Design and Construction
CS Yachts employed contemporary methods, building the Merlin predominantly from vacuum bag moulded fibreglass or Kevlar with a balsa wood core above the waterline. This monohull design pairs an internally-mounted spade rudder with a keel offered in multiple configurations (detailed below), while an 11.50-foot beam provides a spacious envelope. The standard draft is 6.25 feet, though an optional 5.00-foot wing keel was offered for shoal-water cruising.
Rig and Performance
A straightforward masthead sloop rig drives the boat with a total sail area of 607.75 square feet—split between a 282.43-square-foot mainsail and a 325.33-square-foot jib/genoa. A PHRF racing average handicap of 141 and a theoretical hull speed of 7.24 knots point to capable all-around performance, whether daysailing or turning club-racing marks. An optional tall mast and multiple engine choices let owners tailor the platform to local conditions.
Options and Customization
The Merlin’s equipment sheet was unusually long: a choice of Kevlar or fibreglass hull, swim platform or conventional transom, standard or tall mast, and three diesel outputs (25 hp, 28 hp, or a 43 hp turbocharged engine). This flexibility means no two boats outside the charter fleets were built in the same configuration. About 20 of the 100 hulls were delivered to charter operators.
Keel Evolution
By the final production year the model had grown to four keel profiles: shoal, wing, deep, and performance bulb. Early boats left the factory with the 6.25-foot deep fin or the 5.00-foot wing, but by the end of the production run buyers could also specify a performance bulb keel. The 5,590-pound ballast package yields a stiff 43% ballast-to-displacement ratio.
Engine and Tankage
Standard power comes from a Swedish Volvo Penta diesel rated at 25 hp. Fuel capacity is 40 U.S. gallons; freshwater capacity is listed at 70 U.S. gallons in class specifications, though one detailed account describes tankage up to 130 gallons, so it's worth confirming on a given hull.
The Verdict
The CS 36 Merlin packages modern vacuum-bag construction and Castro's cruising-oriented hull design in a customizable platform. Its rare combination of a stiff ballast ratio, multiple keel choices, and a generous sail plan makes it a versatile coastal cruiser. The short production run and wide options list mean every boat is a one-off, a trait that rewards careful survey work while giving owners a genuinely distinctive yacht.
Pros
- Vacuum-bagged fibreglass or Kevlar construction saves weight and adds durability
- Large sail area and a PHRF rating of 141 deliver sprightly performance
- Four keel options, including a performance bulb, cover deep-water and shoal-draft needs
- Stiff 43% ballast ratio provides good initial stability, though sources note the powerful rig calls for reefing early as wind builds
- Optional tall mast and swim platform enhance versatility
- Ample freshwater tankage (70–130 U.S. gallons depending on source) supports extended cruising
Cons
- Standard 6.25-foot draft limits gunkholing; the 5.00-foot wing keel was an option, not the default
- No two non-charter boats share the same configuration, complicating direct comparisons and off-the-shelf part matching
- Roughly one in five hulls saw charter service, so charter history is worth checking on a given example
- Limited production (100 units) keeps availability sparse
