BoatsWesterly Marine Ltd. Merlin 29

Westerly Marine Ltd. Merlin 29

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1990–1993

An Ed Dubois-designed fractional sloop featuring an extended transom and available in both fin and bilge keel versions

Designed by Ed Dubois.

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 moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 22
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.01
LightHeavy

262 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 262
EasygoingPowered-up

13.6 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 13.6
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.6
Displacement / length
262.0
Comfort ratio
22.2
Capsize screening
2.01
Hull speed
6.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
836
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1990–1993
Units built
21
Designer
Ed Dubois
Builder
Westerly Marine Ltd

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.

Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising
C&C Yachts 30-29.12 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA performance-oriented masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by C&C for balanced club racing
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull
Cal Boats 309.14 mSame hull family0.3 m longerOffered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series

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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