Westerly Merlin 29 - 1990 - Keenly priced at £14,500
One of the later Merlin 29's (Sail No. MN155, Yard No. GT38) developed from the Merlin 28 model with the addition of a small stern sugar-scoop. Being a later Merlin, the internal woodwork is of teak veneers, with the 'warmer' looking headboards finished with vinyl.
The galley on the Merlin 29 is more modern too, with a neutral-coloured laminate - rather than the red and white check(!) of the earlier boats.
This example has been re-lined at some stage. We'd like to say the linings are perfect, but some re-gluing would be desirable on some limited areas here and there, but overall it is pretty good.
Dry and clean, 'Windchat’ benefits from upgrades and attentive maintenance carried out in recent years, with replacement standing rigging in 2017, together with the Stackpack-style mainsail cover, and a new Eberspächer canin heater fitted in 2020.
With her modern fractional rig, a fin keel, and relatively fine lines forward, the Merlin 29 is well respected as a smaller 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 very well against the likes of a Hunter Horizon 26/27, Moody 27 or Jeanneau Fantasia and the reassuring ‘Westerly’ build quality is self-evident.
Many more photos are available from our ‘cloud’- based files, contact us for access.
Accommodation
Forward Cabin: A straightforward 'V'-shaped berth may be converted to a double with an infilling
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.
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
Immediately abaft the chart table is a dry hanging locker
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 top opening coolbox.
Neptune 4500 Two burner gas cooker with oven & grill
A useful stowage locker is provided within the end of the 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 underside
deck locker, with sliding acrylic doors. Pressurised cold water supply to sink.
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 generous for a 28-footer!
Jabsco manual sea toilet
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
conventional shaft drive to a three bladed Darglow Featherstream feathering propeller (New in Feb 2021)
A Volvo Penta type dripless shaft seal is fitted to the inboard end of the sterntube, and a rope cutter is fitted to the shaft behind the P-bracket.
Eberspächer D2L Airtronic diesel warm air heating system fitted in 2020 with Easystart digital controller
Electrical Systems:
12v batteries are secured within dedicated battery boxes beneath the aft cabin's berth.
Charging is by engine-driven alternator with a split charging regulator, and through a 220-240V AC battery charger when connected to a shore support system.
16Amp, 220-240v AC shore support system is fitted,
30w Solar/PV Panel is mounted on the coachroof
Sails and Spars
Rigged as a three-quarter, fractionally rigged sloop on aluminium alloy spars by Kemp Masts
(Selden)
Selden Furlex 104s headsail roller furling system.
Dyneema 4:1 adjustable backstay tensioner
Fixed length spinnaker pole
The standing rigging was reported to have been replaced in May 2017
Sails
Mainsail with two slab reefs
Roller reefing genoa
Navigation Equipment
Within the cockpit:
Nasa Clipper wind speed & direction display
Nasa Clipper EM Log/speed display
Autohelm ST50 Echosounder display
Simrad 7” Chart plotter on bracket alongside companionway
Simrad TP10 Tiller Pilot
Steering compass
At the chart table:
Sealine II VHF Radio (Non DSC)
Deck Equipment
Delta type anchor with chain & warp
Outboard stowage rail mount
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.
Removable cockpit table on offset bracket
Fold down sprayhood
Stack pack mainsail cover with lazy jacks
Spinlock Tiller extension.
Safety Equipment
Smoke alarm
Co2 sensor/Alarm
fire extinguishers.
Manual & electric bilge pumps.
General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as Liferafts, 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 owner’s specific needs.