Mercator Off Shore 30-foot Sailboat

Affordable, Small, Solidly Built Ocean Going Cruiser

Jul 8, 2009

Built in the 1970s in Washington, Mercator sailboats are still valued today for their proven off-shore capabilities, ease of handling, and classic design features.

Naval Architect, Niel Parmentier, set out to build a solid, affordable, sloop-rigged fiberglass sailboat that could circumnavigate the globe, or compete in weekly yacht club races with equal success. Many Mercator owners, and a handful of boat reviewers, agree that Parementier’s design accomplished both goals, even though his boat building business was never financially sound.

Plug and First Hulls Made in the late 1960’s

Parmentier built the plug for the first Mercator out of plaster in his Seattle backyard, and later produced seven or eight hulls from the original design. These were sold as unfinished hulls for the owners to complete.

Redesign Creates the Mercator Mark II

In the early seventies, German-born engineer, Sieg Brunnenkant, who’d been laid off by Boeing during a down turn in the aerospace industry, joined Parmentier. The two men redesigned the boat’s hull to reduce drag and add stability. They also designed a fiberglass cabin with surprising headroom for a small boat, and worked with designer and potential buyer, Willem Eickholt, to create a very functional and beautiful interior. This reconfiguration was dubbed the The Mercator Mark II, and Mercator Industries went into production.

Mercators Were Hand Crafted

Each Mercator was built by hand, one at a time, in a dairy barn in Kent, Washington. Unfortunately, the labor-intensive work and thin profit margin eventually led to friction between the two boat builders. In 1973 Parmentier sold out to Brunnenkant, who continued to build Mercators until 1981.

Mercator Specifications

Special Features of the Mercator

The Mercator hull is hand-laminated in one-piece, and exceeds Lloyd’s of London’s recommendations for an ocean cruiser. All exposed bulkheads are solid teak and fastened to the hull with molded flanges and bolts. The topside is a sandwich construction of fiberglass with a bulsa core for weight reduction, sound proofing, and strength. Originally fitted with a 25 hp Volvo MD2B Diesel, most Mercators have since been repowered. The toe rail and cockpit are handsomely trimmed in teak giving the boat a classic look. The original sails were made by the highly regarded Schattauer Sail loft of Seattle, who still have the patterns and specifications for Mercators needing replacement sails.

Owners Group and Newsletter

In 1998 the first ever Mercator Owners’ rendezvous was held in Puget Sound at the Kingston Marina. At least two more rendezvous were held in subsequent years, largely spurred on by a newsletter, The Mercator Log, produced by then Mercator owners, Nancy and Lynn Hardy. Today, a few new Mercator owners are attempting to resurrect the Owner’s Group. Interested Mercator owners, past and present, can contact this group at MercatorLog@gmail.com.

Only 38 Mercators were ever built, but more than 40 years after the first hull was pulled from the mold, the boats still have a devoted following.

The copyright of the article Mercator Off Shore 30-foot Sailboat in Sailboats is owned by Sheila Gaquin. Permission to republish Mercator Off Shore 30-foot Sailboat in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.