Repair & maintenance: Marlin Dinghy

Print Page | Close Window

Marlin Dinghy

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3349
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 7:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Marlin Dinghy

Posted By: Rusty
Subject: Marlin Dinghy
Date 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

Replies:

Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 9:53am

Rusty

It might be as well to ask this question as well on the http://www.cvrda.org/ - 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

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 04 Sep 07 at 10:12am

Try the CVRDA. I've never sailed one (may not even have seen one) I'm afraid.

Posted By: Rupert
Date 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

Posted By: jannarta
Date 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

Posted By: Marlin
Date 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.

Posted By: jannarta
Date 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

Posted By: Marlin
Date 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

Posted By: jannarta
Date 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

Posted By: Marlin
Date 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

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 22 Apr 13 at 3:38pm

I have sailed in your waters and in June 1957 we found the body of Lieutenant-Commander L.K.P. Crabb, O.B.E. G.M. and in June 1957 we recovered his head which came off as we manouvered him into the cutter. His epitaph was spoken by the Prime Minister . he was my first C.O. in Gibraltar.

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 22 Apr 13 at 3:59pm

As a final footnote Ian Douglas Ben Proctor died while helping to launch from a beach a Wayfarer which was to take part in World Champion Series Born 12th July 1918. Died 23 July 1992 at Hayling Island he was 74 years of age and left three sons and one daughter.

I attended his and Crabbie's funeral and in fact Crabbie had a second one when we laid his head to rest ten years later . The Russians sent a large button shaped wreath of white alpine flowers on both occasions. jannarta

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 23 Apr 13 at 5:49pm

My first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Commander L.K.P. Crabb ,OBE GM known as Crabby or Philip and his body was found in Chichester Harbour in June 1957 and ten years later in 1967 we found his head which dropped off as we got his body into the Cutter . he was buried from Portsmouth Cathedral and the Prime Minister read his epitaph ; ten years later his head was interred . The Russians for both services sent a large button wreath of White Alpine Flowers. So, give him a salute when you are afloat . he was a kind nice man and I worked with him at Gib. and around the Thames and the Severn.

jannarta.

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 23 Apr 13 at 5:54pm

Sorry for the double ,now triple posting . The others I thought had got lost .jannarta

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: Marlin
Date Posted: 26 Apr 13 at 10:27pm

Jannarta,

That's really interesting about your experience of sailing in Chichester Harbour. Thanks for sharing. I won't be sailing tomorrow now as the weather is not good down here. I need a new wetsuit so it might be shopping. Keep in touch.

Marlin

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 27 Apr 13 at 1:50pm

The Hudson Tech 5 or 7 comes in two parts : the legs,body and shoulder straps and then the Jacket.which has its own zips . It can be worn on its own as can the 'Boiler Suite' they are tough sturdy and warm and provide 7 mm of insulation when worn together and are more flexible for working than a Dry Suite. Hudson may not be trading in U.K. anymore but any two piece suite is better than an all in one for you have the choice and also when worn together you get an extra layer of insulation around your lungs if the water is cold. I often only wear the top under my Life Jacket when sailing. jannarta.

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 28 Apr 13 at 2:46pm

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 28 Apr 13 at 3:02pm

I shall be off this 'band' from tomorrow until around the 2nd June . Shall be cruising down the Atlantic Coast and into Espania . How far, depends on weather conditions and the ports we stop at en-route . have radio for Coastguard and 2.m use G3TLA if you are on the' Gulpers and Sippers ' channel.

jannarta

-------------
jannarta

Posted By: Marlin
Date Posted: 09 May 13 at 4:14am

Hello Jannarta, just to let you know I got out in my Marlin on Monday; first time for some years. Wind light but great sailing. I may still look at changing for a Gull or Wanderer in the future. Ian porter who is the South Coast agent for these Proctor boats and the Wayfarer is in my home town 5 minutes down the road. Hope your recent sea trip went well.

Marlin

Posted By: jannarta
Date Posted: 09 May 13 at 12:49pm

Hi Marlin, It is a long time since I sailed a Gull but it has a kind way of slipping over the waves in light airs. The Wayfarer is sturdy and I have sailed it amongst the Scottish Islands and in the Barents Sea with a reef or two . It is a heavier boat than the Marlin and one in which as your experience grows you and your crew will enjoy. It can be rigged for overnight camping along side or at a safe buoy in the shallows.

I am preparing for our cruise along the Atlantic Coast of France and will not be back until June 11.

Yours aye,

janarta

-------------
jannarta