Marlin Dinghy

   I have bought a Marlin sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor - in the same ilk as the wayfarer but faster and not so stable.
I want to use it for day cruising on chichester harbour. has anyone had any experience of sailing these boats eg:
how easy are they to right in event of a capsize.
do they sail ok under main or jib onno information availavly (as some Proctor boats do)
any tips for dry stowage.
These seem to be rare boats - I can find nothing on the internet - is there a class association that anyone is aware of.

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Rusty Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rusty Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Marlin Dinghy Posted: 03 Sep 07 at 9:38pm
	I have bought a Marlin sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor - in the same ilk as the wayfarer but faster and not so stable. I want to use it for day cruising on chichester harbour. has anyone had any experience of sailing these boats eg: how easy are they to right in event of a capsize. do they sail ok under main or jib onno information availavly (as some Proctor boats do) any tips for dry stowage. These seem to be rare boats - I can find nothing on the internet - is there a class association that anyone is aware of.
	Rusty

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 9:53am
	Rusty It might be as well to ask this question as well on the CVRDA forum. They are a mine of information on obscure and older classes of dinghy. Of course our resident guru's JimC and Chris249 may well have some info for you. Hope this helps

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6660	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 10:12am
	Try the CVRDA. I've never sailed one (may not even have seen one) I'm afraid.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 6:51pm
	There are various threads on the cvrda about the Marlin, but I'm afraid there is no class association any more, and I doubt there has been one for 20 years. There was a thread on here, too, not so long ago. They are nice looking boats, but were in a crowded market place and never made it to the big time, coming up against the GP14 and Enterprise amongst others. The PY was, back in the days when a Firefly was 100, the same as a Wayfarer at 97. However, I think you would be hard pressed to beat a modern Wayfarer in one. There is one (for sale I believe) at Whitefriars, unless that is the one you have bought. If not, pursuade someone else to buy it at your club, and start a fleet! I'd think they would sail OK under main, but not at all well under jib. Good luck!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

jannarta Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 13 Location: Waverton CH3 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote jannarta Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 13 at 8:29pm
	I have No 11 Marlin since 1970 and sail it regularly. I have never had it over except when intructing and it is easy to right if you have tied a piece of rope near the centre board housing . It has a small set pf sails at 76 sq feet aswell as the 115sq feet and is rated at about the same as the Enterprise. It takes a 40 plus outboard very well and I often attach it if we are sailing from Ang lesey to Hoylake or Llandudno. The early one like mine has wood thwarts and the ballast is fore and aft with venturer bailers port and Stb so it keeps dry with four up. O n the sea trips I use the smaller sails and the plate half down and sail within three of the mark .Have beacon flares and marine radio and radar inhancing clobber .jannarta
	jannarta

Marlin Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 13 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marlin Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 13 at 9:47am
	Jannarta, this is Marlin (used to be Rusty). Thanks a lot for your reply. It's great to be in touch with an experienced Marlin sailor. it sounds like you have used it in open seas. Is she seaworthy? Good that you have never unintentionally capsized. Been thinking about swapping mine for a Wanderer or Gull as these may be more stable, but maybe not now. I have hardly used the boat and only then in light winds and sheltered waters but want to do more this year. I too have the two sets of sails so may try going out in windier conditions with the smaller sails. Have you done much dinghy cruising in yours? I'd be interested in hearing about some of your trips in more detail.

jannarta Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 13 Location: Waverton CH3 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote jannarta Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 13 at 2:11pm
	Hello Marlin. I have sailed other dinghies in my time particularly whilst in the R.N. and raced in the R.N. Team and our dinghy was awarded a Bronze in the Empire now Commonwealth Games. I knew ian Procter and sailed with him in Scottish waters ; once from near Hunters Quay to the lsle of Man and brought back the Wayfarer on ship as cargo because we deemed it too choppy for a return trip. There is the skill of sailing and knowing when to back off. You should sail a double curvature hull on a reach for if one is sailing close hauled with the keel all the way down and the wind is gusty one has to let fly and move up the keel back into the housing. One should stitch the course on the run in keeping with the wind and the state of the sea. I have sailed from St Margaret's Bay to near Dunkirk in a Signet with a Wren and a bottle of Chateau SAVARIAUD and Corned Beef sandwiches . We completed the run almost last but it was a delightful trip! There is an active club on Salt Spring Island B.C. that sail up the Inside Passage and my wife and I have sailed a Marlin from there up to Desolation Sound about sixty miles and we had our camping gear plus an outboard 40+ Seagull . I would say that eighty per cent of our sailing is at sea and along the French Atlantic Coast down into Espania. I instruct Clearance Diving and sailing at L' Estartit Costa Brava and Los Medas Islands and the Diving/Sailing Club is based at the Hotel Panorama , L' Estartit. We work on Nitrox and always have a safety boat . Always err on the side of caution and sail on a reach and get the feel of the sea via the drop keel by manipulating the angle of the keel and try not to sail with the drop keel all the way down except in Light Airs . Do not drive into a wave formation bur take them two points off and as the boat crests the wave into the trough move the keel down a quarter and take up the slack on the foresail , but not taut and handle the sheets on the main as one would on a horse to let the boat know who is in charge. Always have a Compass , G.P.R. Flares, First aid kit , fresh water and hard tack and a RADAR intensifier on the Mast Top and a comms device and marine channel number for the area : most have an English Speaking Operator on duty . Safe Sailing. jannarta.
	jannarta

Marlin Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 13 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marlin Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 13 at 10:42pm
	Hello Jannarta, Thanks for this detailed help. That's amazing you knew Ian Proctor and sailed with him. The Wayfarer is a superb boat, and introduced me to sailing at the age of 11 (about 40 years ago). It is just a little to big and heavy for what I want at the moment. Interesting that you did some serious trips in the Marlin. Amazingly I have been to Salt Spring Island as one of my wife's sisters lives there. Thanks again for the tips. I will really try to get to grips with the Marlin this year and see if she really does meet my requirements. My only real concerns, as already expressed, are stability and things like not being able to climb onto the fore deck without it tipping over significantly. Maybe speak again Marlin

jannarta Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 13 Location: Waverton CH3 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote jannarta Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Apr 13 at 2:24pm
	Hello again Marlin. My late sister in law ,Grace Peter and her late husband David Peter had a schooner named Blue Peter and they lived at Canvasback Place up the road from Grace Point.As you will know the 38 th does jig through the Islands and if you sail there carry a small U.S. Flag as a courtesy and fly it from the mast head superior to the Maple Leaf or the olde Vancouver Dominion Flag . I do not know why anyone would wish to move on to the foredeck when under sail on the Marlin for it would be most unstable . I do have a Genoa and a small spinnaker which I use on Bala Lake for the winds are spooky and I also have the quick release rods to lower them. There are six Marlins in that sailing area and four others in the Liverpool Bay area and mine is the oldest one. Ian wrote a very informative book on sailing many years ago named Sailing and it is very useful and informative. It has an action sailing picture on the front against a blue and white choppy sea. It is in font 10 and easy to read in a deckchair . All the best for now. jannarta.
	jannarta

Marlin Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 13 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marlin Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 22 Apr 13 at 1:23pm
	Thanks again Jannarta. I'm hoping to get out in it on Saturday. My sailing area is Chichester harbour. we'll see how it goes and I'll let you know...! Marlin