A trimaran daysailer for aging boomers

[MultiThom]

The only issue with Diam and M23 for an aging boomer is the same issue that is with Humdinger; they take a long time to get from trailer to sailing. Now, for some people the work involved in getting ready to sail is enjoyable, but aging boomers don't like wasting time of which they have short supply. Confess that the searail is also slower to get from trailer to sailing than I'd prefer despite 4 years of making things simpler. I do concur, though, that a Diam is fastest for its length than any comparable boat. Well, maybe the venerable F25c would be close and easier to get from trailer to sailing. Perhaps that's the sweet spot, build new F25Cs in all carbon--but the price tag would be higher than the F22r.

 

[guerdon]

I just got a Prindle 16 cat. Check them out. You can raise the mast alone and it's about the most boat I can handle in my dotage.

 

[Billy Bob]

I am not concerned about set up time from a trailer in my instance. I have a shallow water spot where I can keep it in all summer and just hop on and go sailing. To me being able to bring it home once a year and mess around with things works pretty well. I am budget concious so want to get into something that is basic, fast and build on it. I owned my 36 for 22 years. it was the fastest and best version of itself when I sold it. It was just too big and took 3 pretty on to it sailors to go racing/sailing not to mention the help to rig it before launch each year and the logistics assosiated with a big boat. At my age I was over it. Now in my twighlight years I am looking for somethig I can sail with one other person. Race at a club level of about 8 to 15 boats with the fleet consisting of several mutis the rest leaners.

I missed out on a Diam 24 a couple of months ago at a good price here. Damn. It would have been at the maximum size range for me though. Not many other boats in this part of the world at a resonable price that I would consider good boats.

For me a kitset boat of 3 already built new shaped proven hulls and 2 beams would be fun to put togther. Just a dream I know. I see a lot of the newer small tris either have 1 rudder on the central hull or 1 on each ama. Can I assume that 2 rudders would controll the boat better in a stiffer breeze?

How about a 24 ft or smaller new designed catamaran with comfortable seats or seating areas that are outside the main hulls with a central pod for the motor and sprit only? Which would be cheaper and easier to sail cat ot tri?

 

[munt]

On my Multi 23 I rarely flew the main hull high enough to need 2 rudders, my feeling was that going out to the end of the amas to mess with 2 rudders as well as the added complexity wasn't worth it. Same for 2 boards. Driving the Seacart I did recognize the benefit of the 2 rudders cuz you can fly the main hull pretty high, though the speed benefit of doing so is questionable. A Stiletto 23 would fit the bill, probably faster than any of the tris but hard to find. If you have a mooring or dry storage spot the M23 or Diam would be great. From videos it looks to me like the Diam is a handful, I really appreciated the M23 bows. A Hobie 21 SE would be a great doublehanded tool. Once you get used to the wings it makes cat sailing really comfy.

 

[MultiThom]

I am not concerned about set up time from a trailer in my instance. I have a shallow water spot where I can keep it in all summer and just hop on and ...

How about a 24 ft or smaller new designed catamaran with comfortable seats or seating areas that are outside the main hulls with a central pod for the motor and sprit only? Which would be cheaper and easier to sail cat ot tri?

Cheaper would be cat, easier to sail would be tri (especially single handed). Your part of the world likely has a lot more to choose from than N. America. Fastest tri for buck would have been that Diam you missed. If interested in club racing any Corsair or Farrier would be fun and how you do against monos would depend on rating and windspeeds; how you do against other multis would depend on your rating. You will miss the waterline length no matter what you get to replace your bigger boat.

 

[hobiedd97]

In my younger days, I wanted a Stiletto 23. My Stiletto 27 required all of my attention when it was breezy, and the 23 would require more attention than I have these days - probably more than I had back then, too.

 

[Billy Bob]

Thank you for your suggestions. My 36 was too far in front of the fleet and I am looking for something a little slower that still has that feel of speed when cracked off. I still want to be at the pointy end of the fleet just not have to put the calendar on them after we finish. I figured a tri would be easier to sail single or double handed than a cat and slower. I don't think going into my seventies as an aging boomer a fast cat is what I want to contend with even though I can still get really good sailors to go sailing with. I am in pursuit of something that will stay up with 30 to 35ft monos boat for boat double handed. At my point in life I don't need any more pickle dishes.
The Stiletto 23 is a great idea, one I have looked at before. Like you said munt hard to come by. Before I brought 2 of 10 over here I had a 7.95m cat designed by Tim Clissold that I still pull out of the filing cabinet and dream about. We have a pretty good 8.5 multi class here in New Zealand. They are just all a little too far away in Auckland for a go with them. When I was younger I would give hours to the delivery and living out of a duffel bag. Not now.
So it appears I am down to three boats that interest me that we have discussed. The ones out there already are Diam 24 and a Corsair Pulse 600 which we really didn't discuss but I like it and possibly the Searail19 although just a little small. Then there is the TC 627 which is at the top of my list because it looks awesome and modern and I think Tim has a good eye for what looks right. I just have to build it. Unless something comes up in the next few months. I'm not getting any younger!

 

[MultiThom]

It is unlikely to get a SeaRail in New Zealand. There are very few in existence and I don't think production will be restarting in Vietnam anytime soon. Same could be said for Diam and Multi23 in that no future production is likely. Heck, even a Pulse is likely to be limited to current product available since Corsair in Vietnam seems to have long (very) wait times and they seem to want to push SeaWinds. You could likely find used Pulse' in Aus, but I certainly wouldn't want to sail one from there to NZ. I'd say find someone to build your TC 627; but you are still looking at waiting...

 

[munt]

If you're gonna build, the Scarabs are nice, I think they were running a sale on plans recently. The 8.5s all look really fun too, well-sorted, fast, stable with overnight ability. I know Mr. Bob has lots of building ability and the Clissold boats look very fun. How many years can you live without sailing whilst you build though? I'd be tempted to snatch an 8.5 and wring its neck rather than spend a couple thousand hours and lotsa money to build something.

 

[Billy Bob]

Very disheartening. The state of the small tri market. If I was a bit younger and was looking to work hard, building small tris might be a good avenue for some fun.
Unless something falls in my relentless sphere of looking at boats soon, I will be building a boat. Either a TC 627 tri or a TC 735 cat.
At least I can still go surfing. Wife likes that. It puts me in a good mood

 

[deminimis]

Perhaps foraging boomers might be interested in foraging around in this? I know nothing about it, but it looks rather cool in this single pic: https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/d/forestville-custom-one-off-trimaran/7494703274.html

 

[Raz'r]

Perhaps foraging boomers might be interested in foraging around in this? I know nothing about it, but it looks rather cool in this single pic: https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/d/forestville-custom-one-off-trimaran/7494703274.html

Yep, that's the latest one I was thinking of, but they state right up front that it's not made for robust sailing ala SF Bay. BillyBob, what are your local conditions like?

 

[oldsurfer]

Yep, that's the latest one I was thinking of, but they state right up front that it's not made for robust sailing ala SF Bay. BillyBob, what are your local conditions like?

Not sure how to respond.
Humdinger and Jzerro are both lightweight multi's built by Russell Brown.
Jzerro just rounded the horn single handed!
Humdinger is 1000lbs lighter than a F-24 with the same sq ft sail area.
Paul Bieker enjoyed Humdinger after he and Russell bought the Hum back from the original client.

 

[Raz'r]

Not sure how to respond.
Humdinger and Jzerro are both lightweight multi's built by Russell Brown.
Jzerro just rounded the horn single handed!
Humdinger is 1000lbs lighter than a F-24 with the same sq ft sail area.
Paul Bieker enjoyed Humdinger after he and Russell bought the Hum back from the original client.

It's just what was listed in the advert in Craigslist Bay Area. I don't know why. I own a Bieker (Int 14) and it can take anything anyone can throw at it.

 

[Billy Bob]

Normal race conditions here are 8 to 20kts gusts are a bit more sometimes. Relatively flatish water with not much swell.
Old surfer if it's his boat has a nice ride there. It looks very cool. Not really my style though.
I don't need a fuller cabin foreward and especially not one aft. I would need to be able to get weight aft in a breeze and have a motor mounted on the central hull aft. I love the functionality of an open transome. I would be more interested in his Molds and how to get them here?

 

[patzefran]

If you are ready to build, the Richard Woods Strike 20 is a very good option. I built mine 2015 and have sailed her since with great pleasure. She easily achieve 11 kt to windward and 16 kt dowwind (flat conditions on a lake, could be faster on ocean waves). I have enlarged her to 5 m beam and use Nacra 5.8 hulls. Tornado or Nacra 6 hulls could suit. She weight around 300 kg with carbon mast and 2.5 hp outboard.

 

[blurocketsmate]

There's a Farrier Tramp on eBay. I've wanted one forever, but this one is too far away (Seattle).

 

[unShirley]

Guerdon posted this one in another thread:
Tremolino

I owned and sailed a Tremolino for 13 years. Very fun boat to sail, especially downwind in big seas. But, very spartan

 

[MultiThom]

If you are ready to build, the Richard Woods Strike 20 is a very good option. I built mine 2015 and have sailed her since with great pleasure. She easily achieve 11 kt to windward and 16 kt dowwind (flat conditions on a lake, could be faster on ocean waves). I have enlarged her to 5 m beam and use Nacra 5.8 hulls. Tornado or Nacra 6 hulls could suit. She weight around 300 kg with carbon mast and 2.5 hp outboard.

View attachment 525993

There's new similar craft on the market...this one, for example, is available in kit form so should be able to be assembled pretty quick. http://smalltrimarans.com/blog/trimaran-5m50-sardine-run/#more-21015
Sardine 5.5

 

[munt]

F18 Cirrus 901! Use these fascinating hulls as your amas, mast, sails, boards, hardware. Then build yourself some nice carbon akas and a main hull and you'd have yourself one very interesting and fast machine. A very updated Tremolino. Maybe even buy the main hull kit from the Sardine Run? Those Cirrus hulls proved themselves to be quite deadly downwind in heavy air.