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.

Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Islander Yachts Bahama 309.12 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1973-1985 production masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Islander 30 MKII and featuring a balanced fin keel
Tartan Marine 309.12 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop offering versatile interior configurations and a choice of standard or tall rigs
Pearson Yachts 309.08 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Bill Shaw-designed masthead sloop with over 1,000 hulls built, balancing a stiff 43% ballast ratio for coastal cruising
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
Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29

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

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