dragonfly 1000 stability with amas folded

[piewacket]

Hi all - I am considering purchase of a dragonfly 1000..

can anyone tell me how stable it is if I need to fold the amas at sea before coming into a harbour/ marina.
some of the harbours we visit south coast England would require me to do that to get into the entrance and I am concerned solent chopping waves may be an issue ?

thanks

[senormechanico]

Folding should be done in relatively protected water.
I wouldn't want to do it in waves over 1 foot.
That said, is it a requirement by the harbor/marina or the physical size of the opening?
I regularly sail mine through a narrow jetty into our neighborhood's canal system with only 2 feet clearance on each side. Once inside, the wind drops, I furl the headsail, continuing on to the inner end of the main channel where I turn upwind and drop the main. After rigging lines and fenders, I start the engine and motor to my dock about 100 feet away. It's not for show, it's just easier than dropping sail and rigging fenders and lines out in the waves and tidal chop.
Note wake in picture. I was doing about 8 knots when the photo was taken by a neighbor.

[Training Wheels]

Wonder if you can fold just one float in? Seems like it would be more stable.

[senormechanico]

It's not necessary to fold both sides.
When folded, the amas press down further in the water and the main hull rises about an inch or more.
This increases stability over what it would have been if the amas stayed at the unfolded height.

[piewacket]

thanks all - so would that mean if i fold amas to get into a harbour and that harbour dries to mud the boat will sit on the amas and not the main hull ? Is that an issue - i read the amas are quite thin glass compared to the main hull.

[senormechanico]

Quorning (manufacturer) is in Denmark. I suggest you try contacting them. Dragonfly - High quality trimarans with high performance

In my owner's manual, they do not recommend fully beaching the boat.
I don't think the slight height difference between open and folded would be enough to change the way it sits on the bottom as the main hull has a greater draft than the amas.

Also see The Dragonfly Forum User Forum for the Dragonfly folding Trimaran