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Boat Overview
Boat Description
Westerly Merlin 28: Compact Cruiser With Big Ambitions
1. General Information
The Westerly Merlin 28 is a well-proportioned British cruising sailboat designed by the celebrated naval architect Ed Dubois and built by Westerly Marine in Hampshire, England, between 1984 and 1990. Around 151 hulls were completed, making the Merlin 28 one of the more successful small cruisers to come out of Westerly's yard during the 1980s.
Marking a departure from the heavier, twin-keel cruisers for which Westerly had long been known, the Merlin 28 was conceived as a modern, performance-oriented family cruiser, comfortable enough for relaxed weekend sailing yet capable enough for confident coastal and channel passages. She suits sailors who want an easily handled, forgiving boat: a couple looking to cruise the coast, a small family after weekend and holiday sailing, or a first-time owner stepping up from a smaller boat.
Below decks, the Merlin 28 offers two cabins, a saloon, a compact galley and a single head, arranged to make the most of her 8.75 metre length overall and generous 3.03 metre beam. With a modest draught of 1.53 metres on the fin-keel version, she is equally at home nosing into shallower anchorages as she is out in open water, and her fractional sloop rig with a swept-back single-spreader mast keeps sail handling straightforward for a short-handed crew.
2. Construction and Design
Westerly built the Merlin 28's hull and deck in glass-reinforced polyester (GRP), a material chosen for its low maintenance and durability, giving owners a boat that shrugs off the wear and tear of everyday cruising. The fin keel, cast in iron, is bolted beneath a solidly built hull, while a single transom-hung rudder keeps the steering gear simple and easy to service.
Dubois's design brief balanced performance with the practicalities of family cruising: the aluminium mast and boom, deck-stepped and supported by 1x19 strand wire standing rigging, are proportioned for easy shorthanded sail trimming rather than outright speed. Down below, the interior favours warm, practical joinery and sensible stowage over flashy styling, with saloon seating that converts for sleeping and a galley positioned for safe use underway.
The result is a boat that feels reassuringly solid at sea, with a moderate displacement and ballast ratio that give her a settled, comfortable motion rather than a tender, racy one - exactly what most cruising owners want from a boat this size.
3. Key Features
Proven Dubois pedigree: Designed by renowned naval architect Ed Dubois, the Merlin 28 brings sought-after performance-cruiser thinking to a compact, easily owned package.
Solid GRP construction: A glass-reinforced polyester hull and deck keep maintenance low and durability high, ideal for owners who want to spend more time sailing than restoring.
Easily handled fractional sloop rig: A deck-stepped aluminium mast, single set of swept-back spreaders and 7/8 fractional rig make sail trimming manageable for a couple or short-handed crew.
Sensible, shallow-water friendly draught: The fin-keel version's 1.53 metre draught balances performance and access, while a twin-keel version is also available for drying moorings and shallower harbours.
Dependable diesel auxiliary: A single inboard diesel engine gives reliable, low-drama motoring for entering marinas, crossing calms or making passage against the tide.
4. Summary
The Westerly Merlin 28 suits sailors who want a manageable, well-built pocket cruiser rather than an outright racer: couples and small families drawn to coastal and estuary sailing, owners moving up from a first daysailer, or anyone wanting a characterful older GRP cruiser with a strong reputation for solid construction. Her straightforward rig, comfortable motion and two-cabin layout make her a practical choice for weekend getaways and longer summer cruises alike, while her keel options let buyers match the boat to their local waters, whether that means deep-water moorings or drying harbours. For anyone seeking an affordable, easily maintained classic British cruiser with pedigree design credentials, the Merlin 28 remains a compelling option on the used-boat market.