This 12-foot folding trimaran is a self-designed, home-built sailing package created by sailor Mark Gumprecht. (It’s the very first one he designed).

If you recall, I interviewed Mark about his newest trimaran last year. And he is taking that boat with him from Massachusetts to California, where he is moving.

Since he feels like he has too many boats right now, this 12-footer is up for sale. So I asked Mark if he could share a little bit about it with us here at smalltrimarans. He kindly provided the following summary of this boat, which he has enjoyed for many outings on the water over the past 4 years. (Mark’s contact info regarding this small folding trimaran is at the end of his write-up).

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The Gumprecht 12-foot Folding Trimaran

This was the first small tri I designed about four years ago. It was just something I drew up in a couple of evenings, to explore the possibilities of a using simple dory shaped hulls and stitch and glue construction.

It is 12′ long and about 10′ 6″ wide. I wanted lots of beam, as small designs don’t have the stability of larger boats. I used a leeboard on one side of the main hull to keep the cockpit open. It is operated by a lever inside the cockpit. The area where I sail is very shallow, so daggerboards wouldn’t work well. I made a kick up spade rudder that lowers into a notch in the transom, with an auto release cleat to protect it.

It is built out of 1/4″ luan ply from Home Depot, so the materials didn’t cost much. It has hollow box beams with two layers of ply on the top and bottom, and one on the sides. There are ss removable pin hinges on the top and bottom of the beams. You just remove the bottom pins to fold the amas.

The exterior is fiberglassed with System Three epoxy, and varnished. The boat probably weigh about 200 lbs, and I transport it on a flat trailer with a roller at the back. Initially, I used a windsurfing sail for the rig, and it worked quite well.

The hard part is setting up the sail, and standing it up. I made a special fitting on the front of the boom for three 1/8″ ss wires to hold the mast up, but still allow it to pivot. Later I built a small wing mast, and had a full batten main and roller furling jib made.

It sails really well with this rig, and there is a reef in the main for windy days. I added a wishbone boom to make the main self vanging, and eliminate the need for a manual vang to control the sail shape.

I have really had a lot of fun sailing this boat over the last few years. It is very comfortable to sail, with solid seats on either side of the cockpit.

I added spray deflectors on the bow which makes the boat much dryer. All small tris need something like that, because water will splash right up the bow, hit the beams, and end up in your lap.

The boat goes to weather and tacks well, and will hit 10 knots or more on a reach, but doesn’t require the gymnastics of sailing small cats, and you have a comfortable place to sit. I mostly sail the boat in the local bays and rivers, and in the ocean on moderate days.

I sail off one local island where the waves wrap around a point, so on the tack out, you are headed right into the waves. I have to go slow, or else I will really get wet. But when I turn around, I get some fantastic surfing, riding the waves almost into the beach, before turning around to work my way out again for another run.

I’m selling this small tri because I am planning to move to California, and have too many boats. If anyone is interested in this 12′ custom folding trimaran (it comes with the trailer too) then please contact me for more information. And be sure to note the rotating mast with full batten main and roller furling jib. It really sails great. The asking price is $1500 and this boat is currently S. Dartmouth. Give me a ring at (508) 636-8532. – Mark

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Tags: folding trimaran, Mark Gumprecht, plywood trimaran, small trimaran

This entry was posted on Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Self-built Small Trimarans, Small Tri Info - All. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.