

Merit 28

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1985

A rare Nelson Marek masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, of which only two were ever built

Designed by Nelson & Marek.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 13 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 13
CoastalBluewater

2.27 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.27
LightHeavy

125 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 125
EasygoingPowered-up

25.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 25.8
TenderStiff

53% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 53%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~79% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2102 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
52.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
25.8
Displacement / length
125.2
Comfort ratio
13.1
Capsize screening
2.27
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
780
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1985
Units built
2
Designer
Nelson, Marek
Builder
Merit Marine Inc

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Pogo 8.508.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop by Pierre Rolland featuring a wide beam and dual rudders for rapid offshore sailing
Abbott Boats Inc. Soling8.15 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA high-performance Olympic class keelboat designed by Jan Herman Linge for tactical three-person racing
RM Yachts 8908.90 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop with a deep bulb keel and dual rudders, optimised for speed and stability
Albin Marine AB Vega 278.25 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterScandinavia's most popular production yacht of her size, this 8.25-metre masthead sloop defined coastal cruising from 1965 to 1979
Com-Pac Yachts 258.59 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOriginally the Watkins 25, this masthead sloop features a shallow 0.76m draft and a fin keel for versatile cruising
Jeanneau Aquila 278.70 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop offered in both standard and deep-keel Regatta configurations

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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