Strike 15 Trimaran Prototype Under Construction
A prototype for the new Strike 15 Trimaran is now underway. A few days ago, designer Richard Woods sent me a webpage showing the first Strike 15 Trimaran under construction.
(By the way, the photos below are taken from this page, and are used with Mr. Woods’ permission).
Richard noted a few interesting things. The first is that he is busy drawing plans right now, so he can’t to do the building himself. He has therefore hired a fellow to build the boat on a part-time basis instead.
Strike 15 Trimaran Rendering
This means it’s hard to gauge exactly when the prototype might be completed. The building is progressing though.
As for material costs, so far they’ve been pretty low. Richard noted that even with boatbuilding costs being a little higher in Canada, where the work is taking place, the plywood, lumber, epoxy and glass to build the main hull came in under USD500. He also estimates there is probably enough epoxy to build the outriggers as well.
Strike 15 Trimaran Under Construction
Richard was able to acquire a complete rig (mast, boom, foils, blocks etc) for USD150 from an old dinghy. But he’ll initially use a spare beach cat mainsail and jib out of his own storage. He is planning to get new full-sized sails for the dinghy rig made next year, as they’ll be a better fit for the Strike 15.
Be sure to check out Richard’s comments on this new Strike 15 Trimaran webpage regarding his estimate of potential sailing performance. He suggests it should be on par with the RS400 performance skiff featured in the below YouTube video.
Update: 07-09-12 – Richard Woods just sent me a link to the following YouTube video, which features a segment in the construction of the Strike 15…
Update: 08-24-12 – Richard sent me the following photo, and wrote, “Just a quick update. We roughly assembled the first Strike 15 outrigger yesterday. Jetti is holding it with one hand, so it’s quite light. The decking won’t add much more weight. The cross braces you see are temporary of course, just there to hold the bulkheads in positions while epoxying them.
We go back to the US after Labor Day and will finish the outriggers and make the folding crossbeams there. So unfortunately it won’t be until next March when we are allowed back to Canada that we are able to marry up all the bits and go sailing.”
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June 26th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Wow ! I really like this trimaran. This is my new favorite, second only to Frank Smoot’s. But Frank only suggests a plan. Here is a plan I can use for only $100. Does anyone know if the sail is reefable? Watertribe events require 2 reefing points. Richard Woods boats rock !!!
July 10th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Could it be that the bottom is too narrow for the intended use ?
My tri is 420 cm by 40 at the waterline, and it planes only with one person aboard, with an 11 sq metre rig.. Weta and strike 18 are both much wider in comparison at wl than the strike 15.