+(44) 01590 619315 The online community for enthusiasts of trailerable (and cartopable) trimarans stg@smalltrimaran.co.uk

Restored Aquadyne Sailbird for Sale

by | Oct 29, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

At the time of this post, sailor Jack Young currently has a completely restored Aquadyne Sailbird for sale. It’s listed within the Facebook Sailbird group with pics.

He emailed me the following pics / info. Anyone interested should contact him via his email address (see below).

Jack writes:

“I originally purchased the boat with the idea to restore it and use it in some Challenge races-the NC Challenge, the Blackbeard Challenge, and the Everglades Challenge. Towards that end, I incorporated ideas that I felt would enhance its purpose in those situations-plywood trampolines to be able to rest and sleep while underway, a fiberglass rudder from a Hobie cat for the high-speed profile and kick-up ability, adjustable forestay for mast rack, & loonnng tiller extension for positioning anywhere on the boat. (more…)

Kulik Trimaran Videos (Another Look)

by | Oct 24, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

We previously featured the Kulik inflatable trimarans here. The following videos (shown below) are just a couple featured on the Kulik YouTube Channel.

I think the design of these boats, especially with regards to the use of modern materials, is fascinating. Check out the videos to see some rigging adjustments featuring Kulik’s sailor/designer.

Be sure to visit the main Kulik website for more information here. (more…)

More Info On the Pedayak

by | Sep 15, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

We first featured something referred to as a Pedayak on smalltrimarans in this post. The video posted there, however, has disappeared. I was recently reminded of this craft via this interesting article on the DesignBoom site.

What we currently see at the Pedayak website is a commercial craft that utilizes foot pedals, electric propulsion and even sail power. (See the YT video below). (more…)

Passenger-Transport Trimaran Under Development

by | Aug 6, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Trimaran Design, Rigging, Construction Info/Links

In this post we hear from boat designer Steve Mitrovich, who is designing / building what I refer to here as a sort of passenger-transport trimaran in Port Townsend. As you can see from the image, it’s a unique-looking boat.

Fascinating design here … be sure to visit his webpage (listed below) for updates and more info. We wish him much success with this project and many thanks for sharing it with us.

……………….. (more…)

The Holopuni Sailing Canoe Story

by | Jul 26, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

Fascinating video below currently displayed at https://www.holopunicanoes.com/

The origin (story) behind these boats is discussed. The following comes from their website, and serves as a warm-up to the video.

“Holopuni- which in Hawaiian means “to sail everywhere” is the original name Nick Beck gave to the 3 man outrigger canoe in which he set out to explore the coastal areas of each of the Hawaiian Islands.” (more…)

Red Beard Sailing is a USA Rep for Astus Trimarans

by | Jul 24, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

Just saw the following press release about the Astus trimaran models. Went to the Red Beard website but couldn’t see a listing for the Astus Boats… and there is a contact page but didn’t see where they are physically based (just curious).

Here is the first part of the PR:

“Rosedale, July 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Beard Sailing is an independently owned, one-stop-shop for portable sailboats, inflatable kayaks, inflatable canoes, inflatable dinghies and sailing accessories. They are the premier distributor for XCAT, MiniCat, ROWonAIR, Happy Cat, Grabner, and Takacat.

The boat manufacturer Astus, who has recently partnered with renowned naval architect firm VPLP to redesign their latest line of boats, has now announced that Red Beard Sailing is the official US dealer for their brand new range of Astus Boats. (more…)

Nice Write Up & Pics of Solway Dory Sailing Canoes

by | Jun 7, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Trimaran Design, Rigging, Construction Info/Links

Here is a nice little write-up (with pics) of Solway Dory sailing canoes in the UK. The full blog article is linked to below.

Article Snip:
I’ve been thinking a lot about canoe sailing lately, for various reasons. I recently sold my first sailing canoe Spy, to a sailor up in Salem, Mass. on Boston’s north shore, and that empty rack in the canoe shed has got me thinking. I have often wondered what I might do with a sailing canoe design if I started from scratch, with no pretensions to racing in any organized sense, but with the intention of building a wholesome and seaworthy canoe for day sailing and cruising. It was while banging around the internet in search of all things canoe sailing, that I came across the Open Canoe Sailing Group (OCSG) and Solway Dory, the UK builder of sailing canoes and rigs. (more…)

Very Odd Small Trimaran

by | Jun 6, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos, Trimaran Design, Rigging, Construction Info/Links

A very odd small trimaran indeed!

Sailing friend Ian McGehee shared the following links with us a few days ago. They appear to promote a small tri that is no longer in production.

As Ian notes, however, we can document it for historical purposes, as it certainly is an odd design. Many thanks to him for taking time to share this find with us here on the smalltrimarans blog.

The main link that includes the 2 images below can be found here: https://www.bootveiling.com/en/boats-for-sale/202372/multihull-sailing-boat/trimaran-330/ (more…)

2 Rigs on 1 Sailing Canoe

by | Apr 25, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

Here is one sailing canoe with 2 different rigs – featured recently on the Open Canoe Sailing Group website: http://www.ocsg.org.uk/marketplace/

A lot of thought and craftsmanship has gone into this particular boat. (And so many of the others featured at OCSG.org).

These pics are linked to at their original location, but this may change in the future. Here the are at the time of publishing this post: (more…)

Hop Trimaran Under Sail

by | Mar 18, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

We featured the beach trimaran named “Hop” in this post last summer. There were some good pics, but no video of the boat sailing.

Site contributor Ian McGehee recently found this video of a Hop under sail and shares the YT video link with us here (below). Ian also commented: “This was an interesting 1980’s design that you featured a while back when one was up for sale, not a lot here but it’s nice to see how it performs under sail…pretty much as I’d suspected based on the slinky shapes (not a ton of inherent righting moment from the amas) and lower tech materials of that era- she’s probably fairly heavy by modern standards and combined with all that structure things are very low in the water…. which makes for a pretty wet ride considering the mild surface conditions. Still looks fun as hell, just maybe not so much when it’s not warm out.”

Here is the video… (more…)

TriCat Trimarans in France

by | Jan 5, 2022 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

The following two boats are both folding, trailerable trimarans. They are different models named “TRICAT” and appear to come from a well-established developer-builder in France.

The main website can be found here: https://www.trimaran-tricat.com/en/le-chantier-naval-tricat/

Here is the webpage for the Tricat 20 model: https://www.trimaran-tricat.com/en/le-tricat-20/ (more…)

7.2 Meter Trimaran Crosses Atlantic Under Kite Power

by | Dec 27, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Trimaran Design, Rigging, Construction Info/Links

The below story was published by Reuters on 12/22/21 at this URL: https://dunyanews.tv/en/WeirdNews/633985-Portuguese-man-successfully-crosses-the-Atlantic-using-only-kite-power

Pretty amazing feat for a lone sailor in boat that is just under 24 feet in length. The trimaran was flying under that kite :-)

He is hoping to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. (more…)

Windrider 16 Cruiser

by | Nov 25, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Trimaran Design, Rigging, Construction Info/Links

Can one turn a Windrider 16 trimaran into a small cruising sailboat? Sailor Curtis Patzer shares a short story here, along with some practical details about what he did to turn his WR 16 into something more than a mere daysailer.

I love posting this kinda stuff (and I hope readers enjoy it too :-)

………………………….

Curtis writes:

I thought I’d send an email to mention my Windrider 16 camp-cruiser. (more…)

Marlin Trimarans in Europe

by | Oct 5, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

Just found the homepage for a larger – yet still trailerable – trimaran design called Marlin trimarans.

High-tech materials and expert construction make this sailing machine very easy on the eyes. The opening paragraph on Marlin trimarans’ website reads:

“The Marlin trimarans are innovative and modern carbon multihulls. With sailing performance far above normal. Probably the fastest trailerable and foldable sailing racer-cruiser trimarans of the World. Perfectly made for single- and double-handed racing and cruising. Great for team and family adventures.” (more…)

Building & Sailing Outrigger 26 Trimarans

by | Sep 9, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All, Small Trimaran Videos

Today we hear from a long-time boatbuilder & sailor Bill Murphy. He shares the story of how he got to build one of Dick Newick’s smaller trimaran designs – the Outrigger 26. For some of us, this would be a wonder boat to messabout with in America (once upon a time).

Many thanks to Bill, for sharing this short article with us, along with the images :-)

…………………..

“The moon in the water
turned a somersault
and floated away”
– Japanese Haiku writer “Ryoto”

My wife Linda, and I built the Outrigger 26 Newick designed trimarans — twelve of them. (more…)

Small Tri Attempts to Go How Fast?

by | Aug 17, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

Yes, this is a stretch. But check out the following.

This will be of interest to some. High tech stuff. (Thanks to Ian McGehee for sharing these links :-)

_______

“The sailing speed record has been held for 8 years. A team of students and young engineers is in the process of developing a kiteboat to smash this record in 2022. Projected speed: 80 knots. The story of an audacious project told by two of its co-founders.” Click here to continue reading… (more…)

Solway Yacht Club hosts Challenger Trimarans Race

by | Jul 28, 2021 | Production/Commercial Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All

Article snip here from the UK’s Daily Record website. It features info about a competition for the Challenger [trimaran] Class Association:

Solway Yacht Club was privileged to hold a very special event in the yachting world at the weekend.

The Kippford club hosted the Scottish Open Challenger Championships, organised by the Challenger Class Association. This is a charity which represents the interests of sailors with disabilities and has developed a unique trimaran (three hull dinghy) which can be comfortably sailed, single-handed, by those with severe physical impairments… (more…)