The Tamanu trimaran is an outrigger canoe design by Gary Dierking. And Klaus R. has constructed this beautiful one in Germany.
(Actually, this boat isn’t in full trimaran configuration, but rather a single outrigger with “safety” ama. I’ve wanted to feature a finished Tamanu for awhile now, so this boat is a beautiful example of what can be achieved with this model. You just have to image it as a full double outrigger).
At 20 feet, the long, slender hulls of the Tamanu offer a potential for nice performance and there is plenty of room for either hiking out or simply finding a comfortable seating position. The cockpit of this boat also has self-bailing capability.
The main idea behind Gary’s outrigger canoe designs, including this one, is to offer sailors a way to build a fast boat at the lowest possible cost.
Klaus’ sailboat is likely the first Tamanu to be built in Deutschland. He has created a blog (in German) with more photos at
http://haifezz.blogspot.com/2011/07/hawai-canoe-take-5.html
How neat to have an outrigger canoe designed in the South Pacific now sailing amid beautiful lakes and woodland landscapes of Europe! And thank you Klaus, for sharing your newly finished creation with us here!
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The “Take 5” Tamanu Trimaran Canoe
by Klaus Riedl
My “Hawaii” Canoe is finished now and the first sailing test was really impressive. Although I used only a 8 sqm surf rig for a test we had a good speed and much fun. Over next winter I am looking for a boomless catamaran rigg (Nacra or Topcat).
These girl friends gave me best psychological support :-))
The main hull and parts of the crossbeams are built according to Gary Dierking plans. The amas, central daggerboard and easy steering rudder are adapted to some interesting YouTube videos :-)
Final works in my "boatyard" at home
All works together very fine. Mainly, the central daggerboard makes tacking very easy, also in small winds. Up to this point, I haven’t included the self-bailing capability that Gary designed to be a part of this boat. It sails very dry.
On the trailer
After taking it off the trailer, setting up my Tamanu for sailing the first time around took about 45 minutes with 2 men.
A rest at the beach
The boat is very fast and comfortable – even in steering position. Because there are 5 large parts we called it “Take 5” – a nice piece of music by Dave Brubeck. :-)
It is a combination of Holopuni canoes and Philippine Paraw boats. I love these boats … however 20 ” is the outmost length which can be easily handled by 2 men during transport.
Here is my fearless sailor friend Winfried – practising the unusual rope/rubber strap steering. It works very fine and you have enough hands for a cup of tea :-)
Unique rope/rubber strap-steering
First, I want to perform some daysailing tests on a large lake in northern Germany. Later at Baltic Sea.
The main purpose for building this boat is for daysailing with my wife or friends. Probably later, weekend tours with tent to islands of Baltic Sea.
If I can find more sailing enthusiasts in Hamburg I will try a 40 ” boat. :-)
It´s thrilling …
Warm regards from Hamburg — Klaus
Evening at a large north german lake
Finally, here is a new video featuring Take 5 …
Nice boat, a functional interpretation of a Tamanu. A purist would say it is not a trimaran but rather a single-outrigger with a “safety ama” as devised, I think, by modern Hawaiian racing outrigger canoe people. However, purity is usually a subjective social construct, and a single outrigger with safety ama is a very useful “in between” kind of tri-hull. I intend the same in-betweenness for my next outrigger having experienced the delicacy of balance sometimes involved in sailing a single outrigger when the ama is to windward. Enjoy!
Nice job! Looks great and I’ll bet it goes great. Some might quibble about the ultramodern sail rig on a “traditional” boat, but I say whatever works best! I’m also guessing a boat this size could handle quite a bit more sail, at least based on my own experience. In any case, I hope you’ll be posting an action video. Take care!
Action Video ? Ok- You can find 2 youtube videos at my blog:
http://haifezz.blogspot.com/2011/07/hawai-canoe-take-5.html
First I also believed the rigg is too small and thought about a 12 qm sailing rigg.
But thrilling sailing in 3-4 Bf (see video) with my surf rig gave me some doubts.
I made no decision up to now…
So please watch the video and -perhaps- give me some advice. Thank you.
Hi Klaus..
SAIL AND RIGGING THOUGHTS
excellent job. I have one suggestion fo the sail plan: if you step it up, or even keep it this way, make sure you can reduce sail very easily in a squall ( especially if you want to navigate the Baltic, but even the Adriatic in the summer) which I assume is not easily done with the surf rig.
My choice in a future post with pics will be made more evident, but on a shorter trimaran featured here ( nepau) I have a traditional marconi main, with a deep reef, a small jib, adding up to 11 sqm) then a larger genoa 5 sqm on a roller and bowsprit and a 12 sqm gennaker.
The boat can go to windward in strong winds with just 2 sqm jib, or 5.3 reefed main. It can fly the genoa in light airs or with a crew member, fly the gennaker over main and small jib. But then you have a very fast and also unstable planing boat to handle and be prepared for some swimming (this is central Italy, much warmer here :-)