Is There A Real Cruising Trimaran ? Question From A Mono Hull Sailor

[zUrchin]

I just had a brain fart.

If you had the hulls of an old late 70's, approx 45 ft or so cat (Prout) that had to be completely stripped because of wood rot on deck and overall neglect. . . I don't own one but just assume I know where to acquire the two hulls and whatever remaining hardware at a fair price.

After stripping, both hulls per a surveyor, are solid fiberglass, they found no wood core. Thick and heavy. Still solid, Mast and standing rigging still mostly reusable, winches still okay.

What if you convert/use the remaining hulls and hardware and rebuild them as two trimarans? Maybe even one as a sailboat, the other power only?

And if there's such an animal as a cruising oriented tri, can someone point me in the right direction? Photos, sites, manufacturers models, etc.

I'm not going to get much sleep thinking about what may be an absolutely stupid idea!

1. Would it be better to just rebuild it as a cat similar but somewhat updated version how it was essentially designed originally?
   
2. Or, does this situation provide an opportunity?
   
3. Or, is this just plain too crazy it doesn't even deserve a thread?

Well, what do you expect, I've been a mono hulled sailor all my life!

[callmecrazy]

Your math is confusing me.

You're saying you have 2 hulls, taken from a catamaran. But you want to convert those 2 hulls into 2 trimarans?

I'm thinking you're about 4 hulls short of your goal.

[zUrchin]

You are correct and I did not explain my self correctly. Four new smaller/slimmer hulls will need to be built.

[Factor]

Yes there are good cruising tris, think Norman Cross and etc. More modern think Chris white. The idea of using cat hulls to make a tri is deeply flawed from an engineering point of view. IMHO

[trinescape]

Hi zurchin my tri started life as a round bilge racing hull and her builder (an engineer)built two outer hulls ,she is 36'' long and sails great we lived aboard,we being myself and my wife and two kids for 2.5 years when we bought her we had her surveyed and were told that she was over constructed but since we didnt mind that, we bought her and couldn't be happier, our best speed in 20 kts of wind is 8 kts with which i am very happy so i say go for it !

[Gordon]

Try this site.
NEEL trimarans

[zUrchin]

Originally Posted by trinescape

Hi zurchin my tri started life as a round bilge racing hull and her builder (an engineer)built two outer hulls ,she is 36'' long and sails great we lived aboard,we being myself and my wife and two kids for 2.5 years when we bought her we had her surveyed and were told that she was over constructed but since we didnt mind that, we bought her and couldn't be happier, our best speed in 20 kts of wind is 8 kts with which i am very happy so i say go for it !

Do you have any photos or layout drawings that you can share?

[zUrchin]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Try this site.
NEEL trimarans

The photos and overall concept come very close to what I had in mind! Their marketing people claim an average speed of 10 knots...Speeds of 15 to 18 knots often achieved when the breeze freshens.... so they claim.

Though only out this year, they are already available for charter in Martinique. Does anyone know someone who has chartered one of these before?

Keep the input coming!

[Waterway Guide]

Dragonfly is very nice (and expensive), especially the 40-footer. Quorning Boats.

[dan360]

Originally Posted by trinescape

she is 36'' long and sails great we lived aboard

I can't help the image from Spinal Tap and the 18" high Stonehenge popping into my head :-)

[Sand crab]

Sometimes the central hull in a tri is fatter than a hull in a cat. There may not be much room in 1 cat hull for what you need. The amas are usually just storage. Lots of good tris for cruising. Contour, Corsair, Searunner, Piver, Cross, Horstman, Dragonfly, etc. Some are fast and point high. Some are not so fast and don't point so well. But tris are generally a good value especially the homebuilts. There are uncompleted projects for a couple of grand. Might be worthwhile.

[JJ77]

Grainger has just launched an entire range of cruiser/racer tri's under a new brandname;
The Rocket Range - Cruising trimarans. Offshore and trailerable trimarans

Another new cruising tri from Tunesia;
Advancecruising C329 Trimaran Repliable Transportable Aluminium

last one is built in aluminium.

Cheers,
JJ

[trinescape]

hi zurchin i dont have any plans, there are a few pictures on my profile and i will add more if thats any help cheers andy

[zUrchin]

Originally Posted by trinescape

hi zurchin i dont have any plans, there are a few pictures on my profile and i will add more if thats any help cheers andy

I looked at your photos and I am impressed! And yes, I would definitely be interested in more photos as they become available. Particularly what does the stern look like when looking at the boat from the water.

Kudos to you! You have done some outstanding work with her.

Best,

George

[Nemo55]

Has anybody used say a Cal 35 or so,,and added the Bulk Heads and Ama's to make a Tri??? seems to me that this would be the best of both worlds,,,nice wide Main Hull, and lots of wing space for storage,,and lots of stability.