Nat 12 vs Merlin
A merlin without doubt.
Stu
National 12 2204 for sale lovely stable boat cvrda eligable........
Stu
National 12 2204 for sale lovely stable boat cvrda eligable........
The only canoe sailor in MY village too !
OK K1958
Mirror 34459
http://www.stuandliz.co.uk
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make bow waves not chat
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OK K1958
Mirror 34459
http://www.stuandliz.co.uk
****************************
make bow waves not chat
****************************
Everything above is true.....but also remember that both classes had many designs (often by same designers) and some designs were much tippier than others...in both classes. My Proctor IX Merlin was stable enough....but the MkVIII had a reputation as being very tender.
Of course the MkVIII and most holt designs were aimed squarely at river use....I wonder if there is any correlation between the river designs and tippiness....any thoughts Rupe? It would not suprise me if the river designs in both N12s and Merlins were a bit tippier than their sea-designed siblings?
Any thoughts
eib
Of course the MkVIII and most holt designs were aimed squarely at river use....I wonder if there is any correlation between the river designs and tippiness....any thoughts Rupe? It would not suprise me if the river designs in both N12s and Merlins were a bit tippier than their sea-designed siblings?
Any thoughts
eib
Ed Bremner
CVRDA
Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
CVRDA
Jollyboat J3
Firefly F2942
IC GBR314 ex S51 - 1970 Slurp
MR 638 - Please come and take it away
Phelps Scull
Bathurst Whiff - looking for someone to love it
Narrow merlins are great on rivers/inland, but hard work hiking out for a long time. They can be tippy in gusty conditions but not that bad. They have plenty of room for crew and carry weight better than nat12. I have some modern cut sails for 507 (Holt, Riant, 5ft beam) which I use most of the time and it sails well, but I have discovered the joys of older design sails which have much less up top (no comments please!) and make the boat very 'safe' . Old design sails can still 'go'. My wider merlin (6ft)(proctor 9d) is great for scooping up water. Yes, different designs are very different to sail.
Nat 12 672(holt 500 design) can nose dive sometimes, a little tippy but again much more so with modern sails. With the old cotton sails (and iron centre plate) fairly safe but can roll downwind. (use of whisker pole helps a lot). For us the big downside was crew space..low boom and kicker in the face. Youngster as crew seems ideal.
Nat 12 672(holt 500 design) can nose dive sometimes, a little tippy but again much more so with modern sails. With the old cotton sails (and iron centre plate) fairly safe but can roll downwind. (use of whisker pole helps a lot). For us the big downside was crew space..low boom and kicker in the face. Youngster as crew seems ideal.