Melges Performance Sailboats

For generations, the Melges family has enjoyed the pure pleasure and thrill of racing sailboats. Ever since Harry C. Melges, Sr. built his first scow out of northern cedar in 1943, the Melges family has been committed to building the finest boats, sails, spars, covers and all other types of sailing equipment. From 1945 on the Melges company has been building many different types of boats, but in 1993 after winning the America's Cup Buddy and sons Harry and Hans began a whole new era with the Melges 24.

The Melges 24 which was designed by Reichel/Pugh after the 1992 Cup features many America's cup innovations. The use of carbon fiber, vertical carbon keel fin with lead bulb, a kelp cutter installed for kelp clearance, carbon spar, rudder and bow sprit. Although these innovations are on the cutting edge for production sailboats it just makes the boat that much more enjoyable for the weekend racer.

Setting up the Melges 24

The Melges 24 is quick and simple to set up for just two people. The carbon fiber spar is just 62 pounds fully rigged and is deck stepped in minutes. The custom Melges mast step allows the sailor to just put the base into the step, lock in and walk up. After connecting the roller furler jib, the boom and the boom vang you are virtually ready to go sailing. It takes a practiced couple just 25 minutes to fully rig this boat.

Sailing the Melges 24

Simple is the key word here. The boat is very stable with its minimum weight aloft and maximum weight down below. The carbon keel fin weighs just 35 pounds while it supports a lead bulb of 630 pounds five feet below. This makes for a comfortable sail in all conditions.

No winches! No winches are needed upwind or downwind on this 24 foot boat. This makes your crew happy. With the class jib of 126 sq. ft. you never worry about difficult trimming.

You sail with either 2-5 people total. Typical one-design sailors race with 4 people in total weighing no more than 793 pounds as there is a racing weight limit. Certainly, you can enjoy daysailing the boat with just two people and as many as 6 people with the Melges 24's 12 foot cockpit.

Downwind sailing in your Melges 24 is the most fun! With the carbon bow sprit you can easily set and hoist your Melges asymmetrical with limited crew work and zero foredeck work. Once you have your asymmetrical set you are able to sail high angles for speed or low angles for comfort. Gybing is as easy as 1-2-3. Just ease your current sheet, gybe the boat, trim your new sheet to fill the asymmetrical. Viola, you are on your new gybe.

Us Melges 24 Class Association
Specifications:
Length...........24 feet
Beam...........8.2 feet
Hull..........Fiberglass
Hull Wgt....1783 lbs.
Crew.................2-5
Sail Area
Main..........254 sq.ft.
Jib.............126 sq.ft.
Spinnaker..670 sq.ft.
Spar.....Carbon Fiber

	MELGES 24 *web site*		MELGES 24 *parts*
	MELGES 24 *more photos*		MELGES 24 *North Sail info & pricing*
	MELGES 24 *ANATOMY OF A DECKPLAN*
	MELGES 24 - *Build A Boat - Available Upgrades and Options for 2008*
	*MELGES 24 - Call 262.275.1110 or email Harry Melges, Andy Burdick, Sam Rogers or Jamie Kimball TODAY!!*








	Designed by Reichel/Pugh, its professionally engineered, high-tech stance includes a carbon fiber spar, rudder, bowsprit and vertical keel fin. Another key component of the M24™ is a 670 sq ft asymmetrical spinnaker that lifts and pulls the boat forward on a downwind sprint. It adds speed, simplicity and ease of handling giving way to a more challenging tactical race. That’s built-in erformance! This get-up-and-go sportboat package has the ability to facilitate trailering, hoist and ramp launching. With a retractable keel designed specifically for traveling, it fits behind any vehicle and hitch on a custom, galvanized-steel Melges Performance Sailboats trailer with fiberglass bunks. The Melges 24 possesses an easy to rig personality requiring only two sets of hands for a quick set-up. Weighing in at a healthy 1,783 pounds, this streamlined baby is a pleasure to haul from your local club to a World Championship. To date, over 685 boats are sailed competitively around the world. Half of the entire fleet exists in the United States while the remaining national classes are spread out over 18 European and Asian countries proving that it demands an international audience.