The first 21st century Merlin Rocket Designs - HAZARDOUS 140 and 170

Design development in the Merlin Rocket dinghy class has stagnated over the last decade. In fact, my two new designs may be the first in the 21st century. Whether they will match up to the Morrison NSM4 or the Holt Canterbury Tales remains to be seen. I have done a lot of research recently (via books and the internet) to appraise myself of the latest design thinking, and experimented with a radical new Merlin design, but I could not produce a "Bethwaite skiff" type of hull within the constraints of the Merlin class rules, and which did not have excessive wetted area. So I went back to the Hexagon/Hysteria/Hazard line and produced a pair of designs which have the same fine entry, but flatter garboards forward, and a radically flatter planing run, to take advantage of the power developed by the sophisticated modern rigs. These two designs differ only in their weight carrying capability - the 140 is designed for a lighter crew (about 140kg, in fact), and has less curve in the aft run than the 170. When heeled at 15 degrees, wetted surface area compares favourably with my earlier designs (they were good light weather performers). In a planing breeze I expect these boats to fly.

Plans for the first Hazardous 170 have been sold to the USA, and the first Hazardous 140 has gone to France.

JORDAN BOATS can provide a complete set of plywood components, cut to exact shape and size, for any of my designs, including the Hazardous Merlin Rockets. Please contact me or Alec Jordan if you want to know more.

15 March 2004: John Keeling has started planking up his Hazardous 170.
16 June 2005: John launches his Merlin USA01, named 'Forty-two'. To view some photographs he has sent me Click here.

Hazardous 140, layout plan - PDF file

Hazardous 140, main bulkhead construction - PDF file

Hazardous 140, shape of sheer plank - PDF file

Hazardous 140, detail of station 0a - PDF file

Last updated 18 January 2007