Merlin is a J/42 popular with cruisers for it’s excellent performance and handling. The J/42 is a well-regarded and proven model from J/Boats’ ocean cruising series. A trademark Rod Johnstone design, this superb cruiser-racer is at home at sea or on the race course.
The hull is kept light and powerful for speed with narrow ends to ensure a pleasurable ride underway when a passage gets lumpy. With a classic profile and two-cabin, two-head layout, this model’s characteristics of strength, stability, ease of handling, and comfort when sailing make it a yacht for all sailors.
Merlin was purchased in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2017 to take a year long family cruise in New England and the Caribbean before returning to the Pacific Northwest by land in the summer of 2018. During the preparation for this family’s adventure of a lifetime and throughout their ownership, many upgrades were completed to keep Merlin safe and reliable.
To read about The Merlin Story visit:
www.MerlinSchoolOfMagic.wordpress.com
HIGHLIGHTS and Schedule of Upgrades/Maintenance:
Hall Spars Carbon Mast (painted White) with Navtec Rod Rigging
Service! Mechanical: Fluids – Engine and Transmission Oil plus Impeller (April 2021)
Rebuild! Head (Forward) – Jabsco (2018)
New! Galley: Force 10, 3 Burner Stove/Oven and Faucet (2018)
New! MOM 8-S Swatlik Man Overboard Module (2018)
Service! Max-Prop 3 Blade Feathering: PYI (2020)
New! Bottom Paint: Prep, Sand and Apply 2 Coats Sea Hawk Cukote Black – CSR Marine (June 2018)
Rudder and Bearings: remove, service and re-install – CSR Marine (2018)
New/Service! PYI Dripless Shaft Seal, Cutlass Bearing and Shaft/Couplers – CSR Marine (2018)
Service! Mast Out, Rig Survey and Inspection – CSR Marine (2018)
New! Electronics: Raymarine – complete package; Plotter, Radar, MFD’s (2017)
New! Vesper Marine AIS (2017)
New! Horison Matrix VHF with GPS (2017)
New! ACR Global Fix GPS EPIRB (2017)
New! Redport “Glow” Satellite Wi-Fi Terminal (2017)
New! Spectra 200T Watermaker (2017)
New! Viking RescYou Pro 6 Person Liferaft (2017)
New! Lifesling with recovery block and tackle hoist (2017)
New! Highfield 9’6” RIB, CL290 and Nissan 2 stroke 9.8 hp outboard (2017 – RIB Only!)
New! Doyle Sails: Roller Furling Jib (2017)
New! Running Rigging (2017)
New! Canvas: Dodger, Bimini, Connector and Mainsail Cover – Thurston Sails (2017)
Rebuilt! Head (Aft) – Jabsco (2017)
New! Head (Forward & Aft): Waste and Supply Hoses (2017)
New! LED Lights: Running, Masthead Tri Color and Anchor Combo (2017)
Come see Merlin at Swiftsure Yachts Lake Union Office/Docks off Westlake Ave N in Seattle, WA!
| Name of vessel | Merlin |
| Model | J/42 |
| Year | 1996 |
| Builder | J Boats |
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
| Price | $144,900 USD |
| Location | Seattle, WA |
| Length (feet) | 42 |
| Beam (feet) | 12' 2" |
| Draft (feet) | 6' 6' |
| Displacement (pounds) | 19700 |
| Ballast (pounds) | 7000 |
| Engine model | Yanmar 3JH2-YE |
| Engine horsepower | 47 |
| Engine hours | 2495 |
| Fuel tank capacity (gallons) | 62 |
| Water tank capacity (gallons) | 50 |
| Holding tank capacity (gallons) | 37 |
- Forward cabin
- Door for privacy
- LED reading lights
- Two personal fans
- Opening port
- Large lewmar hatch
- Forward head
- Rebuilt Jabsco Head (2018)
- Replaced all waste and supply hoses (2017)
- Opening port
- Shower and sink
- Hot and cold water
- Sump pump for shower
- Main salon
- LED lighting
- 2 fans
- Opening ports
- Large Lewmar hatch
- Storage behind and above settees
- Storage under port settee
- Aft cabin
- Door for privacy
- Led Lighting
- 3 opening ports
- Small Lewmar hatch
- Aft head
- Rebuilt Jabsco Head (2017)
- Replaced all waste and supply hoses (2017)
- Opening port
- Shower and sink
- Hot and cold water
- Wet hanging locker
- Galley
- Force 10, 3 burner stove/oven (2018)
- New galley faucet (2018)
- Sea Frost engine driven refrigeration
- New clutch (2018)
- New crank timer (2018)
- LED lighting
Electronics and Navigation
- Raymarine Electronics complete package (2017)
- Sea Talk NMEA 2000 network connecting all electronics
- eS98 9” plotter (2017)
- touch screen and button operation
- WiFi connection for full remote functionality
- Use with phone or computer
- North and South America plus full Caribbean Charts
- Raymarine Quantum Q24W Radar (2017)
- Super low power use
- Instant start up
- WiFi connection to plotter
- No corroded wire connections
- Mast mounted on Scan Strut
- 2 i70 multi-function displays in cockpit (2017)
- Anything on the network is available on each unit
- Wind speed and direction wand at mast head (2017)
- Boat speed , depth, and water temp transducer in front of keel (2017)
- Raymarine Smart Pilot, auto pilot
- P70 control head (2016)
- Network data available at head
- Type 2 linear drive
- Rebuilt by Raymarine (2017)
- Fluxgate compass
- P70 control head (2016)
- Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS (2017)
- Send and receive full AIS information
- Connected to NMEA2000 network
- WiFi network connection
- Vesper GPS antenna
- Vesper VHF antenna splitter
- Utilizes masthead antenna
- Horizon Matrix GX1700 VHF with GPS (2017)
- Masthead antenna (2017)
- RG-213 coaxial cable from radio to mast head (2017)
- Mounted at chart table
- ACR Global Fix GPS EPIRB (2017)
- Mounted at Chart table
- Redport “Glow” Satellite Wi-Fi Terminal (2017)
- Data, weather, limited internet onto phones or computer
- Use cell phone to make sat phone calls
- Stow-a-way emergency VHF antenna (2017)
- Weems and Plath clock and Barometer
Electrical Systems
- Electrical system completely rebuilt (2017)
- Aquamaax 140 amp alternator (2017)
- Serpentine belt driven
- ElectroMaxx charge controller (2017)
- Mounted at chart table panel
- Spare Aquamaax alternator (2017)
- Identical, unused
- 1 Group 24 AGM starter battery (2017)
- 2 Group 31 Firefly Carbon Foam house batteries (2017)
- Blue Seas ML-ACR charge relay to isolate start battery
- ANL fuse protection at batteries
- AC powered through 30 amp ELCI and circuit breakers
- AC outlet GFI protected
- Mastervolt 12/20-3 programmable battery charger
- 4 usb charging outlets
- 1 12v outlet
- LED running lights (2017)
- Aqua Signal series 32
- LED masthead Tri-Color and anchor combo light (2017)
- Aqua Signal Series 34
Mechanical and Plumbing
- Replaced all engine hoses and clamps (2017)
- New impeller (2021)
- Yanmar Brand coolant (2018)
- Replaced engine mounts (2017)
- Hogdeon boatyard, Southport Maine
- Racor “Snap” primary fuel filter and vacuum gauge (2017)
- Large size, easy to change
- Spectra 200T Watermaker (2017)
- Spare membrane
- Spare water filters
- Spare seal set
- Max prop, 3 blade feathering prop
- Re-machined by PYI (2020)
- PYI dripless shaft seal (2018)
- Shaft and couplers machined (2018)
- Cutlass bearing replaced (2018)
- All fresh water hoses replaced (2017)
- Jabsco fresh water pressure pump (2017)
- Spare water pump , mounted (2017)
- Cockpit drain hoses replaced (2018)
- Bilge pump, Jabsco 2000, installed (2018)
- Replaced bilge pump hoses
- New fuel tank gauges (2018)
Hull and Deck
- Barrier coat applied (2014)
- Sailors Wharf, Interlux 2000
- Bottom sanded and new bottom paint (2018)
- CSR Marine, Seattle, 2 coats Sea Hawk Cukote, black
- Cukote anti-fouling works even when boats are stored dry
- Rudder and bearings removed and re-installed (2018)
- Tides Marine self-aligning bearings, cleaned and reinstalled
- Lip seal replaced (2018)
- Lifelines replaced (2017)
- Rocna 55lbs anchor (2017)
- 120 ft 5/16” HT anchor chain
- 250’ 5/8 Nylon Brait, 8 strand anchor rode, Yale (2017)
- All canvas replaced by Thurston Sails (2017)
- Original manufacturer (OEM)
- Dodger
- With Handles at back and sides- very solid
- Bimini
- Easily folds up and back with zippered cover
- Clear window above helm
- Connecter
- Easily installed connecter between dodger and Bimini
- Great for rain or sun protection
- Mainsail cover
- Same material as all other canvas
- Leather wrapped wheel
- Custom elk hide (2017)
- Leather wrapped spreader ends (2018)
- Bumpers (4) with black covers (2017)
- Dock-lines (2017)
- Dodger
- Original manufacturer (OEM)
- CSR Marine, Seattle, 2 coats Sea Hawk Cukote, black
Sails and Rigging
- Full mast out, Rig Survey Sailors Warf, Petersburg FL (2017)
- Every fitting removed and re-assembled
- Replaced one questionable toggle
- Full mast out inspection after cross country trucking (2018)
- Sailtec Integral Backstay adjuster
- Rebuilt at factory (2017)
- Doyle full batten mainsail (2015)
- dacron
- Lazy Jack system
- Doyle roller furling Jib (2017)
- Vertical battens
- Contender Pro-Radial cloth
- All running rigging replaced (2017)
- Halyards are Sampson Warpspeed, spectra
- Sheets and control lines xls polyester or Warpspeed.
- Hall Quick Vang rebuilt (2017)
- Every fitting removed and re-assembled
Miscellaneous and Safety
- Viking RescYou Pro Liferaft (2017)
- 6 person raft
- Meets ISO 9650-1 certification
- 3 year manufacturer suggested service interval
- Fits J-42 life-raft storage compartment perfectly
- Mom 8-S Swatlik Man Overboard Module (2018)
- Owner serviceable, manufacturer suggests yearly interval
- Spare Fortress Anchor with chain and road
- Uncovered stainless lifelines-replaced Sailor’s Warf, Fl (2017)
- Gates at both sides
- Boarding ladder at transom
- Also a great swimming ladder
- Life Sling and recovery block and tackle hoist (2017)
- Manual Bilge pump
- In cockpit
- Rebuilt (2017)
- Emergency Tiller
- With appropriate control lines
- Three Fire extinguishers
- Emergency VHF antenna
- Soft wood plugs at all “through hulls”
- All seacocks operate well, easy access
- Simple battery shut offs for both banks
- Coast guard approved type life jackets
Tender and Outboard
- Tender
- Highfield 9’6” RIB, CL290 (2017)
- Largest rib that still fits easily on fore deck
- Allows access to anchor locker while on deck
- Allows full sailing access while on deck
- Lockable storage compartment at bow
- Wire lifting bridle to hang along side
- Floating tow bridle
- Tows great
- Easy to launch or stow with two people
- Largest rib that still fits easily on fore deck
- Highfield 9’6” RIB, CL290 (2017)
- Engine
- Nissan 2 stroke 9.8 hp outboard
- Lifting bridle
- Older but best power to weight ratio
- Will plane with 2+ people
- Nissan 2 stroke 9.8 hp outboard