| Main features | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Model | Merlin 28 | Merlin 28 |
Version | Fin keel | Twin keel |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Cruising sailboat | Cruising sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Westerly | Westerly |
Sailboat designer | ||
Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
Construction | Hull and deck: GRP (glass reinforced polyester) | Hull and deck: GRP (glass reinforced polyester) |
Number of hulls built | 151 | 151 |
First built hull | 1984 | 1984 |
Last built hull | 1990 | 1990 |
Appendages | Keel : fin without bulb | Twin keel : fin without bulb |
Helm | Single tiller | Single tiller |
Rudder | Single transom hung rudder | Single transom hung rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No |
| Main dimensions | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Overall length | 28’ 8”8.75 m | 28’ 8”8.75 m |
Hull length | 27’ 1”8.25 m | 27’ 1”8.25 m |
Waterline length | 23’ 7”7.2 m | 23’ 7”7.2 m |
Beam (width) | 9’ 11”3.03 m | 9’ 11”3.03 m |
Draft | 5’1.53 m | 3’ 5”1.03 m |
Mast height from DWL | 36’ 8”11.19 m | 36’ 8”11.19 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 7694 lb3490 kg | 8036 lb3645 kg |
Ballast weight | 2987 lb1355 kg | 3329 lb1510 kg |
| Rig and sails | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Upwind sail area | 443 ft²41.2 m² | 443 ft²41.2 m² |
Downwind sail area | 618 ft²57.4 m² | 618 ft²57.4 m² |
Mainsail area | 208 ft²19.3 m² | 208 ft²19.3 m² |
Genoa area | 236 ft²21.9 m² | 236 ft²21.9 m² |
Jib area | 129 ft²12 m² | 129 ft²12 m² |
Stormjib area | 46 ft²4.3 m² | 46 ft²4.3 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 410 ft²38.1 m² | 410 ft²38.1 m² |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi 7/8 | Sloop Marconi 7/8 |
Mast configuration | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 1 | 1 |
Spreaders angle | Swept-back | Swept-back |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire continuous | 1x19 strand wire continuous |
| Performances | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 193 ft²/T17.91 m²/T | 187 ft²/T17.4 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 269 ft²/T24.95 m²/T | 261 ft²/T24.24 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 265 | 277 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 39 % | 41 % |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 6.51 knots | 6.51 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 21.4 gal81 liters | 21.4 gal81 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | Merlin 28 Fin keel | Merlin 28 Twin keel |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) | 2 | 2 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 4 / 6 | 4 / 6 |
Head(s) | 1 | 1 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 20.1 gal76 liters | 20.1 gal76 liters |