No love for trimarans - why?

[Cheechako]

Many people like Tri's, but the problem is they a small compared with a Cat. You get speed, take up a lot of mooring space, but minimal inside room. The other is that many Tri's out there are plywood.

[Ken Z]

I had a 30' texas tri and sailed her for thousands of miles, and absolutely loved that boat. She was a tight liveaboard, with nets between the hulls and pointing into the wind a compromise, but roostertails were a blast... a day in the life😍😋

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Many people like Tri's, but the problem is they a small compared with a Cat. You get speed, take up a lot of mooring space, but minimal inside room. The other is that many Tri's out there are plywood.

Although I like tris. for reasons mentioned above, they are for sailing not living on. Minimal accommodations. Probably a limited market is the reason for one offs in ply. The two I had were build in England and crossed the pond solo. Nothing wrong with the ply and "West System" if maintained and not built by some yo-yo that bought the ply at Lpwes.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by trifan

The OP's post indicated foldable, trailerable tris which are pretty small.

Our Corsair 36 folds and is trailerable, although it requires an F-250 or so to do so!

[Sailorbob8599]

I've always considered a Tri as a Mono-hull with training floats (wheels) LOL

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Drylandsailor

Just curious. Nobody is mentioning Neel Trimarans. I have been following them for a few years. Why are they not popular. Lots of room and it appears they have the speed to match.

See #7 above.

I saw some Neels in a charter fleet in Martinique last year. Very interesting hybrid. Would certainly like to take one for a spin...any Neel owners out there need a captain/instructor? 😆

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599

I've always considered a Tri as a Mono-hull with training floats (wheels) LOL

Apparently you have never sailed one.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

... many Tri's out there are plywood.

Valid point! I see some cheaper F27's on the market, I anticipated them being GRP but apparently that's not the case.

I am at 50/50 undecided at the moment, I have some mono candidates definitely below 30k€ and larger accommodation. Haven't crossed oceans any of them though and much slower than these huge kites.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599

I've always considered a Tri as a Mono-hull with training floats (wheels) LOL

[sarcasm ON]Haha so funny - never heard that joke before, so original. [sarcasm OFF]

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by GTom

Valid point! I see some cheaper F27's on the market, I anticipated them being GRP but apparently that's not the case.

I am at 50/50 undecided at the moment, I have some mono candidates definitely below 30k€ and larger accommodation. Haven't crossed oceans any of them though and much slower than these huge kites.

Tris, at least smaller ones, can be a real handful in heavier weather and basically impossible to sleep on underway if a bit rough out...I sure would not relish a long rough crossing in one. Ive done some near coastal runs of about 200 nm on them and was damn glad they were over fast! 😆

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Don't wish to get into a discussion of cats verses tris. I think your analysis is wrong as far as going turtle. Keep in mind you not only have center of buoyancy but the center of gravity to consider.

quick note, Im not fond of the mono-cat and now apparently tri debates either, but some things are not refutable

read Wharrams unsafe in any sea

his notion is that the surface speeds of waves differ between the leading and trailing sides of the wave peak. The slower lee side holds or brakes the sponson, while the weather side sponson is lifted on the rising cresting faster moving leading front of the wave. Rotating the boat about its CG.

How far that goes is dependent the force of wind and water, in the worst cases beyond a point of no return it trips the boat over, but clearly the tri's defenses (with less outboard buoyancy on its lee) are less. Hence a greater propensity to roll.

Things that can make a difference?
the position and deployment of lifting keels.
the cross section form of the hulls, also as to grip. Where you want the lee side to forgive, ride up and lift.

I have no idea what you think you mean by 'you not only have center of buoyancy but the center of gravity to consider' which is the same in both cases. The margin lay at the comparing the extremes where sponson volume/buoyancy of a tri is less.

[michaelratinter]

I saw an article in WoodenBoat Magazine of a boat called Second Tri. Beautiful. Can't find the article online.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Sailorbob8599

I've always considered a Tri as a Mono-hull with training floats (wheels) LOL

I've had several mono sailors (I started as one), aboard who had plenty to learn with the various lines, continuous furlers and runners, but then had fun blasting along at 16-20 reaching.

[thinwater]

Which is better, a bicycle, a Mazda 6, a Ferrari, or a Winnebago? I guess it depends on what you are looking for. I've owned multihulls raging from all Kevlar and scary to comfortable cruising cats. I've sailed on monos of all sizes, from fast skiff to huge. Good designs of all types are a joy when used for the intended purpose.

But there is no question that each catagory brings its own strengths... and weaknesses. So the OP asked the right questions, but without explaining quite what he wanted. Very likely, he had not decided.

I loved beach cats and dinghies in my 20. Speed was the thing. Then came a larger Kevlar fast cat when I was first married. When my daughter was old enough to enjoy cruising, we got a larger, slower cat. But the kids are gone, I've cruised enough, and I'm thinking of moving back to something more fun and nimble, very likely a small folding tri. I'm tired of boats that weigh tons. I no longer need or want a Winnebago.

It's a matter of understanding what you want and need.

[Sailorbob8599]

Originally Posted by Factor

[sarcasm ON]Haha so funny - never heard that joke before, so original. [sarcasm OFF]

If you lose your sense of humour, you've lost everything!