The following text (and images) all come from this page at the Design Spotter website. They present the concept for a folding multihull.

I guess the real question here is whether or not the concept is commercially viable. As a design concept, the basic idea certainly flows from other small folding multis that have long been on the water. The fold-out deck design that supports the outriggers is certainly unusual though.

I thought you might like to see it though. (All photos are linked to directly from their location at DesignSpotter.com).

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“FINES is an foldable multi-hull boat concept for 4-6 people. With the hull folded FINES has the optimal travel dimensions and needs little space in marinas or docks.

With the hull unfolded FINES offers, in contrast to conventional boats however, much more space and freedom of movement on deck than previous concepts. The idea behind it is to create a mobile, individual oasis of wellbeing with which you can leave overcrowded beaches behind you while still having sufficient space and comfort.”

Foldable Multihull Concept Design

Here is a great little foot trimaran sailing canoe. At fifteen and half feet, it appears to be a fine example of how to use stitch and glue method in order to build an efficient, versatile water craft rather quickly.

The info and photos for this all come from Tim C., who allowed me to copy the content from his ebay ad for the boat. He and his family had a blast with this little tri.

The main hull is derived from canoe plans in the UK that are advertised as being novice-builder-friendly.

If a self-builder has some experience, they could probably replicate this tri very cost effectively. What great work Tim did when building this boat! Be sure to click on all images below in order to enlarge them.

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Trimaran/Canoe. 15ft 6inches. New Build 2010. Our Family Boat.
by Tim C.

Main hull construction with stitch and glue method

It was built with extra Buoyancy front and Rear and with the best “West Epoxy Resin”. It gave us hours of fun with the children, exploring rivers/fishing, etc., with the occasional trip out to sea.

In 2011 we improved it further with the addition of a built in outboard bracket and some high quality inflatable stabilisers (available on another auction/now sold). There were also some changes to the inside — adding matting and a built-in centre section for storage.

We used a Suzuki 2.2 Outboard motor and it worked very well with the canoe. We traveled far and wide with this set up — bass fishing offshore, etc.

Later, in 2011 we added a large “Pacific Action sail” (also for sale on another auction/now sold) that springs up at the front of the Boat and is excellent for downwind sailing, also a rudder was added, we had an endless summer of fun with this boat in 2011.

In 2012 we made some changes to the Boat. We purchased a “Sun Fish” sailing dinghy (they have a short mast and a lateen type sail that is super easy to use).

We removed the mast hole/foot and dagger board section in one piece, then built it into our boat, finishing everything with marine ply and Wests Epoxy. Then we adding all the rigging direct from the Sun Fish dinghy.

Outriggers folded across the top for trailering

There are many extras: Waterproof hatch/bag, 2 large waterproof lockers front and rear, hand trailer that was built by us with 3 rollers and it is possible to load the boat onto this from dry sand, it has sand tyres.

It has 2 large seats either side (see the photos), bow line, anchor and anchor bag. It comes with the original boat build plans from 2010 and also a full set of plans for building 2 wooden outriggers (cost £40). It has all the lines needed and a cover, specially made. Included are pictures from the build in 2010 & 2011 alterations, and as it is now.

We have loved this boat but have not used it for over a year. It has given our family endless fun and hope it provides as much pleasure to the new owner.

Once again, click here to see the full page listing for this trimaran canoe on Ebay.com

There aren’t many Firefly 26 Trimarans. (The reason is explained in the previous link). But the following boat appears to be a great opportunity for the right individual.

Sailor Steve Lucas has a factory-built model that was never fully completed. Everything appears to be like new … as it was kept under wraps. Be sure to click on the images below for full view.

Steve lives in Annapolis, Maryland, and would love to see this cabin cruiser go to the right person. I’ll get right to it let him tell the story behind this boat. (Thanks for sharing this info with us too Steve!)

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NEED A HOME FOR A FIREFLY TRIMARAN
by Steve Lucas

Firefly 26 Trimaran Main Hull

The notable differences between the Firefly 26 and the Dragonfly 25 are 2′ 6” longer amas, 1′ longer main hull, relocated rear cross tube and a center board instead of a dagger board.

I purchased the sixth and final Firefly tri just as the company was going bankrupt. The boat was factory built and is mostly complete.

Main hull is completed as are the amas. I have the mast and all the custom aluminum and stainless fittings to complete the boat except for the standing rigging, water stays, traveler, front hatch and boards. I bought this boat new in 1990 and it has sat in my back yard under cover for 23 years. It’s never been titled or registered. I have the builder’s original certificate of origin. This is essentially a 23 year old new boat.

I’d always intended to finish this boat but one thing or another always came up – daughter with heart problems, late wife with terminal cancer… I’m retired now and was able to get a beach house on a canal. However, the canal has both width and overhead restrictions and I need a folding tri,

Though the Firefly is demountable, it does not fold. I lucked into a T-Gull which folds and meets my needs very well so, regretfully, I need to find a new home for my Firefly.

I’d really like my Firefly to go to someone who will actually finish it and use it…not let it just sit like I did.

Here are the particulars:

Specifications:

– Length – 26 ft.
– Beam overall – 20 ft.
– Beam demounted – 8 ft.
– Beam waterline – 1′ 10”
– Draft (board up) – 13”

Main hull completely assembled:

– Hull and cap in original gelcoat joined
– Inner liner bonded
– Centerboard trunk molded
– Cross tube carriers bonded
– Bulkheads tabbed
– Companionway hatch
– Anchor locker hatch
– Cockpit and aft hatch
– Stainless water stay chain plates
– Factory epoxy barrier coat

Amas (from prototype boat) complete and assembled:

– Decks joined to hulls
– Stock crossbeam atachment saddles replaced with epoxy and triaxial glass sockets with graphite inside per upgrade plans from Kurt Hughes.6” round aluminum cross tubes

Mast

– Factory mast section (same as Stiletto 23), powder coated white.

Stainless custom fabricated hardware:

– Bow rail
– Compression post
– Mast step
– Swept back spreaders
– Mast hound fixture
– Forestay chainplate

Aluminum hardware:

– Mast truck
– Mast foot
– Factory Ventus aluminum rimmed cabin windows

Trailer:

– Galvanized single axle trailer with custom mast crutch

Once completed, this should be a really beautiful, stable and very fast boat. I was personally on a Firefly which clocked 22 mph with a screacher with three people on board in a stiff breeze.

Not included but needed for completion:

– Waterstays
– Standing rigging
– Boards
– Mainsheet traveler
– Fore hatch
– Winches
– Sails (the original boat used Stiletto 23 sails)

For a more complete description of the boat, along with lines drawings, please see the Running Tide website at http://www.runningtideyachts.com/trimaran/

I’m asking $7,500 for the boat, parts and trailer.

Anyone interested may contact Steve using the form below…

Please fill in your name and personal email address here so Steve can reply to you.

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Frank, from Rocky Mountain Safari, has struck again (with a really neat concept). When I see stuff like this it really becomes obvious that some guys are both true watermen and idea factories all rolled into one. (Frank, my friend, you’re one such fellow! :-)

Anyhow, check out the info and pics below. Be sure to click on the images below to enlarge them.

How neat. How practical. How so “DIY meets hands-on” sort of thing.

Frank writes:

I’m sure impressed with all the creative transport schemes folks have come up with. For transporting my trimarans, I built long wheelbarrel-like things to put the canoe on.

It was only after the fact, I realized they would make great docks. I cut the Hobie masts down because we don’t need that much sail area. In our old age, we’ve mellowed from maximum on everything.

The non-Hobie trimarans are 11’ wide, so there is almost no heeling. The ladies feel safe on these boats. The kayaks all have super-strong closures, to prevent leakage when crashing through waves and running submerged.

Watching kayaks porpoising through waves is mesmerizing. Lean back in the cush chair, hands behind the head … an occasional course correction with a knee, … Now this is the life!

Cheers to all of you out there that are making it happen.
– Frank at rockymtnsafari

Portable Dock Ready to Go

This works great for canoes, kayaks, and of course, small trimarans

This trimaran powerboat comes from designer and builder Fred Caravetta. He shares the story behind the development of this boat below … along with some great photos and video (below).

The video shows the boat in the testing stage as a monohull and then its transition to becoming a trimaran. Once again to obtain more personal information and in-depth info about the goals for this boat, visit Fred’s website.

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Designing the Wave-Piercing 5-Meter Trimaran Powerboat
by Fred Caravetta

I have always been fascinated by things which travel through the air or water. As a boy, growing up in a small Florida town near the ocean and an airport, I had ample opportunity to observe both.

My path: Aviation. Aerodynamics, airframe construction, maintenance and commercial pilot certifications were my chosen fields.

So then how did I get into designing boats? It was out of necessity.

After the 9-11 attack on America, the aviation industry experienced a decline in activities. I needed a new direction. This came in the form of a postal service transportation contract between Warroad, the Northwest Angle, and Oak Island, in Lake of the Woods on the northern border of Minnesota.

It was necessary to have multiple types of vehicles.

My first endeavor was to modify an old airboat for mail delivery during freezing lake conditions. I soon discovered that the result of modifying an otherwise unsuitable vessel is nothing more than a modified unsuitable vessel.

Subsequently, my designs tend to be mission specific.

I have designed and built three airboats since then, the last one being 68% lighter and requires only 35% of the power needed by that first old tub.

During soft water operations here, with wind of 30kts, it is not uncommon to experience waves of 3ft. (trough to peak) at close intervals.

The mission set down for the ‘5 Meter wave piercer’ is to transport mail through such conditions safely, efficiently and with a greater degree of comfort than a comparable deep V hull would afford.

The hull is shaped to cut through and shed water with a minimum amount of resistance. Once the enclosed cockpit and cabin area are complete it will also be dry.

Originally designed as a monohull, weighing in at 170 pounds, it was quick with a 15hp outboard and very responsive. In that form it would make an economical and fun river or backwater boat. However, since that was not the goal, something had to change.

The change selected was to out-rig a pair of amas. These proved to provide the needed roll stability for rough water running, along with additional benefits.

The amas’ rear sections extend aft of the transom, thereby increasing buoyance aft and tends to slow the bow rise during wave penetration. Plus, a maximum speed increase of 5% over the mono hull configuration. This setup raised the total hull weight to 224 pounds.

Concerning future plans for this design: My desire is toward research and experimentation with other types of designs, therefore I am not interested in production at this time. However, if there was enough interest, I could find the time to put together a simple and coherent set of drawings.

This boat is strong, light weight, efficient and fast for the horsepower (21mph). It is low cost, constructed of local hardware material and simple to build with simple tools.

It has achieved its design mandate and on top of all that; I think it looks good.

Your Tri-ing friend,
Fred Caravetta

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Sailor Chris Holyday shares the following with us regarding a self-made 13-foot kayak trimaran. When I look at what he has done, I’m amazed that more guys aren’t doing it because it really follows (as Chris wrote to me) the KISS principle.

Chris is sailing his little tri in the waters near Perth, Australia. Sounds like a must-see place for an outdoorsman (outdoorsgal?).

Chris said Finn Kayaks first delivered the boat to him with a small windsurfer sail … but the rudder proved to be inadequate for what he had in mind for the craft. It was only after he fit a deeper swing rudder … along with a cut down laser sail … that his new trimaran really took off.

It handled better overall too.

Many of water shots shown below were taken at the Maylands Yacht Club in Perth – http://www.maylandsyachtclub.org.au and it sure looks like fun. As Chris notes below, what could be better than messing about in … (I’ll let you read it for yourself :-)

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A 13-Foot Kayak with a Laser Rig
by Chris Holyday

Here is the short story behind my little “Tri-Laser”.

Being an ex-Laser sailor (I’m too old to compete now) I thought I’d cast around in retirement for a small, stable, sub 13-foot trimaran. The main goal is to enjoy the fun of sailing our rivers and estuaries down here in Perth, Western Australia.

The Swan River winds its way up from Fremantle, which is of course, on the ocean. We have the best kept secret here in this town – even though the America’s Cup did come here way back in 1987. It’s probably like San Diego, warm most of the year, but with the added bonus of a unique estuarine waterway – check it out on Google earth.

Maylands Yacht Club is the furthest sailing club from the sea here in Perth, around 10 miles upriver from Fremantle. The Club mainly sails Lasers – perfect for our rather lake-like stretch of water and damn near perfect for my little tri!

I once sailed off-the beach Windrush catamarans some 40 years ago – they actually originated here on the West Coast in Perth in the 1970s and made it to the States as the TRAC 14. They are tough boats as we regularly enjoy 20 knots plus sea breezes all summer down under. This made me keen to find a bullet proof boat and rig.

My search led to discover a local producer of polyethelene kayaks – Finn Kayaks, run by Alwyn Duke. http://www.finnkayaks.com/index.php/about-us.

Finn Kayaks has worked with me over the past few months to create a simple tri design using a standard 3.9 metre (13 feet) fishing kayak as the main hull. It’s now fitted with a standard, cut-down, Laser sail (around 3 sqm). The mast height is 4-metres (sleeves like a Laser two-piece mast).

Three main features make for easy one-man transport and one-man launching and operation:

• 1/ Lightweight but tough polyethelene construction
• 2/ The outriggers click on to removable cross bars.
• 3/ Foot controls for rudder keep your hands free.

You can see from the photos how it is set up with permanent fins attached to both outriggers to stop sideways drift; it points reasonably high and is light on the helm (although it doesn’t point as high as a Laser of course).

It tacks easily. Rigging is a lightweight copy of a standard Laser set up. All simple, cheap and trouble-free. I’ve found it an extremely stable rig and the boat flies.

I’ve taken it on the ocean near my home, off Sorrento Beach, and it handled the swell remarkably well. The pics are relatively low quality, as they were only taken on a mobile phone, but they provide some idea of how she looks on the water.

For me, there is now absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in small trimarans…

Happy sailing.
Chris Holyday
Sorrento Beach, Perth, Western Australia

Sailor (and self-boatbuilder) Pippo Bianco is building a Seaclipper 20 trimaran model in Italy. He has started a blog to document his progress throughout the build.

Anyone interested is invited to check out his ongoing work at this blogspot page.

Seaclipper 20 Trimaran Plans (page 1)

Seaclipper 20 Trimaran Plans (page 2)

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Let’s take a minute in order to talk about stayed masts versus unstayed. What are the main issues at hand if you’ve got a small tri … or other multihull … that has been designed to utilize both a stayed mast or an unstayed mast? (I am thinking about something like a Seaclipper 16 here).

I’d love to hear others’ thoughts on this particular topic (in the comments section below).

Please keep in mind that this discussion only concerns boats that actually do offer an option to rig with either a stayed or unstayed mast. The loads associated with unstayed masts are huge. The hull has to be able to accept them or else the boat could tear apart.

Windrider 16s, for example, all use unstayed masts. But a steel reinforcement system had to be put into the 16s in order to make it possible to step their masts into the center hull. All Windrider 17s use stays.

Putting an unstayed mast on a small multihull (including a trimaran) is generally not the first choice of either sailors or boat designers. Stayed masts, particularly rotating beach cat type masts, clearly offer certain advantages over unstayed ones.

Performance is the first thing that comes to mind. In the opinion of many knowledgeable guys, stayed rotating masts offer 25%-30% more efficiency than unstayed rigs.

A stayed mast is typically much lighter. And because it’s stepped on deck, the stays can be used when raising it up.

This means stayed masts are shorter and much easier to handle overall (than an unstayed option).

Stayed aluminum masts are also much more durable than self-built, wooden unstayed masts. It’s hard to ding them up enough to cause much damage. That can be a very big deal when constantly trailering a boat.

Unstayed masts are usually larger and much more unwieldy than stayed counterparts. This means a lot more physical exertion when stepping it down into a hull. And hinging tabernacles for unstayed masts are themselves often big, heavy and clunky to work with.

When talking about wooden unstayed masts, there is another issue at hand. Wooden masts typically need to be thicker overall (than an aluminum one) in order to be strong enough to take mainsail loads. This makes them heaviest of all.

Having said all of this …

A wooden unstayed mast is often monetarily less expensive (if self-built). And if one can deal with its extra weight and height (when stepping) then it simply slips into the main hull and you’re done. No stays to mess with.

Setup time is much faster … much less of a hassle.

I’ve done a bit of sailing on a friend’s Windrider 16 and got to really like its unstayed mast. (What I didn’t like was the necessity of attaching and detaching the floats every time I went trailer sailing … but that’s another issue :-)

In the opinion of multihull designer John Marples, the best wood to use for an unstayed mast is strong, lightweight Spruce. And the next best possible wood to use for spars is Fir.

The weight of the wood is something that should really be taken into consideration. One thing to look at would be the “grain lines” in each piece of wood. The more ideal grain lines are close together … as this normally indicates more lightweight wood.

There are companies out there that specialize in lumber that can be used to build aircraft parts. Such strong, lightweight lumber would be ideal for spar-making. This type of high quality wood, however, is very pricey.

Carbon fiber, of course, can also be used to make really strong, lightweight unstayed masts … but now you’re talking even bigger bucks. The process is also harder if you’ve never done it before. Carbon fiber’s lightness and strength is hard to beat though.

Further thoughts on this topic are welcome in the comments area below.

Update – 11/07/13: The comments below are the better part of this discussion. Don’t miss them!

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I interviewed Frank Jackson, from Rocky Mountain Safari this week. Frank lives in Colorado where he uses small trimarans to help others get out on the water for camp-cruising adventures.

We’ve already featured Frank’s boats here. But I wanted to actually have a conversation with him about the DIY approach he used in order to create these fun tris.

Here are the boats we talked about …

Among the topics discussed are:

• What Rocky Mountain Safari is all about … and Frank’s extensive sailing experience
• How these DIY trimarans came about … and why they’re great for camp-cruising excursions
• How he approached design issues … including rigging and amas
• A couple of unique camping / sailing venues out West … including Lake Powell

My interview with Frank is below.

You can listen to it in either 1 of 2 ways …

1) Right click here and choose “Save As” to download it to your PC or tablet

OR

2) Click on the audio bar controls below in order to start or stop or pause (or go to different segments) of my conversation with him.

I hope you enjoy it!

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Small tri enthusiast Robin Bennett sent me info regarding a pontoon trimaran she’d found posted on reddit.com. One thing led to another, and with Robin’s help I was able to get in touch with, Chris Moore, a builder of this unique boat.

Chris kindly shares the following info with us regarding this unique craft, which was named Apocalypso. The images below were clipped from the YouTube video. But here also is also a link to a blog about the building of Apocalyso – http://apacolypso.wordpress.com/

Chris’ original intention, as you’ll see, was to sail this pontoon trimaran around Florida. But his father passed away while the crew was prototyping/maiden voyaging her down in Miami. Hence the dedication in the YouTube video.

(Thanks to Robin and Chris … posts such as this don’t happen without folks like you! :-)

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Apocalypso: A 20ft Polynesian Pontoon Trimaran
by Chris Moore

Prior Sailing Experience…

I had some sailing experience both with small boats in protected waters and with large cruisers in the Pacific ocean. I was once a part of a failed attempt to sail a 44′ Sloop from Oahu to British Columbia. The captain and I sailed three days north through heavy rain and large seas when a short circuit caused the ship to lose all power. It also disabled the venting fans for the engine, so we could not run on power without filling the boat with exhaust fumes. We turned around and sailed four days back with only a compass, a stop watch and charted log. Lets just say I was a little upset the capt. did not have a backup battery powered GPS unit. I cried when we finally spotted the island rising up from the sea. I will probably never attempt a multi-week ocean crossing again.

The Inspiration for Building Apocalypso…

My friend was going to attempt the Florida Saltwater Paddle Trail, but realized that organizing camping permits along 1500 miles of Florida coastline was a nightmare. This is a result of ridiculous trespassing/vagrancy laws on Florida beaches and excessively expensive and difficult to obtain permits for camping on shore. So, I sold him on the idea that we could build a outrigger sailing canoe that would allow us to anchor and camp on the deck to avoid breaking any laws. The form followed function from there.

Main goals/objectives for this boat…

Camping aboard was the first design criteria. We also wanted to be able to paddle like a canoe. The stability and footprint of a trimaran fit this need perfectly. Then we simply needed to minimize the cost of construction by using locally available and recycled materials. Gary Dierking’s designs were highly influential on Apocalypso. This includes both the sail rigging with a stub mast and the lightweight 6″ Schedule 35 PVC amas. We chose a steering oar instead of a rudder because of the simplicity to build, the ability to turn with no forward movement and the sometimes very shallow conditions around South Florida.

The lanteen sail geometry was copied with permission from Gary’s 24′ Wa’apa trimaran. I wanted the simplicity and efficiency of the crab claw, but be able to reef the sail in heavier winds. The stub mast allowed us to quickly drop the sail and raise a tarp covering the decks for camping.

Construction of the Mast in Bamboo…

We knew of a local stand of large diameter bamboo that was free for the taking. The weight to strength ration was ideal for a sail our size. We sanded and varnished the stub mast, yard and boom. We also used the lightweight bamboo for constructing the platforms on either side. We were very pleased with the initial outcome. However, we failed to soak the bamboo in salt water(not available in the mountains where we lived) for a few weeks to kill the microorganisms and preserve the wood better. As a result, the sail rigging did not last even a year, despite the varnish. It was eaten away from the inside by mother nature.

In retrospect…

We should have treated the bamboo to prevent premature rot. Gary told us to do this but we lacked a body of salt water to do it in. I also would have changed the geometry of the sheeting. The main sheet was too far back on the boom to keep a proper sail shape. She did not point well into the wind and this greatly reduced our ability to navigate. A small outboard engine would have helped as well!

Biggest Challenge of sailing around Florida…

Planning ahead for a journey that was a complete mystery to both of us. The build-out itself actually went quite well and only took six weeks. The planning stage was brutal; trying to come up with solutions to problems we could not anticipate.

Where Apocalypso is now…

I sold her to a couple of old guys who really liked the idea and they are currently rebuilding her for camp trips on Appalachian mountain lakes. My next boat project is most likely a flying proa along the lines of a Pacific Te’Puke. I will continue to try to incorporate used aluminum pontoons, simply because they are so prevalent in the Southeastern united states and they are very simple to adapt.

Here is the YouTube video featuring Apocalypso:

The Trika 540 trimaran is designed by a fellow named Klaus Metz. Klaus serves as a European sales agent for the boatbuilding plans of American designer Dudley Dix. But he is a obviously a talented developer in his own right.

This model is going to attract lots of potential self-builders searching out plans for a light, cartopable, fast and economical boat to build. I corresponded a good bit with Klaus last week and one thing that impressed me is the ongoing thought and work he is putting into this particular boat.

As you’ll see below, it currently features a centerboard/daggerboard … but Klaus is now working on an optional leeboard, which should make it possible to builder/owners to install a Hobie Mirage Drive system underneath the center hull (if the want). There will additionally be options for a dodger and height adjustable coaming.

Both plans and a kit are available to Europeans right now. And while plans are available here in the US right now, a CNC kit for US customers should also be available by January 2014.

Fabulous.

Now, after reading about this boat it’s going to become apparent I went a little crazy with pictures here (there are lots and … and then a few more). I hope you don’t mind.

In conclusion, there are also 4 short YouTube videos — all featuring this boat under sail. I hope you enjoy reading/viewing this media as much as I enjoyed publishing it. And thanks to Klaus for sharing all this great info with us!

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The Trika 540 Trimaran
by Klaus Metz

I originally designed and built the Trika for me and my family (wife and two children) because I could not find a boat with all the features I was looking for.

It is quite difficult and/or expensive to get a (water) berth in the south of Germany. Thus, I was looking for a light and cartopable boat which I could be paddled and sailed on our lakes and on the Croatian Adriatic coast with its hundreds of islands.

I live in Munich and it is a pricy place. So to keep the running cost low I also needed the boat to fit through the window of my small work shop.

I’d bought Chris Kulczycki’s book “Stitch-and-Glue Boatbuilding” many years ago and saw his Sailing Outriggers for kayaks. Though I’d only sailed mono hulls since childhood, I recognized this was the way to go for me.

I have to pass a narrow waterway on my home lake so I had to think about an easy folding system. The Hobie Tandem Island has many of the features I was looking for but I did not want to have a sit-on-top kayak which also is quite heavy.

The main design goals for the Trika 540 included:

• Versatile boat for paddling and sailing for one or two
• Light and car toppable
• Easy and fast to assemble and to rig
• Foldable arms (see above)
• Easy and fast to sail single-handed
• Stable boat for first time sailors (children and wife)
• Possibility to stretch one’s legs, sunbathing, taking a nap or sleeping on board while one a single-trip
• Enough storage room for a weekend trip
• Easy winter storage
• Buildable from plywood, wood and standardized alum products
• Last but not least it had to be an eye-catcher

On Building a Trika 540…

The time it takes to build a boat depends on many things, including whether or not one is building from just plans or a kit, the building space they’re using, how quick the builder has accessibility to tools, and also the aesthetic standard one wants to achieve. Last, but not least, of course, is the builder’s overall skills.

I’d estimate it will take at least approx. 150 hours for an average builder to build main hull, amas, akas, rudder, daggerboard and rig from scratch. If someone is very meticulous it’ll take longer. Building from a kit will save maybe 30 hours.

Currently, I am working on the dodger and an optional “cloth” coaming which can be folded up in heavier sea. I hope to finalize the plans by the end of this year (2013).

I am also working on a single-seater version — the Trika 480 (15’ 9”). The prototype for this boat will be built in Australia. Construction will begin in a few weeks.

I am trying to make as many components as interchangeable as possible between both boats, including the rig, amas, folding arms, rudder and daggerboard. But I also plan to refine the amas and some other details that will make the boat even better. Once a builder has bought the plan package he’ll get all these future options and developments (for example: dodger, bigger amas, drop-in rowing unit) for free.

In my view a big advantage of the these kayak-style trimarans is the modular system.

You can begin building the main hull and some days or weeks later you have a small nice craft for paddling. Then you can install a Mirage Drive, or drop-in rowing unit, and effectively have three boats in one.

If one really likes what they’ve got at that point then they can take the next step. They can build the amas and rig and have a really fast, stable and nice looking sailboat. And this can all be done with a quite limited budget.

Why a boat like the Trika?

Maybe because I designed this boat to offer enough versatility for each member of an entire family. There are many planned developments in the future too, so it’s a “lively” design. Additionally, I always try to tweak everything and I am always open to any suggestions from builders to make the boat better.

The Trika 540 photos here include a few of the prototype, as well as a few of the cnc kit. Because of the optional dodger I will change the deck layout and omit the traverse you see on these photos.

There will be a small wing for the jib cleat glued to the inside of each side of the coaming. As a result, the set-up time will be reduced even more because there are four less screws to mount.

There are many discussions about reverse bows. Indeed, I love the look of reverse bows. For those who are concerned about the reverse bows of the amas (crap pot lines!) I designed the new hull panels with ‘traditional’ plumb bows
which will also be wave piercing. Those, who like reverse bows can make a simple angular cut to get the cool looking of reverse bows.

Building Plans (English and German) and CNC-Kits are available from…
- USA (Plans): Dudley Dix Yacht Design
- Germany (Plans + Kits): Klaus Metz Boats
- UK (Kits): Fyne Boat Kits

YouTube Videos …

When posting about the Trika 540 just last week I had no idea a new expanded model has already resulted from it. The boat’s designer, Klaus Metz, is calling it the TriRaid 560 trimaran.

I accidentally discovered the story behind it a few days ago after emailing Klaus with a question about the Trika. Anyone interested in that boat is probably going to enjoy seeing the TriRaid too. Klaus explains how these specific modifications came about here.

It’s pretty neat too. When Klaus wrote last week that he expects the Trika design to be a “lively” design he wasn’t joking.

Anyone interested in ordering plans for this “TriRaid” version of the Trika should contact Klaus directly via his website here.

Special thanks to Roger Mann, who is a central figure in this conversation … and the photographer/copyright owner of these photos. (Images are posted with his permission. I also went a little crazy again and posted over 20 of his pics :-)

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Creation of the TriRaid 560 Trimaran
by Klaus Metz

The new TriRaid 560 trimaran was designed in cooperation with Roger Mann, who is well known in the WaterTribe community.

Roger purchased Trika 540 plans two months ago. After discussing his needs – he wants to participate in the 1200-mile UFC next year – we decided to design a more capable boat.

Because of the tight time frame it was important to keep the design as simple as possible. Roger wanted to use the Hobie TI rig, akas and Mirage Drive thus there were less components to build. (Thus, I am calling the boat “TriRaid 560 RM” (Roger-Mann-Version :-)

He is using the Hobie rig because it is very easy to reef. For for light winds he will have an spinnaker on board.

The boat could cope with a more powerful rig but he needs a good overall performance and easy handling (reefing) thus we had to make concessions in sailing performance. However, I am confident that it will perform very well. We will see!

I also will design a more powerful full battened rig with jib and plywood akas + alum crossbeams (as for the Trika) for those who not want to use the Hobie parts or want to save some money.

Roger used 6mm liteply for the main hull and 3mm for the amas and glassed all hulls outside and also the bottom of the main hull inside.

Here are the specs of the TriRaid 560:

• Main Hull length: 5.60 m (18’4”)
• Min Hull Beam: 0.70 m (27.5”)
• Displacement to DWL: 250 kg (550 lbs)
• Ama Length: 4.06 m (13’4”)
• Ama buoyancy (each): 150 liter (330 lbs)
• Ama beam: 0.25 m (9.8”)
• Sailing Weight: 87 kg (192 lbs) incl. Mirage Drive + Well (Without Mirage Drive and well it would be approx. 9 lbs lighter.)

He started with building the boat from scratch at 10/21/13 and had his first sail last Saturday. Wow! It was a really pleasure to work with him.

As you can see on the photos, this boat is for those who like a rough style without any frills. It took quite an effort for me to design it this way but after a while I came to love it.

I think the style suits this kind of boat because it is an adventure trimaran and not an “only-nice-weather” boat.

Roger is using components from different boats and it seems to work. But I will add drawings to the plan package for those who want to build them themselves.

If anyone is interested in this boat they should check out Roger’s blog: http://rogermann.org/blog/

And here is a very comprehensive description about the design specifications: http://watertribe.org/jollyroger/new-adventure-expedition-design-started/

Here is the link to a short video of Roger’s first TriRaid trimaran sail:

Additional Photos Here:

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Here is another great post coming from Windrider sailor Mac MacDevitt. He is back sharing about another great camp-cruising adventure in the North Channel.

His previous adventure can be found in this post … and this post.

I’m going to let him get right to it. (And thanks again for this piece Mac; we know written especially for us small tri fans! :-)

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White Waterman and Blue Waterman – An adventure in the North Channel – July 2013
Mac MacDevitt – Windrider 17 Trimaran

The Odd Couple
No predicting a how a beach cruising adventure is going to turn out. Paul and I both have Windrider 17 trimarans. But we were certainly the odd couple. Found him on the Windrider forum. Paul is a white water canoe trekking adventurer. He gloried in incredibly challenging long trips, far from support, dealing with ice, overturned canoes, lost gear and paddles and rugged wilderness camping. His Windrider 17 was his first sailboat and he was learning to sail by the seat of his pants. Couldn’t name many of the lines or the stays or the fittings. Before this trip he had never sailed alone. Not sure how he was going to manage hoisting the main without someone to steer into the wind. Had no idea why anyone might want to make the mainsail smaller – never reefed.

Blue Waterman (Lite)
Compared to Paul I was Blue Waterman. Well, not really – not compared to other sailors who have made serious off-shore passages – maybe Lite-Blue Waterman. I started sailing with bigger trimarans on Lake Champlain, a Jim Brown 27 and a 31, finishing up with a Corsair 27. And I’ve gotten in lots of tight spots: cracked an ama on a dock piling on the Chesapeake, ran seriously aground and had to wade out with an anchor and kedge off before the situation would require a dredger and a tow (and that was with the whole family aboard), even once sailed for quite a while in high winds off Valcour Island before realizing that my sluggish performance had to do with the new Honda 8 outboard I was trolling behind the boat connected only by the control cables.

White Waterman
And Paul, fit as a fiddle. Spent at least half a lifetime with his wife doing Yoga, staying fit, seeking extreme exercise routines. And he exudes energy. And me, an old guy, getting thick around the middle, hoping my knees will work well enough to get me up and out of the rear cockpit. I helped Paul in his shop in Sault Sainte Marie with building a windshield and planning out a topping lift system to make mainsail raising easier. He advised me on installing a wheelchair battery so I could keep my GPS running during the trip. Before he retired, he was responsible for all the electronic equipment in a mining operation. Paul’s wife Karen made me welcome and cooked a delicious and healthy dinner on the eve of our departure.

Heading for shelter
Day One: The first day, after setting up the boats in a hot sun, we sailed south from Blind River. We are in the open lake now. We know that thunderstorms are parading down the lake and we are hoping to make the more sheltered waters of the Whaleback Channel before camping. I look up and there is a huge storm right behind us. I insist that we head for shelter before we get clobbered. We find Charlotte Island connected by a sandbar (a drumlin?) to a smaller island. Paul slips ashore and in the blink of an eye seems to have his tent set up in the shelter of the brush, and a fire started for dinner. I am fiddle farting around with getting my pop up tent set up on the boat, and my anchors set, and he has dinner ready. Steaks no less. The storm doesn’t hit. But I realize, this guy really has his act together. And he would have felt no fear riding the building winds down the lake towards Whaleback Channel.

Huge Thunder Storms
Day Two: In the morning we get underway. Light winds. Fire up the Hondas. Eventually slip thru the pass into Whaleback Channel. My real time weather radar shows that big thunderstorms are building in the west and beginning their march down the lake again. We find a sweet, sheltered spot on one of the Otter Islands just north of Aird Island. We pull our boats up on a rocky beach. Paul finds a sheltered hollow for his tent. Again he cooks for us. Hamburger and fresh veggies.
As it gets dark the winds begin to build. I move my boat just off shore with a stern anchor. The thunderstorm is the most violent I have ever been in. Occasionally I peek out from my tent to make sure Paul’s yellow tri is still there. I am watching the storms in real time on the GPS. They are right on top of us. Huge gusts. Brilliant light show in the tent. We get hit with three big storms in a row. I look out and Paul’s boat is nowhere in sight. Takes me a while to realize that my bow anchor let go, I have swung around his boat and have been blown ashore into some marsh grass. In a lull I check on Paul. His tent is dark and I hear gentle snoring from inside.

Heading for the Benjamins
Day Three: I awake to another storm. Torrential rains. Winds less violent. Paul waits for a break in the rain so he can dry his tent before we head out. We sail down the north shore of Aird Island, and head for Little Detroit. As we clear the east end of Aird, we get the full force of the south wind. We elect to go north of Eagle Island, sheltered from the winds, and then rounding the island, begin to tack south in strong winds heading for South Benjamin Island.

The most beautiful camping cove ever
Paul has taken the lead. He seems sure of where he is headed. I have my charting GPS and a detailed set of charts I have pulled out and laminated from a chart book. I have labeled and organized them, but am struggling to get a good sense of how these islands are laid out. And my GPS is out of whack when I zoom in. It shows me sailing right through the center of small islands. Paul has a large scale fisherman’s map, no depths marked at all. Don’t think he has ever used a chart. And he is sailing confidently through rocks and shoals. We are tacking close to a lee shore, and I notice that his jib is rolled up – he got the sheets tangled – but that he is tacking confidently and cleanly under main alone.

As we round some huge boulders, he leads the way downwind through a narrow pass, and we ground on a beach in a tiny sheltered inlet with huge rock formations towering above us. We are on the extreme south end of South Benjamin Island. It is, hands down, the most beautiful camping spot cove I’ve ever seen. And we are the only boats there. Paul sets up camp, tucked in under some trees just off the beach. We scramble around on the huge, towering, rounded, smooth rock outcrops. Quiet night, and in the morning we are off.

Flying with the wind on the beam
Day Four: Building wind. Choppy waves. We zip over to Crocker Island. Take a spin thru a big cove and then we head south. Wind is on the beam and continues to build. Paul pops out of the rear cockpit and shifts his gear to the windward tramp. We start to fly. Glorious sailing. Paul is out ahead. We are doing a steady 10-12 knots. Same conditions Joe and Rick and I experienced on day one of the trip two years ago. In the lee of Clapperton Island we still have strong winds. As we cross Clapperton Channel Paul stops, scrambles around, gets up to speed and then stops again and fusses with something.

We are heading for a big bay on Manitoulin Island. We think that we are going to Gore Bay for lunch, but we slowly realize that we are in Mudge Bay. We find some shallow water to anchor in and wade ashore. We are in Kagawong. Eating our hamburgers on the front porch of the diner Paul explains his stops in the channel. He says that first he stopped to slip on some warm pants. Then when a gust hit and he tried to release the main, he found that the sheet was down his pant leg, and he had to stop to get the sheet freed.

Over the Pacific
We looked at the charts and decided to head back north to West Rous Island or Bedford Island. My motor died as I left the beach. Damn. Under full sail we headed out of Mudge Bay, but as we cleared Trudeau Point, we fell off on a broad reach. The waves in the channel had all day to build and we began to fly. Paul had offered me rain pants earlier in the trip, but I declined them saying that “I don’t get wet in my Windrider”. I do have dual windshields and a half-spray skirt and full-width trampolines – and almost always do stay dry.

We began to hit 11-12 knots. The waves were big enough that at times all I could see of Paul to the lee of me was his big grin under his rain hood. I couldn’t believe how fast we were going and how well the boat was handing. Spray would hit my front windshield, go straight up in the air, and come down on me. I was soaked to the skin and getting cold. I felt like Paul and I were in the Pacific, flying torpedo bombers and diving thru the clouds at the Japanese carriers far below. We were screaming along. This level of sailing was a whole new experience for me. I was hoping that nothing would let go on the boat. I was half-scared and half-exhilarated.

Refuge
We tucked in behind a small island just for a breather. I was totally confused as to where we were but Paul led the way. As we rounded the point at the south end of Bedford Island, conditions moderated and soon Paul was picking our way in a ghost of a breeze through the shallow water between Bedford and West Rous. Found a camping spot just off Wise Point. I was knackered. I waded near a broken down crib looking for a spot to tuck my boat out of the small waves. Again, in fact every night of the trip, Paul made dinner while I fussed with my anchors and my tent. All night the boat moved in the swell, occasionally bumping on the rocks and I slept a troubled sleep.

Swimming with the carb
Day five: I think at this point my fatigue got the better of me. I like to sail with a large margin of safety, even in my little Windrider. My malfunctioning GPS was troubling. I’m dyslexic. Get turned around easily. I’m not a great sailor, and I like to know I have my engine ready if/when I need it. We were heading back northeast, sailing with a light wind on the beam. The wind died and Paul took me in tow. I landed on a point and took my carb off and drained it. Then slipped on the rocks and went under with the carb. Damn. Got my spare out. Put it on. Headed out and the Honda died again. (Learned when I got home that my spare plastic tank had let rain water mix with the gas).

Sweet cove on Fox Island
We sailed with a light breeze past a string of sweet small islands just off Fort La Cloche – Matheson, McTavish and then past Solomon Point. We made camp in a small cove, on the south shore of Fox Island. Second most beautiful camping spot I’ve been in. Paul camped high on a smooth ledge with a beautiful view south to the Benjamins. I tucked in next to the rocks where I could step ashore. I left my rain cover off so I could fall asleep with the moonlight shining thru the netting. Just as I was falling asleep, a heard a strong humming outside the tent. By the light of my headlamp I saw hundreds of mosquitos buzzing against the netting next to my head. So glad I hadn’t been forced to set up camp in the dark. Paul later said that we were right next to a huge swamp – a “mosquito factory”.

“Just sail around the rocks”
Day Six: We left in the morning on a light south breeze that slowly built during the day. On the chart I pointed out what looked like a thicket of rocks southwest of Fox Island, right in the middle of our planned track. Paul said, “You can see the rocks, you can sail around them. And if you bump, no big deal”. Again, White Waterman was right and I sailed thru with only a small bump. We went around the south of Eagle Island to keep the sails full and then headed for Little Detroit and the ramp at Spanish. We unloaded Paul’s boat. Like the clowns coming out of the car the stuff just kept coming. He had a huge quantity of gear, including lead weights for his downriggers. Soon Karen appeared and graciously ferried us back to Blind River to pick up our trailers.

Am I getting too old for this….?
As I started my long trip back to Lake Champlain I was thinking, “Either I need to get myself a lot more fit, or I am just getting too old for this stuff”. Paul was patient and kind to me. He is a great natural sailor and a great sailing partner. He is generous and understanding. I’m pretty sure I slowed him down. He would have covered more territory and had an even wilder sail without me along. But following the lead of this novice sailor, I had pushed my limits. I have more confidence in my Windrider now. And more confidence in our ability together (me and the boat) in big winds and big waves. I want to go back to the North Channel again next year. Again with Paul if he is up for it. Looking for a few more Windrider sailors who are eager for the beauty and challenges of this amazing body of water sprinkled with island gems, secluded campsites, strong winds and holding a big potential for adventure.

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Sailor (and obviously creative boatbuilder) Daniel Tompkins built the following trimaran with Expandacraft. This boat is 17-foot LOA and fits entirely in the bed of his midsized truck when completely dis-assembled.

That is one really neat feature of using Expandacraft. A previous post featuring the possibility of building a trimaran using Expandacraft can be found here.

Daniel built this boat as a prototype and is now offering it for sale on Craigslist. He told me that a couple of the images (around the connective areas) are blurred for intellectual property reasons at the moment. Daniel noted that nothing is particularly “special” about the concept; it’s just a cheap, robust and removable attachment point that can be added to expandacraft hulls.

Daniel was kind enough to answer a few questions from me. So just note the written style below is strictly a result of our email correspondence. (Thanks for sharing this with unique tri with us Daniel).

17-Foot Expandacraft Trimaran
by Daniel Tompkins

Background in sailing/boating…

Owned a Walker Bay dingy for a year, besides that just hourly rentals sunfish, windrider tri, small hobie cats. ASA cert. in Monterrey Bay California 2012. It was a fun excuse to be out on water in the bay, but not worth it.

The Lure of Small Tris…

Watertribe. Personally watching Randy Smyth launch Sizzor in 2011 and following the race blew my mind.

The Inspiration to Build this Boat…

I wanted a boat that fit in bed of truck, handle shallow water, and have a motor. Being able to convert to a 3-4 person cat pontoon with motor to take people out on was also in mind. I stumbled on CraigsList and onto Expandacraft parts in fall 2011, and the serious boat noodling began.

The Biggest Challenges of Building this Boat…

Building it in the corner of our condo living room, during the final months of completing a completely unrelated doctorate. Also, everything else with the build. Sourcing material, being able to take many suggestions, and finding a path forward. Motor mount to swivel out of way with motor and fit in gap was a task. Throughout build keeping ease and versatility in mind were also constant tugs.

Type of Rig Used…

Mailsail and jib – 129 sq ft Dacron Walker Bay high performance kit (not made anymore).

Performance Under Sail…

Sails in the absolute lightest of breeze. The hulls really have amazing low velocity drag.

Sailed with and without jib. A little too much weather helm when there was no jib and with leeboard straight down at 90. With leeboard down at 70 degrees and with jib up, center of lateral resistance and center of effort are very nicely balanced, with a little weather helm when leeboard at 90. Rudder is effective at all speeds.

The amas can be raised and lowered easily, possibly to adjust to conditions, skill. I never adjusted shrouds enough to completely fly a hull, but they could and also be angled easily.

Tacks with jib, without jib, a couple paddles. Draft with one person 180lbs <5-inch waves, 1-2 feet no problem. I haven't been in bigger.

On Assembly…

With tramps kept on frame/crossbeams, they drop onto risers. If risers are left on hulls, boat could be assembled on beach with rudder, mast, and sail in under 10 minutes if rushing, but more like 15. Definitely not longer than 20 mins. on a hot day.

In one picture you can see how left tramp and right tramp are at different levels. The left tramp can be loosened, raised off center risers, and floated/swung around stern and drop onto risers on rear stern with left ama joining with right ama to convert to (unsailable) catamaran.

The trolling motor (not pictured, mounted on wood bracket on crossbeam) can remain in place throughout and actually functions in the gap between tramps when in catamaran configuration. Also, trolling motor swivels parallel to cross beams, so as to be out of the way. Swivel seats mount on top of risers, making it a comfortable dual purpose pontoon boat, or odd but comfortable looking beach trimaran with boat seats on corners.

Best Day Out on the Water…

Being out on Tampa Bay with the finished boat (after the 1 year build), a 15 mph breeze, the wife easily sailing her all smiles … priceless!

With degree, getting married, job hunting, and starting another project (not boat related), it hasn’t seen the water since June. Time for someone else to try 30mph winds, surf down some waves and test out the wave-piercing bow.

This boat was built with cost and ease of production in mind. If someone wants to partner on a Jumpstarter pitch, I’d being willing to go for it.

Boat is in Tampa, FL. I can transport. Email DLThomp2 AT gmail DOT com if interested. $4900 all inclusive. Sail, motor, batteries, charger, brackets, etc.

Best Regards,
Daniel

A few weeks ago, one of our readers sent blog info to me about a design called the “Husky Trimaran”. Here the link to the builder’s blog about this boat, along with a few photos (linked directly to from their location at the blog’s server).

This trimaran utilizes Hobie 20 hulls for amas. This made the building of this craft go much quicker than if the floats had been made from scratch. The finished result certainly looks good.

Thanks to the reader for sending me this link to the HUSKY 6.0: Trimaran Project All of us very much appreciate it!

The following is copied directly from the HUSKY Trimaran blog:

Husky 6.0 trimaran in design stage

Husky trimaran all built and in the water!

Enjoying the fruit of one’s labor — all the best to this boatbuilder & sailor

Russell Brown has written and illustrated yet another ebook for wooden boatbuilders. And, like his previous one, this new publication tackles a very specific topic — painting.

As the son of multihull pioneer Jim Brown, Russ has been around boats his whole life. It shows too. Or, perhaps I should say, “the look of the boats he now builds reflects it”.

One reason is because (as his website notes), “PT Watercraft specializes in modern stitch & glue boat kits.” Russell has worked hard to develop and perfect methods that work very well for plywood/epoxy boats.

The description of this new ebook, entitled “ROLLING PERFECTION,” is as follows:

“For many years, Russell Brown has used Interlux™ linear polyurethane (LP) paints on his boats. He has developed a technique to apply it with roller ONLY, eliminating the need for ‘tipping’. People who have seen his paint jobs think he sprayed the paint and wanted to know how he did it without spraying. This little e-book describes his technique using Interlux Perfection®, 2 part polyurethane paint.”

With this in mind, I am happy to refer you to a page on Russell’s website where you can scroll down and get all of the information about this new ebook. (Imagine applying these same painting techniques to your boat).

Click here to visit Russell Brown’s PTWATERCRAFT site where you can scroll down the page to find the full info link about this ebook if interested about learning how to paint a wood/epoxy boat with superior-looking results.

I was contacted a few days ago by Alain, who has owned and sailed a Discovery 20 trimaran since 2009. He name of this boat is “TRI AGAIN.”

Alain is selling this boat because he has just bought a Corsair. But he has thoroughly enjoyed it while he has owned her. He shares a little bit more about it just below.

Building plans for the Discovery 20 are sold by multihull designer Chris White. This boat was featured in my book Small Trimarans.

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Snapshots of a Discovery 20 Trimaran
By Alain (in Pensacola, Florida)

I’ve been sailing for many years – mostly on a small monohull. I was introduced to a Corsair F25C in 1999.

What fun it was. (High speed on the water. … and sometimes scary.)

After acquiring the F25C I thought it was too much to handle. So I sold it to a racer in Toronto. We then went looking for something smaller.

After researching, we found Chris Whit’s design interesting (and it had a big cockpit). We found one in Florida in good condition.

We bought the D20 in April 09 and sailed it for a year. The color red was fading on the boat, so the next year we took it all apart and repainted her. This D20 was then renamed “TRI AGAIN.”

The boat is handles and performs very well under sail. One of the things I like best about it is that it’s good in light airs.

One thing I didn’t like about it was the rudder system. We changed it to a kickup rudder design by Phil’s Foils (now called Competition Composites Inc.).

Any day out on the water in this boat is a good day (as far as I’m concerned). We recently ordered a Corsair Sprint 750 so now we’re selling the Discovery 20.

Some Specs:

• She was built by Multi Composite in Maine, 94/95
• She has bigger amas too (19’6″)
• All the hardware was replace in 2010
• New carbon dagger board and rudder, Phil’s Foil
• Tacktick instrument deep, speed
• Navigation light
• New Pentex sails in 2011
• Spinaker on a bow sprit, with single line launch and retrieve in a Snuffer bag
• New nets in 2010
• And a trailer
• Asking price is $16500

Prospective buyers may contact me via phone at 850 393 4319.

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Maryland sailor Bill McIntyre has built a Seaclipper 16 trimaran (with mods). The modifications were designed by John Marples and are a part of the building plans package that John offers for this boat.

Bill was kind enough to share a little bit about the building of his boat “BAZINGA” (including some great pics) below. As you can see, he did a great job. And there is no doubt the mods allow for a quicker, easier build too.

Click on the images below in order to enlarge them to full view.

And thanks again Bill! :-)

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Seaclipper 16 Trimaran with New Mods
by Bill McIntyre

I launched “Bazinga” last September with the intention of racing her in the Watertribe NCC.

Here are a few pictures: one with her on the beach at the start of the NCC, which was cancelled for the first time because of weather … and a few from her maiden launch.

She was built, with John Marples’ oversight, as a center cockpit boat with a daggerboard. She has carbon fiber over red cedar swing arms. Initially I built Bazinga with aluminum mast section akas but added the swing arms so I could use a sliding rigger for Watertribe races.

Here is a link to a few build pictures (http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/bayraiderbill/).

I found an Isotope catamaran on Craigslist. (I confirmed with John Marples before buying (to be sure it would fit the boat.) John was aware that I wanted to race Bazinga and said the Isotope rig would work – I’d just have to start reefing sooner – at ~12 knots.

The daggerboard is how John designed the open cockpit version. I built it all pretty much according to his updated plans. The forward vaka deck tapers out to about 3″ midship as a splash wings.

The flat fore deck is also part of John’s revised open cockpit design. The vaka is taller so that spacing blocks aren’t needed where the akas attach to the vaka.

I’ve not had much actual sailing experience in this boat yet so I don’t really know how she’ll perform. But Bazinga is built light — epoxy coats via squeegee glass only over seams, etc.

Future plans are to race her in the 2014 Watertribe NCC and likely the Everglades Challenge in either 2015 or 2016.

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Here is a YouTube video featuring a garage-built hydrofoil trimaran. It was recently posted by a sailor identifying himself as Craig Tuffnell.

The vid’s description on YouTube reads as follows:

“Garage project – prototype hydrofoil trimaran. Sailing in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand during January 2014. These are the first trials up on the hydrofoils in light and puffy winds. Great fun, easy to sail and more stable than expected. Still needs a few mods to improve performance. Completely disassembles for transporting on (and in) a car! Takes about 30 minutes to assemble.”

Pretty neat … in a nice breeze … on a flat water surface :-)

We’d love to find out some more about this one. Maybe Craig will see this post and reply.

(Thanks to Tom Williams for sending me this clip).

A Canadian yacht broker recently showed the following trimaran to John Lange, the owner of Charlotte Harbor Sails). He indicated this boat is currently in Canada and wanted to know if somebody might know something about it.

If anyone can identify this trimaran, the designer … and possibly even construction details … then please leave a reply in the Comments area below. I’ll post an “update” if we get a winner :-)

Click on the images below in order to enlarge them.

Update (01/24/2014): Smalltrimarans reader Craig Follett correctly identified it as being the Akila 19 (per his comment below). Terrific … many thanks Craig!

Craig wrote: “Its the Akila 19 from Maillette Yacht Design in Canada. You can see more at http://www.nauticaltrek.com/11778 … also has a design called the Kolbri 23. Cheers from Norway”

The Akila was actually mentioned (though not pictured) in my book, “More Small Trimarans.” I should have recognized it, however, because of its close resemblance to the MF 18 trimaran, which was featured in the book.

No wonder it’s a slick-looking boat. Both the Akila 19 and MF 18 were designed by François Maillette, who designs boats at Maillette Yacht Design in Canada.

I remember interviewing François. He amazed me with his knowledge of boat design and personal ability to work with modern materials in order to create very light, very fast trimarans.

One of his goals for the MF 18 trimaran, for example, was for it to be able to compete with beach cats of similar size. That why the tramp design for the MF and Akila is so full … there is ample room to hike far out over the windward ama.

Click here to read more about François in the pdf from his website. The other design Craig mentioned — the Kolbri 23 — is featured in “More Small Trimarans“. It’s a small cabin-cruiser that is designed to be lightweight, with low wetted surface area for performance.