Westerly Merlin£19,250
One of the last Merlin 28's (Sail No. MN150, Yard No. GT116) built prior to the 29' version being developed from the same hull. Being a late Merlin the internal woodwork is of teak veneers, with the 'warmer' looking headboards finished with vinyl. The galley is less dated too, with a neutral-coloured laminate - rather than the red and white check(!) of the earlier boats.
This example has been re-lined in the aft main and forward cabins. We'd like to be able to say the linings are perfect, but unfortunately some re-gluing would be desirable on the reverse complex curves that form the forward end of the coach roof - within the forward cabin. We have included pictures of this area to assist in judging what would be considered to be a relatively minor and isolated area that requires attention.
Dry and clean, 'Harvey Moon' benefits from many upgrades and attentive maintenance carried out in recent years, with replacement standing rigging including a Harken roller reefing system for the headsail (the rig was also professionally checked this spring at time of fitting replacement LED lamps to masthead units and a new steaming/deck combination light); the mainsail only dates from 2017, together with the Stackpack-style mainsail cover. Instrumentation has been modernised, with Tack Tick wirelessly connected instruments fitted in a dedicated instrument pod above the companionway, supplementing the earlier sailing instrumentation and a modern VHF with AIS receive capability fitted.
With her fractional rig and narrow keel root about the centreline, and relatively fine lines forward the twin keeled Merlin is well respected as a twin keeled Westerly that can perform surprisingly well. Not as voluminous forward as the shorter 26' Griffon, but with her generous double cabin aft instead and featuring a heads compartment that is the same as that on a 33' Storm, the Merlin stands up well against the likes of a Hunter Horizon 26/27, Moody 27 or Jeanneau Fantasia and the reassuring build quality is self-evident.
Accommodation
Forward Cabin:A straightforward 'V'-shaped berth may be converted to a double with an in-filling cushion covering the space immediately ahead of the doorway, above the sole. A deep-fiddled stowage shelf is fitted to the hull either side, with deep, flow-coated stowage also found under the berths. Light and through ventilation is ensured by an aft-opening deck hatch over the berth with a ventilator fitted.
Main Saloon:U-shaped seating to port (with an in-filling panel and cushions to provide an occasional double berth) and single, tapering berth to starboard. Two deep fiddled shelves for convenient stowage to either side in this cabin, with all the under berth/seat space dedicated to stowage too (the tanks are beneath the aft cabin's berth and in the cockpit locker). A substantially built and securely fitted table is provided with two leaves and offers comfortable dining for four people as well as plenty of security when moving about the accommodation at sea.
Chart working area: A fixed chart table - with provision for chart stowage within, faces aft to the starboard side of the main saloon. The navigator sits on the head-end of the starboard settee/berth, with their left shoulder alongside the 12V DC distribution panels, VHF radio and radar display. Immediately abaft the chart table is a hanging locker, which, in this case has a removable canvas stowage providing cubby-hole stowage for items of small clothing such as hats and gloves.
Galley:Located to port (to be on the 'downhill' side when hove-to on starboard tack), immediately at the foot of the companionway, the galley is of 'L'-shape, with a stainless steel sink facing forward on a peninsular that accommodates a refrigerated, top opening coolbox. A useful stowage locker is provided within the end of this work peninsula to supplement an under-sink shelved locker, while a narrow shelved locker immediately to the aft side of the cooker was provided too. Primary crockery or large food staples are catered for in the under-side deck locker, with sliding acrylic doors. Freshwater is foot pumped to the sink, leaving the operator's hands free for holding the dishes and is filtered through a cartridge filter unit.
Aft Cabin: The aft cabin is notably generous for a boat of the size, with the berth's area being comparable with other designs of 31' & 33' overall length. A half-height hanging locker is fitted immediately inside the cabin to port of the doorway. Battery containments and the freshwater tank is fitted beneath this berth. Light and ventilation are provided by the standard portlight to the companionway area, supplemented by another opening portlight to the cockpit's footwell.
Heads Compartment:Located to starboard of the companionway steps, this compartment is primarily formed using the same sub-moulding as was used by Westerly in the later Storm 33 - it may genuinely be considered as generous for a 28-footer! A moulded hand basin, with electrically pumped cold water only is provided inboard of a large, under-deck locker. Light and ventilation is by means of a portlight that opens to the companionway bridge deck.
Mechanical And Electrical Systems
Fitted with a Volvo Penta MD2002 (rated at approx.18BHP) diesel engine, driving a three-bladed propeller through a conventional shaft. A rope cutter is fitted to the shaft, behind the P-bracket. A dripless shaft seal is fitted to the inboard end of the sterntube.
The engine has been serviced on an annual basis, or at 100 hr. intervals whichever has come first.
Electrical Systems
2 off 110A/hr batteries were replaced in 2022 and are secured within dedicated battery boxes beneath the aft cabin's berth. A battery voltage monitor by 'Victron' is fitted, supplementing the original Westerly-provided voltage and charging displays on the main switch panel.
Charging is by engine-driven alternator and through a 220-240V AC battery charger when connected to a shore support system.
The original 12V DC switch and circuit breaker panel has been supplemented with an additional 6-way switch panel by 'Blue Sea Systems' together with two USB output sockets.
A 16Amp, 220-240v AC shore support system is fitted, with a residual current device (RCD) for personnel and system protection, with a single 13A socket beneath the aft berth and with a second circuit breaker to be able to fit additional sockets elsewhere on the boat. A galvanic isolator is fitted to guard against shore-based ground faults.
Spars And Sails
Rigged as a three-quarter, fractionally rigged sloop on aluminium alloy spars by Kemp Masts (Selden), with a roller reefing system to the for'stay by Harken. The standing rigging is reported to have been replaced in 2012 and was professionally checked by Hemisphere Rigging in spring 2022.
Sails
- Mainsail by Westaway Sails (2017) is loose-footed for better sail shape and has provision for the two slab reefs, whose leach pennants are brought back to the cockpit.
- Roller reefing genoa by Westaway Sails (2008) with sacrificial U.V. protection strip replaced in 2020.
- Cruising chute of unknown age, but reported to have been little used.
Navigation And Sailing Instrumentation
- Autohelm 2000.
- ST50 series log for speed.
- ST50 series echosounder for depth.
- Tack Tick MN100-2 wind instrument above companionway.
- Tack Tick Multi-screen unit displaying the speed and depth at companionway.
- Tack Tick Micronet remote display repeating the GPS readout at the companionway.
- Raymarine C80 combined chart plotter and radar display alongside the chart table.
- Airmar sensor for compass input to the Raymarine radar.
- Raymarine RC400 handheld GPS/chart plotter with a dedicated mount at companionway.
Deck Equipment
- 25 lbs plough anchor, attached to 25m of chain and 40m rope.
- Danforth type, secondary anchor stowed in cockpit locker.
- Moulded anti-slip relief incorporated in the deck moulding.
- SIngle centre-line forward mooring cleat, plus two midship cleats and two aft quarter mooring cleats.
- Stainless steel fold-down swimming/recovery ladder.
- Fold down sprayhood (2017) plus the previous sprayhood ('tired'), but this latter with a zip across the rear edge to be able connect a cockpit canopy that the current owners have not used. The frames for the canopy are stowed in the cockpit's locker.
- Stack pack mainsail cover with lazy jacks (late 2017).
- Pair of named cockpit dodgers.
- Tiller extension.
- Ensign and staff.
- Set of cockpit cushions.
Safety Equipment
- Horseshoe lifebuoy.
- Floating light.
- Danbuoy.
- Man overboard recovery sling.
- Gas alarm.
- 2 off dry powder fire extinguishers.
- Fire blanket for the galley.
- Manual bilge pump.
General note on any safety equipment:Any safety equipment such as life rafts, EPIRBs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.
