Merit 22 owners

[Los]

I just make a large loop under the lower shrouds. As soon as the mast is up and forestay connected the loop falls down when you loosen the main halyard.

Hi Digger1. If the loop falls down, do you somehow put it back up when lowering the mast? or do you use the jib halyard or something? Interested.

 

[Los]

3. No bilge I'm aware of, but access port forward of the keel.

Good answers from Digger1. I would add that when I had Pressure Drop slipped for a couple months, I would routinely get water under the rear left seat that I mopped out with a rag from the access. When I sailed her hard, I also got water under the forward seat that I mopped out with a rag. It seems like these two areas are isolated and that the forward leakage came up from the trunk somehow when heeling hard under a fresh breeze. I am trying to figure this out as well. I recall a post somewhere where someone said the Merit 22 is prone to leakage and you should have an auto bilge pump. I do not know where this person located their bilge and will be tracking replies for insight.

 

[RussC]

When I sailed her hard, I also got water under the forward seat that I mopped out with a rag. It seems like these two areas are isolated and that the forward leakage came up from the trunk somehow when heeling hard under a fresh breeze. I am trying to figure this out as well.

Water does tend to come up the trunk whenever you're moving and the keel is even slightly raised. I made a gasket out of thick neoprene and glued it under the keel cap to cure that.

 

[Los]

RussC: Lots of ideas in this one pic. 1. That gasket is much thicker than my 1/8" Tk gasket. TY for the idea. my keel bumps around so much that it easily leaks. 2. I also like the electric winch setup. very tight. Why not run it through the third pulley set to lighten the tension? It would go slower, but I think I would want that. 3. Is the hanging block so you can use the portside winch to raise and lower it? 4. I like the white bags on the seat that is too small to be useful as a seat anyway. 5. I see the shackle next to the forward facing seat on the trunk to lock the keel down. Mine has a hold drilled through the top of the trunk. I had to break out the previous owner's fiberglass job that closed off the hole in the keel to make this work. 6. the cushions are dated. My wife used watered down latex paint to paint over the pastel flower pattern on our cushions. It came out good for us, but I don't see how it would work with yours due to the loose texture. aaaand 7. I like the solid hatch cover. I put a cut up political sign over mine to keep the sun out but this looks better. What did you use? THANKS for sharing this!

 

[Los]

I think almost everyone here would kill to have a copy of the manual.

Personally, I would not kill for it, but I am very interested in getting the manual and the fiberglass bible that is mentioned in this forum. I am grateful to have found this forum! This is my first good sized boat and while I am handy, this collective experience and guidance is very very helpful. I would be very interested in a Merit regatta to Coronado this summer (2025) or whenever. If anyone likes that idea, please comment. Even two boats would be better than one. I think we would want to sail out of Long Beach and run straight across.

 

[RussC]

RussC: Lots of ideas in this one pic. 1. That gasket is much thicker than my 1/8" Tk gasket. TY for the idea. my keel bumps around so much that it easily leaks. 2. I also like the electric winch setup. very tight. Why not run it through the third pulley set to lighten the tension? It would go slower, but I think I would want that. 3. Is the hanging block so you can use the portside winch to raise and lower it? 4. I like the white bags on the seat that is too small to be useful as a seat anyway. 5. I see the shackle next to the forward facing seat on the trunk to lock the keel down. Mine has a hold drilled through the top of the trunk. I had to break out the previous owner's fiberglass job that closed off the hole in the keel to make this work. 6. the cushions are dated. My wife used watered down latex paint to paint over the pastel flower pattern on our cushions. It came out good for us, but I don't see how it would work with yours due to the loose texture. aaaand 7. I like the solid hatch cover. I put a cut up political sign over mine to keep the sun out but this looks better. What did you use? THANKS for sharing this!

1: the top of the trunk is so irregular mine wouldn't seal with the thin gasket. 2: winch is a cheep Harbor Freight atv winch and works great. I had it in the third pulley but it was too slow and the winch has plenty of power on its own. 3: I just never got around to removing the hanging block. figure if the winch or battery ever died....... 4: the "white bag" is my main sail in the cover bag and on the boom 5: are you sure the hole in the top of your trunk isn't where it leaks?? 6: my cushions were in such good shape I just kept them. I like the retro look lol 7: Hatch cover is factory fiberglass.
BTW. you're not missing much by not having a manual. it's about as useful as the directions on a shampoo bottle LOL.