Self-Built Trimaran Sailing Canoe in Brazil
Here is a totally unique, self-built trimaran sailing canoe in Brazil. The short story of this boat comes to us from Alexandre — its builder and sailor.
As you’ll see, Alexandre appears to have some natural talent when it comes to wooden boatbuilding and working with epoxy. Some of the ways he beefed up the canoe configuration in order to make this 14-foot craft into a trimaran are worth noting.
Inspiration for the amas, for example, comes from James Wharram. (You’ll see this in Alexandre’s YouTube video below).
I know a lug rig can be very efficient for many boats, especially small ones. Trimarans, however, are generally thought to be an exception. But perhaps we’ll get to see some videos of this boat sailing via this traditional rig in the near future.
Okay, take it from here Alexandre … it’s truly a pleasure sharing this info from you about the new craft you’ve constructed and are now enjoying on the water :-)
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Self-Built Trimaran Sailing Canoe in Brazil
Hi Joe!
I´m writing to communicate my own design — a self-built trimaran I’ve named “JAGUARA”. It was built in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
The project has born from a “free” simple canoe plan which can be found and downloaded at http://www.bateau2.com/free/cheapcanoe.htm
My desire, however, was to build a sailboat to learn about construction and sailing. So I turned the canoe into a trimaran.
It took several hours of research on the web, both at smalltrimarans.com and in the few existing forums on amateur boat building in Brazil. The project is a typical stitch-and-glue, using plywood, epoxy and fiberglass.
The result was excellent, except for the sail (like a optimist), which was too small. The stability achieved allows another sail plan … more powerful.
The floats ( deep “V”) and fastening system were inspired from James Wharram’s little cats (Hitia 14/17), using small polyester ropes. The entire boat can be taken apart and transported in a trailer made by bicycle wheels.
It´s very light and practical. Only the assembly is a little time consuming — there are many knots to tie! I set up a video using pictures from the construction in the YouTube video below.
My goal, with the release of the video, is to encourage other amateur boatbuilders and thank everyone who discloses this activity. Thanks for you too! It will be a great pleasure to see my trimaran appear on your site, a reference to so many people in the world of small sailing trimarans!
Cordially,
Alexandre M.C.F.
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June 14th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
very neat, lots of good idea’s there.
I have built my own 13′ tri complete stip build and enjoy sailing it, still playing with different sail and outriggers for different conditions.
June 14th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Alexandre,
Dá uma olhada na vela VK. Me coloco a disposição para quaisquer detalhes.
http://veleirok.blogspot.com.br/p/vela-vk.html
Uma vela wing flexível, sem costuras e que você mesmo faz, e de baixo investimento.
Parabéns pelo trimarã!!!
June 15th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Hi Alexandre,
congratulations to your beautiful new boat and your craftmanship. I´m pretty sure the people at bateau had never imagined, what could be done with their ¨cheap canoe¨. Well, i also live in Florianopolis and i´m building a modified Gary Dierking canoe right now. So it would be nice to meet you in person one of these days to exchange ideas. Please give me a call at 3209-1269 or 9615-0098 .
Um abraço
Wolfgang
June 19th, 2012 at 7:30 am
i think this is very very inspiring. you made the hard work look easy! i hope you will put a bigger sail on her and show us the tri planing across the water!
June 25th, 2012 at 10:07 am
nice little boat, lot of work isn’t it? if you want to see the 8 foot version that goes on a cartop check out ajsailandpaddle on youtube.
so many people are doing this looks like an idea whose time has come.
June 25th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Here is a link to the video that is mentioned above by Alan:
http://youtu.be/AuWO022UwYM
July 9th, 2012 at 5:50 am
That’s beautiful and exactly what I’ve intended to build for my son and me. Able to be used as a canoe when checking out the local mangroves, then sailed too. Incidentally, that’s a sprit rig. A lug has the sprit attached along the head of the sail like a gaff.