Astus 14.5

[MultiThom]

I got an offer from the closest official dealer , he recommended dyneema shrouds to fix the mast and jib furler 5m2 for trimaran version. It ads up 2.3K EUR to the base proa version. What do you guys think , still a toy ?

Well, yah, anything that small is a toy; don't let that stop you (I consider my searail a toy, but then again, so was my F242)...what you want to know is whether or not you will have fun (probably), be able to sail where and when you want to (also probably) and be safe enough (probably). If you are just looking to get out and about, the Astus can do that. If you are looking to go visit islands--depends on how far there and back. I think the dealer wants too much for those add-ons. Jib furler is about 50 EU and you can get dyneema in small diameters for the shrouds for about 20 EU for 10 M. If they are adding chainplates in the floats, it still doesn't cost that much, so I'd get the bare boat and skip the dealer add-ons. You'll have fun making the changes yourself.

 

[Stjenica]

I am surrounded with islands in the bay, there is no open sea far away from the coast here. i can car top it and drive if i want to change location. With additional gear you get jib with furler, second float , shrouds, trampoline etc... I want to have fun, be mobile , reasonably fast and not worry about marinas and expenses !

 

[Tom Kirkman]

The Astus 14.5 is a nice little boat. Easy to transport and rig and pleasant to sail. Unlike other boats in their new revamped VPLP line up, it is NOT a fast boat. If speed is a priority for you, it's not the boat for you.

 

[he b gb]

I got an offer from the closest official dealer , he recommended dyneema shrouds to fix the mast and jib furler 5m2 for trimaran version. It ads up 2.3K EUR to the base proa version. What do you guys think , still a toy ?

I’m not sure that shrouds would work on such a flexible mast, did the builder or designer suggest this or was it the dealers Idea? When you say jib furler 5m2 are you referring to the pink gennaker in the video?, as that sail/mast combo would be hard to trim much higher than a beam reach.
Excuse my negativity but I still think this boat to be more of a toy, but still would be great fun 🤩 to sail and looks to be much lighter and probably faster than an Adventure Island.

 

[Stjenica]

I’m not sure that shrouds would work on such a flexible mast, did the builder or designer suggest this or was it the dealers Idea? When you say jib furler 5m2 are you referring to the pink gennaker in the video?, as that sail/mast combo would be hard to trim much higher than a beam reach.
Excuse my negativity but I still think this boat to be more of a toy, but still would be great fun 🤩 to sail and looks to be much lighter and probably faster than an Adventure Island.

Genaker is pink (i think they dont sell it anymore), builder has it in price list, jib 4m2 ,shrouds....

 

[Stjenica]

The Astus 14.5 is a nice little boat. Easy to transport and rig and pleasant to sail. Unlike other boats in their new revamped VPLP line up, it is NOT a fast boat. If speed is a priority for you, it's not the boat for you.

Speed is not a priority, i just hope it is not slow upwind... go to the beach, hop to the island 5-10NM away...put a torqeedo kayak motor at the back tube and go fishing close to the shore with half mast without sails in proa version ( I guess its possible ? ) and be able to use kayak cart to move around, sounds great , but is it ?

 

[Tom Kirkman]

The 14.5 combined sail square footage is equal to that of the Tandem Island. If you use only the main upwind, then you're only at half that. My guess is that the 14.5 will top out upwind at about 7 or 8 knots. Downwind with the gennaker it might run twice that, maybe, if you can steer to it.

 

[MultiThom]

I am surrounded with islands in the bay, there is no open sea far away from the coast here. i can car top it and drive if i want to change location. With additional gear you get jib with furler, second float , shrouds, trampoline etc... I want to have fun, be mobile , reasonably fast and not worry about marinas and expenses !

I think it might be more fun as a tacking proa once you get used to hiking. It might even point higher that way to help you get upwind.

 

[MultiThom]

Speed is not a priority, i just hope it is not slow upwind... go to the beach, hop to the island 5-10NM away...put a torqeedo kayak motor at the back tube and go fishing close to the shore with half mast without sails in proa version ( I guess its possible ? ) and be able to use kayak cart to move around, sounds great , but is it ?

Well, in fun (7-11 kt) wind it will take you an hour or more to reach that closer island depending on whether it is upwind, reaching, or downwind. Of course it is that same hour or more to get back if the wind holds. Won't get a lot of fishing in unless you start early and come home late. That Torqeedo might not have enough power to get you home if the wind dies so practice paddling.

 

[Stjenica]

The 14.5 combined sail square footage is equal to that of the Tandem Island. If you use only the main upwind, then you're only at half that. My guess is that the 14.5 will top out upwind at about 7 or 8 knots. Downwind with the gennaker it might run twice that, maybe, if you can steer to it.

Tandem Island - 8.4m2 , 14.5 - 5m2 main , 5m2 gennaker, but they recommend jib which is I believe 4m2 as stated in the newer brochure , because their price list states jib as 5m2. So it is little bit more than Tandem Island and its lighter , I hope it matters , never sailed trimaran, LOL ?

 

[Stjenica]

Well, in fun (7-11 kt) wind it will take you an hour or more to reach that closer island depending on whether it is upwind, reaching, or downwind. Of course it is that same hour or more to get back if the wind holds. Won't get a lot of fishing in unless you start early and come home late. That Torqeedo might not have enough power to get you home if the wind dies so practice paddling.

Lots of islands here where I live, if I take a car and drive 30min or more I can get to locations where I am only reaching and closer like 2-4 NM
I watched lot of Torqeedo videos with fishing (sit on top ) kayaks , I couldn't believe how efficient they are. For example Hobie Pro Angler almost the same length and weight to 14.5 Astus could get these results with one charge : 6.2mph - 5.1 mile distance
6 mph - 6.1
5 mph - 12.7mile distance
4mph - 22.9
and so on...
Hobie Pro Angler is 38 inch wide . 14.5 is a lot thinner on water (maybe) especially in prao version and lighter also, so if you take mast off , or half of it ( to keep the shade )and one float less, you can glide pretty efficiently I think , or maybe I want to think its like that... LOL

 

[MultiThom]

Tandem Island - 8.4m2 , 14.5 - 5m2 main , 5m2 gennaker, but they recommend jib which is I believe 4m2 as stated in the newer brochure , because their price list states jib as 5m2. So it is little bit more than Tandem Island and its lighter , I hope it matters , never sailed trimaran, LOL ?

Nice things about the Island boats is that they come with built in rod holders if you are goin fishin. Also instead of paddling you get to pedal. Also plastic so will take a beating.

 

[Stjenica]

Torqeedo like this .... 15kg total with a battery , main motor is submerged ( lighter during use )

 

[Stjenica]

The 14.5 combined sail square footage is equal to that of the Tandem Island. If you use only the main upwind, then you're only at half that. My guess is that the 14.5 will top out upwind at about 7 or 8 knots. Downwind with the gennaker it might run twice that, maybe, if you can steer to it.

Something like a Laser speeds ?

 

[revintage]

I got an offer from the closest official dealer , he recommended dyneema shrouds to fix the mast and jib furler 5m2 for trimaran version. It ads up 2.3K EUR to the base proa version. What do you guys think , still a toy ?

Still a toy, whatever extra equipment you add. But needed if you want to have fun, with the main only you will probably get bored. Why not buy a used A-cat with bolted beams. The hulls are not over 25kg each, so the boat is car topable, even if it takes longer to rig.

 

[MultiThom]

Something like a Laser speeds ?

No. Slower. Won't point as well either. Might beat a laser on a reach with asym up. And those same 15 kgs of weight for the torqeedo will buy you a gas outboard with longer range and ability to refuel on the water. How much have you watched the locals? Find someone with a cartop boat doing what you want to do and ask them what they'd do differently. The biggest issue with the light slower multihulls is they don't tack worth a darn. Not enough momentum to get through the eye. Most hobie islands, for example, pedal routinely through their tacks. I did as well with my old Triak. Fun, though, but really takes a long time to get from here to there.

 

[munt]

Somebody explain why a used Weta isn't 100 times the boat as the Astus.

 

[MultiThom]

Somebody explain why a used Weta isn't 100 times the boat as the Astus.

OP wants to car top...

 

[Stjenica]

No. Slower. Won't point as well either. Might beat a laser on a reach with asym up. And those same 15 kgs of weight for the torqeedo will buy you a gas outboard with longer range and ability to refuel on the water. How much have you watched the locals? Find someone with a cartop boat doing what you want to do and ask them what they'd do differently. The biggest issue with the light slower multihulls is they don't tack worth a darn. Not enough momentum to get through the eye. Most hobie islands, for example, pedal routinely through their tacks. I did as well with my old Triak. Fun, though, but really takes a long time to get from here to there.

I got in contact with Astus directly , they are putting Code0 4m2 on a furler now, previously 5m2 gennaker but it was to big for winds 10-12kts ,main is 5m2 . It goes better upwind.
There is new French company selling electric motors, lightest so far 5 kg, TEMO 450 ,1.5HP, check it out, it looks like a broom, its optimized for 3kts speed, 1650EUR... Cool times we live in.....Unless....

 

[Stjenica]

OP wants to car top...

14.5 is 70kg or should be like that.