Westerly Merlin 28 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a Westerly Merlin 28 on the brokerage market means looking at a finite generation: 151 were built between 1984 and 1990, designed by Ed Dubois as solid-fiberglass fractional sloops. The used fleet splits between owner and charter layouts, and knowing which version is in front of you matters more than any single option list.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are more common on the used market, but both owner and ex-charter versions are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin owner arrangement gives a private aft sleeping space, while charter-configured boats may show heavier wear from turnover but often carry more comprehensive inventory.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Buyers will commonly find a chartplotter, autopilot, and heating already fitted, which together cover navigation, steering relief, and cabin warmth. Spinnakers and life rafts are often seen, pointing to boats equipped for extended coastal passage-making. Solar, a dodger, and short-handed setups appear less consistently and are typically owner upgrades rather than factory standard. For a buyer, the presence of heating and autopilot signals a boat used in cooler climates or for longer stays aboard, while a spinnaker suggests the rig has been sailed as designed.
What to Inspect
The one boundary to note is the capsize screening value of 2.03, which means the boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races; this is a design parameter rather than a condition item, but confirm the rig and ballast match the 2,987-pound iron configuration so the stability figure holds.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany. Before committing, run through a short checklist:
- Confirm the hull is solid fiberglass with no unreported modification
- Verify the iron ballast and fin-keel configuration match the design
- Check that heating, autopilot, and chartplotter function as fitted
- Inspect spinnaker and life raft if present for service status
- Review the layout type and ex-charter history for wear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Westerly Merlin 28. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $18,491 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $20,157 | +9.0% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $13,254 | -34.2% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $14,580 | +10.0% |
| Feb 26 | 4 | $20,379 | +39.8% |
| Mar 26 | 6 | $16,352 | -19.8% |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $12,095 | -26.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $11,267 | -6.8% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $16,370 | +45.3% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $15,574 | -4.9% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $21,871 | +40.4% |
| Sep 26 | 1 | $17,894 | -18.2% |
Where they're listed
Westerly Merlin 28 listings appear across 3 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 25 (89.3%), followed by Italy and Germany.
Country view
28 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $15,906 | 25 | 4 | 89.3% |
| Italy | $17,149 | 2 | 0 | 7.1% |
| Germany | $20,157 | 1 | 0 | 3.6% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westerly Merlin 28You are here | — | $ 17,011 | 28 | 4 |
| Hunter 28.5 | 28.42' | $ 12,500 | 26 | 8 |
| Thames Marine 28 | 27.5' | $ 10,571 | 22 | 8 |
| One-Off 28 | 28.18' | $ 39,195 | 12 | 1 |
| Jeanneau First 28 | 28.21' | $ 26,143 | 10 | 3 |