I’d never heard of the Arrowhead Trimaran until a few days ago. It’s a vintage craft from the 60s. And its unique name is superseded by its unique look/design. Read the rest of this entry »

The third video explaining the historic, one-of-a-kind, audio series entitled, “Multihull Conversations with Jim Brown” is now available for viewing at www.OutRigMedia.com

In it, you’ll uncover how the audios address topics that include the following … Read the rest of this entry »

The second video explaining more about the historic, one-of-a-kind, audio series entitled, “Multihull Conversations with Jim Brown” is now available for viewing at www.OutRigMedia.com.

In it, you’ll uncover how the audios address topics that include the following … Read the rest of this entry »

The first video that explains the historic, one-of-a-kind, audio series entitled, “Multihull Conversations with Jim Brown” is now available for viewing at www.OutRigMedia.com.

In it, you’ll discover the following … Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Brown and I have been working on a new Multihull Audio Series featuring conversations between Jim and other multihullers. We’ve got a bunch of these pre-recorded … with more planned and (hopefully) scheduled to be recorded this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Frank Smoot send me the following DIY trimaran photos and video the other day. They feature the most recent modification on his small tri.

I think it’s awesome because … Read the rest of this entry »

The following press release, from the folks at TRIAK Trimarans, is truly a great, genuine story. I contacted Thayer Ridgway, the owner of TRIAKsports and asked him how it all came about. His explanation (below) precedes the Press Release. Read the rest of this entry »

Below are photos that feature a Discovery 20 trimaran being built in the Philippines. The images are linked to directly from the following post at PinoyBoats.org.

This boat is regarded as a high performance small tri, especially for its size. See comments from a former Discovery 20 trimaran owner in this post here. It’s pretty neat to see it being constructed within the tropical outdoor setting of this island nation. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is another update on the building progress of the first Nicky Cruz Explorer trimaran (it’s being constructed in Germany). There is still a ways to go before it gets on the water, but we now can have a good look at it from several angles. Read the rest of this entry »

In this post, you’re invited to listen to a short audio clip. It features a recent interview I conducted with longtime multihull sailor, boatbuilder and marine entrepreneur Mike Eaton, who shared a few memories about the Malibu Outrigger and the Triad trimaran. (He even throws in a few favorable comments about the Piver Nugget too). Read the rest of this entry »

Today we get to showcase an Expandacraft Trimaran. This really neat concept comes to us today from sailor/entrepreneur (and clearly ingenious thinker) Wesley Stevenson, who operates Expandacraft Corp.

For example … do you want to turn a canoe into a sailing trimaran? It’s been done before, or course. But never quite like! Read the rest of this entry »

The Scissor trimaran was designed and built by world-class sailor Randy Smyth. As you will hear in the audio bar below … and also see in the short YouTube video underneath … it’s quite a sailing machine.

And the fact it was designed and built by a world-class sailor will come as no surprise when you hear Randy talk about it. Read the rest of this entry »

What would multihull pioneer Jim Brown say during a phone chat with legendary multi-designer Dick Newick and innovative boatbuilder Meade Gougeon on the other end of the line?

Here is your chance to find out! Well, at least, part of the conversation anyway :-)

In the previous post about Jan Gougeon’s newest tri-hulled creation, we link to this post, which features Meade spending a few minutes talking about this unique craft. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people look at Jan Gougeon’s new 40-foot trailerable multihull and think “trimaran”! (It’s actually referred to as a “folding cat with a fuselage” in the Gougeon’s magazine story, which I link to below). And there are others who see it as sort of a “tri-cat, or “cat-tri-combo” type of watercraft.

However one refers to it, the words “unique” and “amazing” will certainly apply. Read the rest of this entry »

Italian sailor and small trimaran afficionado, Aurelio P., continues building his new Uffa 10 trimaran design. He sent me some updated photos (shown below).

These impages display a closer look at the curved metal crossbeams and construction of the amas, rudder and daggerboard. (Note the stitch & glue construction approach). Read the rest of this entry »

The Cross 18 Trimaran is still (in my opinion) one of the best-looking open cockpit daysailers out there. The lines and shape of the boat, for some reason, appeals to me in a way that others do not.

That being said, it’s important a boat perform well under sail … and this is where we have to listen to those who’ve sailed one. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a beautiful Seaclipper 16 trimaran. This new boat is the creation of sailor/self-boatbuilder Bob Trygg and his workmanship is on full display. (As you’ll see in the post below, this isn’t the first boat Bob has built).

What is so impressive are the little details … which are especially obvious in the video (below). Seeing this boat will definitely inspire some guys to build their own. Read the rest of this entry »

Mark Gumprecht finished building his new Drifter 17 trimaran model this past summer. He named her Gypsy Wind.

According to Mark, this small tri “sails great in light winds, and tacks very well, even under main alone.” Read the rest of this entry »

The following is a 22-foot, self-designed, self-built trimaran under construction by the owner of VisionSails. Brian Sims is the designer of the really neat remote controlled boats featured on the site. And over the past year he has enjoyed seeing the various trimaran building projects featured at smalltrimarans.com.

Now Brian has jumped in the water too. Read the rest of this entry »

(Publisher’s Note: The following discussion by Frank Smoot, from www.diy-tris.com, is really a continuation from the previous post about the new Uffa 10 trimaran. As you can see, that thread generated quite a bit of discussion in the comments area. Read the rest of this entry »

The Uffa 10 Trimaran is a new design from boat designers Ottavio Di Blasi and Jacopo Faggioni, who reside in Italy. A sailor (and current Uffa 10 builder) named Aurelio shares the following with us about his trimaran building project.

According to Aurelio, Jacopo is willing to share the building specs (probably in PDF format over the Internet) with anybody who wants them … for free. (I’ll assume this is true for the time being — until I hear otherwise). Read the rest of this entry »

A newly constructed Lively 28 Trimaran (which is an older model one can still get building plans from via Hartley Boats) has just launched in South Africa.

Kevin G, who is the builder (and now sailor) of this boat has done a great job. We first heard about the building of his Lively 28 trimaran in this post. Read the rest of this entry »

There is a new forum dedicated to Seaclipper trimarans and their owners/builders. Multihull enthusiast Jeff Carpenter has started this forum at SeaclipperTrimarans.Org

Jeff is also planning to offer Seaclipper 20 building kits eventually at ModernMultihulls.com He shares a little about both site below. Read the rest of this entry »

There was a Widrider 17 Trimaran at the WoodenBoat School this past August. Mac MacDevitt trailered his Windrider there so he could show it to Jim Brown, who spent some time away from his boatbuilding class. Jim and John Marples were teaching a class on how to build their Seaclipper 20 trimaran. Read the rest of this entry »

How much fun can you have in a little 3-meter trimaran with a homemade “junk rig”? I encourage you to read the following and be the judge.

It looks pretty neat! Read the rest of this entry »

Windrider trimarans just sent out the following press release today. I thought a few small tri fans in Australia and Chile may be interested :-) Read the rest of this entry »

The DIY trimaran enthusiast — Frank S. — shares his new “sliding aka system” with us in this post. The photos below are just a sample of what you’ll find on his website at DIY-Tris.com (If you recall, the last modification on this trimaran was the addition of new amas.)

Frank generously offers the details behind the new sliding crossbeams, which makes both trailering and set-up to go sailing, a faster, more convenient process. Read the rest of this entry »

Great report here about the performance of a Cross 24 trimaran now sailing on Lake Erie. Bill J. recently acquired this vintage tri and sent us the following report about the boat’s performance. Read the rest of this entry »

The Strike 16 Trimaran being built in Miami continues to take shape. After another post looked at the first stages of building, this one reveals a boat that is very close to going into the water. Read the rest of this entry »

Zac Warren, from Warren Light Craft, spoke to me yesterday about the new Little Wing Tandem Sail Trimaran during a short phone interview. What Zac and his father Ted are doing is amazing. As you’ll hear in the interview, you really do have to pick up one of these things in order to understand how strong and light they are. Read the rest of this entry »

A couple days ago, Jim Brown forwarded these photos taken by a friend during the launching of the Seaclipper 20 trimaran built at the WoodenBoat school. Both Jim and John Marples taught one of the boatbuilding classes there this summer. The fact all participants were able to get this boat to the point where it was able to sit on the water (in just under 2 weeks) is remarkable.

I asked Jim if he’d participate in a short phone recording with me so he could share a few thoughts about the Seaclipper 20 trimaran boatbuilding class. He kindly agreed. Read the rest of this entry »

The following “segel kajak” a.k.a. ” sailing kayak ” in German, comes to us today from somebody who has developed a very unique trimaran kayak. As a matter of fact, it’s now being offered as a production model for sale in Europe.

The designer is a fellow named Krystof, who shares a good bit of info with us below. Read the rest of this entry »

The building of the first Nicky Cruz Explorer trimaran continues in Germany. Designer Graeme Delaveau just sent me these recent photos showing the main hull and amas going through the first round of finish painting. Read the rest of this entry »

The following press release came the other day directly from the Windrider Trimaran Co. This sounds like it’s going to be a fun event for guys who live (or will be visiting) in Florida, around the Sarasota area, during the 3rd week of October. Read the rest of this entry »

As a follow up to the first X-Factor trimaran post a few days ago, we’re able to offer the following written piece. This full article (with photos) has been re-printed (with the author’s permission and rights-of-use) from MULTIHULLS WORLD magazine, where it was first published. Read the rest of this entry »

Ready to hear about a powerful boat from the “land down under”? I sure hope so … because the X-Factor trimaran is one powerful small trimaran. I first learned about this boat from the designer/owner, Gerrard Tillema.

All I could say was, “Wow“! Read the rest of this entry »

One of the smallest production tris found anywhere on the web is one called the Maora trimaran. This small craft was originally produced by a company called Nautylys. Read the rest of this entry »

Launch day for the Drifter 17 Trimaran took place several days ago. Mark G. kindly shares the following digital pics of his first sail in the boat with us here. Read the rest of this entry »

Here are a couple of pics (and a short video too) of a new Seaclipper 20 Trimaran. Jim Brown and John Marples led a class at the WoodenBoat School in Maine these the past couple of weeks. (Actually, I think this boat took shape in about 9 days.) And this was the result. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the sea trials report of David K’s newly launched trimaran dinghy in Ohio. Be sure to check out the first post, which talks about how this dinghy trimaran was constructed. Read the rest of this entry »

For those of you who’ve been looking for a true dinghy trimaran … you’re in for a treat! This post features the unique, one-off creation from a small trimaran enthusiast, homebuilder and sailor. Read the rest of this entry »

Is it possible to build a strong wooden mast for a small trimaran? The following information piggy-backs on our last post, which featured a look at Mark Gumprecht’s Drifter 17 trimaran.

One of our small tri friends from France (Eric M.) shared a link in the comments area that displayed photos and information that he’d received from Mark (designer/builder of the Drifter 17). Read the rest of this entry »

The Drifter 17 trimaran is a fabulous-looking craft built by Mark Gumprecht. Having previously designed, built & sailed smaller tris, Mark has spent recent months building this beauty, which features both cockpit and small cuddy cabin for camp-cruising. And it’s all set upon a platform with a LOA of just 17′. Read the rest of this entry »

I first discovered the Wavelength 780 Trimaran last year.

The boat’s designer, Robert Forster, is a great writer and storyteller and he sent me the following info the other day, which includes news about his new Wavelength trimaran website. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ocqueteau Speed 770 trimaran is a French design. The following comes to us, however, from the beautiful coastal waters of Michigan.

One of our readers wrote to me this past week and shared the following about an Ocqueteau that he has owned (but not sailed very much) up until this summer. The following photos were quickly taken by our sailing friend using his iPhone camera. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

Lee M. and his wife Katie are seriously bona-fide trailerable trimaran sailors. Lee has previously shared about the restoration of a Farrier F-9A tri with us here.

And if that wasn’t enough, he took things to an even higher level this time around. Not long ago, he commissioned watercraft designer Matt Layden to create a totally new, 22-foot trailerable small trimaran with some very specific features. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re ever accused of having “lost your mojo,” could you get it back with a trimaran? Probably not. Then again, maybe a Mojo trimaran could make a difference. :-)

Seriously now. The Mojo is a brand new trimaran that is being offered via both traditional building plans AND all-inclusive building kit. Read the rest of this entry »

The Mrs. dragged me to the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, Connecticut a couple weeks ago. ( No-sir-ee, I wouldn’t have gone without her forcing me into it … but I gave in to her wishes … like any good husband should under similar circumstances :-)

While there, I happily stumbled upon the nicest-looking sea kayak trimaran (home-built with plenty of modern materials) that I’ve ever seen. Read the rest of this entry »

A production sailboat known as the Malabar trimaran was apparently produced (in a very limited number) a while back. The following info and details about this small, lovely tri comes to us from Coleman B. in Canada.

Cole peaked my interest with the following words, “She’s a head turner out on the water (as I pass them). She’s sleek, fast and lightweight and was part of a small production run.” Read the rest of this entry »