The core mission of the Merlin 29 was to provide a safe, family-friendly coastal cruiser that did not sacrifice sailing speed for interior volume. Unlike the older Laurent Giles designs, which were heavily ballasted and featured full, rounded sections, the Dubois-designed Merlin utilized a finer entry forward and a flatter, broader run aft. This hull shape allowed the boat to slip through the water with less resistance, accelerating quickly in light airs while retaining the solid, confidence-inspiring build quality that defined Westerly. Each hull was moulded to rigorous Lloyd’s Register standards, carrying a Hull Construction Certificate that assured prospective owners of its structural integrity.
Step down the companionway, and Dubois’s interior design magic becomes immediately apparent. Squeezing three separate cabins into a 29-foot boat was considered a triumph of space planning. The layout boasts a genuine double berth in the private aft cabin—a feature that was virtually unheard of in this size bracket at the time and a significant upgrade over the "coffin berths" of its competitors. To achieve this, the entire saloon was shifted slightly forward. While this made the forward end of the saloon berths taper tightly toward the bow, it allowed for an exceptionally spacious heads compartment, a dedicated aft-facing chart table, and a proper wet locker. The interior joinery on the Merlin 29 reflects Westerly's transition to higher-end finishes, utilizing warm teak veneers, neutral-toned galley laminates, and vinyl-finished headboards that replaced the colder, utilitarian fabrics of the earlier Merlin 28 models.
Variations & Configurations
True to Westerly’s heritage, the Merlin 29 was offered in both deep fin and twin (bilge) keel configurations, catering to the diverse cruising grounds of Northern Europe and the UK. The fin-keel version draws 5 feet 4 inches, utilizing a 2,987-pound cast-iron fin that offers a lower center of gravity and excellent lift. The twin-keel version, drawing just 3 feet 5 inches, carries slightly more ballast at 3,328 pounds to compensate for the shallower draft. Unlike traditional, crude bilge keels that were bolted vertically to the hull with minimal profiling, Dubois designed these twin keels with an efficient aerofoil shape, splaying them outward at an angle. This design ensures that when the boat heels, the leeward keel becomes nearly vertical, offering remarkable upwind performance and minimal leeway.
The major distinction of the Merlin 29 over its predecessor, the Merlin 28, lies at the stern. Westerly extended the transom slightly to incorporate an integrated "sugar scoop" stern. This modification not only increased the overall length to 29 feet but also significantly modernized the boat's profile and made boarding from a dinghy or stepping off the dock far easier. Crucially, this stern redesign allowed Westerly to discard the transom-hung rudder of the 28 in favor of an efficient, balanced spade rudder tucked cleanly beneath the hull. Under the hood, while early Merlins were powered by Bukh diesels, the Merlin 29 was standardized with the Volvo Penta 2002, a robust 18-horsepower two-cylinder marine diesel driving a conventional shaft.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The influence of Dubois's racing background shines through in how the Merlin 29 behaves under sail. With a displacement of 7,694 pounds and a moderate Displacement-to-Length (Disp/LWL) ratio of 261.98, the Merlin is heavy enough to handle a rough coastal chop without losing momentum, yet light and slippery enough to out-sail almost any of the older-generation Westerlys. It behaves like a modern yacht, slicing cleanly through waves with its fine bow entry and displaying a surprising turn of speed on a reach.
The Sail Area-to-Displacement (SA/Disp) ratio sits at 13.59, reflecting a relatively conservative fractional sloop rig. This 7/8 setup with swept-back spreaders is highly manageable for shorthand crews, allowing the mainsail to do much of the heavy lifting. In light winds, the Merlin can feel slightly underpowered under its working sails alone, and owners often rely on a cruising chute or a large genoa to keep moving. However, when the breeze picks up, the boat comes alive. The high Ballast-to-Displacement (Bal/Disp) ratio of 38.82 percent ensures excellent righting moment. The boat is remarkably stiff, holding its canvas longer than many contemporary French cruisers before requiring a reef.
Its Comfort Ratio of 22.2 indicates a motion that is predictable and relatively dry for a sub-30-foot boat, though bilge-keeled versions can experience occasional slamming when hammered directly into a short, steep head sea due to the flat sections between the keels 7. The Capsize Screening Ratio of 2.01 sits right on the boundary of what is generally deemed suitable for offshore work, reinforcing the Merlin 29's identity as a highly capable coastal and cross-channel cruiser rather than a dedicated blue-water passagemaker. On the helm, the balanced spade rudder delivers light, responsive tiller steering with very little of the heavy weather helm that plagued older, long-keeled cruisers.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the brokerage market, the Westerly Merlin 29 occupies a unique niche. Because only 21 hulls were built, it is a rare find compared to the ubiquitous Merlin 28 or the older Konsorts. Consequently, it commands a relative premium when it does appear, holding its value exceptionally well due to the combination of the Dubois hull, the updated sugar-scoop transom, and the modern interior layout.
Purchasing a Merlin 29 usually represents a highly stable investment for coastal sailors. However, buyers must budget for the inevitable modernization of 1990s systems. The standing rigging, if not replaced within the last decade, is a mandatory priority. Replacing the original Volvo Penta 2002 engine, which can suffer from cold-starting issues or worn spline drives on the gearbox, is a major economic consideration. While some buyers seek out vessels already repowered with Beta Marine or newer Volvo D1 diesels, negotiating a discount on a boat with its original engine allows the new owner to undertake this critical refit themselves, cementing the boat's long-term utility.
Known Issues & Triage
Despite Westerly's reputation for robust, hand-laid fiberglass construction, the Merlin 29 is not without its specific, age-related vulnerabilities. Foremost among these is the infamous "Westerly Droop"—the gradual failure of the foam-backed vinyl headlining. Over decades, moisture, humidity, and heat degrade the polyurethane foam backing into a sticky, orange powder, causing the vinyl to sag. Remedying this is a notorious, labor-intensive DIY task. The old adhesive must be aggressively scraped off the raw GRP using wire wheels or solvents. Owners typically resolve this permanently by replacing the vinyl with new foam-backed materials using high-temperature contact adhesives, or by installing custom wooden batten systems and thin plywood panels clad in vinyl or hardwood slats, which completely eliminates the risk of future sagging.
Another common pain point lies in the deck-to-hull joints and window frames. The original aluminum-framed Lewmar windows are prone to leaking. Often, the factory cutouts in the deck molding were made slightly too wide, leaving an inadequate sealing surface for the window flange. Repairing this requires removing the window entirely, cleaning out the old sealant, and building up the edges of the GRP cutout with an epoxy and fiberglass filler before reinstalling the frames with fresh butyl tape or marine sealant.
Lastly, the keel-to-hull joints must be carefully inspected. On bilge-keeled models, the lateral leverage exerted on the hull when drying out on mud berths can stress the structural floor timbers over time. While Westerly heavily reinforced this area, surveyors will look for "crazing" or cracking in the gelcoat around the keel floors internally and look for the "Westerly smile"—a hairline crack at the external joint between the iron keel and the fiberglass stub. Triage involves dropping the keels, cleaning the mating surfaces, replacing the backing plates if rusted, and rebedding the keels with a high-strength polyurethane sealant before retorquing the keel bolts.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners of the Merlin 29 have focused on turning this capable pocket cruiser into a highly efficient, self-sustaining coastal home. The cramped battery compartment under the quarter berth, which originally housed heavy lead-acid batteries, is a prime candidate for a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) conversion. Switching to lithium not only sheds significant weight but also doubles the usable house capacity, allowing owners to run modern conveniences like high-efficiency refrigeration and diesel cabin heaters without anxiety.
Because of the deck layout, mounting solar panels can be challenging. Many owners opt for a custom stainless steel gantry or davits over the transom, or integrate flexible panels onto the sprayhood or the companionway hatch garage. This setup provides sufficient passive generation to keep the refrigeration running indefinitely on mooring lines.
In terms of the rig, replacing the original, awkward mainsheet traveler—which sat right across the back of the cockpit and posed a hazard during tacks—with a modern, high-load system moved forward onto the coachroof is a highly recommended upgrade. This modification keeps the cockpit entirely clear and safe for family cruising. Additionally, converting the heads to a modern freshwater-flush system and adding a holding tank (which was rarely fitted as standard in the early 1990s) is a common and necessary upgrade for those cruising in environmentally sensitive or crowded European estuaries.
The Verdict
The Westerly Merlin 29 is an exceptional "pocket cruiser" that manages to feel, sail, and live like a much larger vessel. By successfully merging Ed Dubois’s performance-oriented naval architecture with Westerly’s legendary build quality, it represents the absolute pinnacle of the company's sub-30-foot range. While it requires the typical maintenance vigilance associated with any classic British fiberglass yacht, its stellar layout, robust construction, and balanced handling make it one of the most rewarding coastal cruisers of its era.
- Innovative three-cabin layout with a genuine double aft cabin and large heads.
- Outstanding sailing performance and windward ability, especially for a bilge-keel configuration.
- Solid, Lloyd's-certified fiberglass construction that stands up to heavy coastal seas.
- Modernized sugar-scoop stern and underslung rudder improve access and handling over older models.
- Balanced helm that remains light and highly responsive under a variety of wind conditions.
- Sagging interior headlinings are an inevitable and highly labor-intensive repair.
- Window frames are prone to leaks, often exacerbated by oversized factory cutouts.
- Slower performance in light winds under the standard, conservative fractional rig.
- Extremely limited production run makes finding a Merlin 29 on the brokerage market difficult.
- Original Volvo Penta engines are reaching the end of their reliable service life and may require replacement.
