Back to Search
Merlin 29 Westerly
Designer: Ed Dubois  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1990
+ Add to Compare
About the Merlin 29 Westerly

Westerly's Merlin 29 emerged during an era when British boatbuilding was establishing its reputation for producing robust, seaworthy cruising yachts designed to handle challenging coastal conditions. This moderate-displacement sailboat embodies the traditional Westerly philosophy of prioritizing strength and reliability over racing performance. Built with Westerly's characteristic solid fiberglass construction, the Merlin 29 features a full keel configuration that provides excellent tracking and stability in heavy weather. The design reflects classic British cruising sensibilities, with a focus on creating a capable vessel for weekend coastal adventures and extended cruising in variable conditions. The boat's practical interior layout maximizes accommodation within the 29-foot hull, offering comfortable quarters for small crews on extended passages. Her conservative sail plan and predictable handling characteristics make her particularly appealing to sailors seeking a forgiving platform for building offshore experience. While not designed for competitive racing, the Merlin 29's sturdy construction and dependable sailing qualities have earned respect among cruising sailors who value seaworthiness over speed. The model represents Westerly's commitment to producing affordable, well-built yachts that can handle serious sailing while remaining accessible to recreational sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.58 ft / 7.19 m
Beam 9.92 ft / 3.02 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 7,694.00 lb / 3,490 kg
Ballast 2,987.00 lb / 1,355 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ed Dubois
Builder Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1990
Last Built 1993
Number Built 21
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
38.82
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
261.98
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 5.01 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 13.63
P (Mainsail Luff) 331.00 ft² / 30.75 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Volvo
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 21 gals / 79 L
Water Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
How It Compares

vs. J/29, Mirage 29, Sigma 292

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
29.0 ft
J/29
29.0 ft
Mirage 29
29.0 ft
Sigma 292
29.0 ft
LWL
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
23.6 ft
J/29
24.3 ft
Mirage 29
24.3 ft
Sigma 292
23.0 ft
Beam
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
9.9 ft
J/29
10.7 ft
Mirage 29
10.5 ft
Sigma 292
10.1 ft
Displacement
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
7 lbs
J/29
5 lbs
Mirage 29
6 lbs
Sigma 292
6 lbs
Ballast
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
2 lbs
J/29
2 lbs
Mirage 29
2 lbs
Sigma 292
2 lbs
Sail Area
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
392 sq ft
Mirage 29
Sigma 292
412 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
Mirage 29
174 s/nm
Sigma 292
186 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
21.3
Mirage 29
Sigma 292
18.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
38.8 %
J/29
40.5 %
Mirage 29
33.8 %
Sigma 292
40.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
22.1
Mirage 29
Sigma 292
19.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
1.76
Mirage 29
Sigma 292
2.15
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
261
J/29
97
Mirage 29
212
Sigma 292
242
Hull Speed
Merlin 29 Westerly ★
J/29
7.5 kts
Mirage 29
Sigma 292
6.4 kts
Find a Merlin 29 Westerly For Sale