The Mercedes Clippers were designed in the late 1970s, mostly built between 1977 and 1983, but at least two were put in the water around 1990.
About 20 to 25 total seem to have been built.
A fairly well known New Zealand boatbuilder did a survey of one of them around 2016 and commented that (designer Mick Elmes) “... designed nice boats that perform well.” Also that the particular (1990) hull he checked was fair, well finished and he saw no reason to be concerned.
Elmes was reported in 2007 to have thrown away the plans years earlier and couldn’t by then say much about his design details.
Some of the Mercedes Clippers seem to have had reasonable racing records, and for their length they can be fairly spacious and comfortable cruisers.
I guess the boat you refer to is "Improbable". It seems to have a scoop stern which was apparently not in the original design and was probably added later. Most of those boats seem to have 20hp diesels, although there are some with 28's, or even Ford Shibauras with 25's.
Names of some of the Mercedes Clippers, possibly some renamed, are Morning Sky, Misty Clipper, Fame, Chandos, Perspective, Cyrano, Improbable, Windward Clipper, Amanzimtoti, South Seas Clipper. Some I've forgotten and some no doubt I never knew.
The name "Mercedes Clipper" always seemed to me a bit more interesting than something like Beneteau 34, so I conjectured maybe the clipper part refers to the shape of the prow, and the Mercedes part to the fast and comfortable German car, or maybe the designer's girlfriend if she had the same name and the same other attributes as the car.
Enjoy the boat if you buy it. I currently own one and have great times with it.
Mercedes Clipper 32ft design
in MarineTalk
Posted
The Mercedes Clippers were designed in the late 1970s, mostly built between 1977 and 1983, but at least two were put in the water around 1990.
About 20 to 25 total seem to have been built.
A fairly well known New Zealand boatbuilder did a survey of one of them around 2016 and commented that (designer Mick Elmes) “... designed nice boats that perform well.” Also that the particular (1990) hull he checked was fair, well finished and he saw no reason to be concerned.
Elmes was reported in 2007 to have thrown away the plans years earlier and couldn’t by then say much about his design details.
Some of the Mercedes Clippers seem to have had reasonable racing records, and for their length they can be fairly spacious and comfortable cruisers.
I guess the boat you refer to is "Improbable". It seems to have a scoop stern which was apparently not in the original design and was probably added later. Most of those boats seem to have 20hp diesels, although there are some with 28's, or even Ford Shibauras with 25's.
Names of some of the Mercedes Clippers, possibly some renamed, are Morning Sky, Misty Clipper, Fame, Chandos, Perspective, Cyrano, Improbable, Windward Clipper, Amanzimtoti, South Seas Clipper. Some I've forgotten and some no doubt I never knew.
The name "Mercedes Clipper" always seemed to me a bit more interesting than something like Beneteau 34, so I conjectured maybe the clipper part refers to the shape of the prow, and the Mercedes part to the fast and comfortable German car, or maybe the designer's girlfriend if she had the same name and the same other attributes as the car.
Enjoy the boat if you buy it. I currently own one and have great times with it.