HEBRON (1966)

At the time I was designing Hebron, I was working as a computer programmer at H.M. Customs and Excise, Southend. I lodged at a hotel run by two customs officers. They generously allowed me to build Hebron in the back garden of the hotel.

My friend Don Hearn and his wife Eileen helped me in many ways: here Don helps with the varnishing of the hull.

Half way through the building, I had to move from the Hotel. Don and Eileen let me finish the boat in their carport!

Hebron's lines were quite radical - her wide transom belies the fact that she was designed nearly 40 years ago

I got a 'second' C section mast from Proctor's for £9, but spared no expense on my Dacron sails from Bruce Banks, who supplied me with one of the first 'gaff' mainsails in the class.
Hebron was launched in late August 1966. With her beam of 2 metres (6'6") she was the widest Merlin Rocket built to date. She proved fast in a breeze, but slow in light airs.
The boat aroused much interest at my local club and at open meetings. In 1968 a club member asked me to design a Merlin for him to build himself. The result was HOTSPUR.

Last updated 9 December 2011