small sailing trimarans

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The new "Mini Trimaran" as it is being called (for now) is an evolution of our work in small multihulls over the years. It combines elements of the successful Expedition Sailing Canoe and the " kayak trimaran " named 'Spongebob' into a new vessel. Hull #1 was cut out as a CNC kit in July 2020 and is now in the process of going through sea trials. Click here for Construction Photos of hull #1 You can get a sneak peak of the builders guide here .

Features of hull #1 included a roller furling mainsail and headsail for easy reefing and a boom for superior sail control. For Hull #2 we went back to a non rotating mast with slab reefing and single line reefing instead. The amas retract into the center crossbeams to reduce the overall beam for trailering without having to demount the amas. A stern cockpit with a large kayak style cockpit coaming can be used with a spray skirt. Steering is accomplished with foot pedal controls or a tiller. The boat can also be sailed from the center cockpit and there is optional space to install a hobie mirage drive in the center cockpit. Ample storage for a full expedition load. The center cockpit is flanked by a pair of "wing decks" which are large enough for sleeping aboard with a bivy or cockpit tent. A leeboard is controlled with lines running to the aft cockpit. The hull incorporates an integral spray chine above the water line to increase cockpit comfort while maintaining a narrow waterline beam of 19 1/2"

Length: 18’ 6” Sailing Beam: 11’ Trailering Beam: 6’ 8-3/4” Working Sail: 100 sqft Optional Spinnaker: 80 sqft Empty weight: ~290lbs Gear/water capacity: 150lbs Full Load Displacement: 620lbs (solo) PPI: 117lbs (pounds per 1” immersion Ama buoyancy: 275lbs

Above: Hull #1 freshly painted. April 2021

Latest News: Plans and a CNC kit for this design are coming soon. Hull #1 and 2 are currently in testing and prototyping phases and we look forward to improving the design of the rigging and kit for future builders.

Video from first Sea Trials in Jan. 2021. We were very pleased with the performance and look forward to further testing the rigging and design in preparation for releasing plans and kits for this design. You can note in the video that the boat is being sailed totally empty so the bow rides a bit high.

Hull #1 made the trip to the 2021 B&B Messabout and we had a chance to test here out.

Hull #2 was completed and launched in January 2022. Changes to the design include adding some legroom to the aft cabin, and including space for a hobie mirage drive well in the center cockpit. Hull #2 does not have a roller furling mainsail but instead more traditional slab reefing. A Core Sound 17 mainsail is now the primary working sail and a furling code zero is again used for light air and an off the wind boost.

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6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

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Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their “home marina” and sailing will be somewhat restricted. However, what if you could fold your trimaran and put it on a trailer, store it at your house, and go to a new sailing spot the next time?

Here are 6 of the best trailerable trimaran:

The Dragonfly series
Corsair Series
Windrider 17

Choosing the best trailerable trimaran (a multi-hull with three “hulls”) will depend on crucial factors like speed, durability, design, and ease of transportation. This article is here to help you get started with your research and hopefully help you on the way towards your dream boat!

Table of Contents

Cruising Trimarans That Can Be Transported

Cruising boats are made for multiday sailing either on the coast of your favorite sailing area or full-out blue-water ocean crossings. Extended living should be a priority in these designs.

1. The Dragonfly 25 and 28 (Dragon Fly Series)

Dragonfly is in the business of making the “best foldable trimarans on the planet” many would agree with this statement. Dragonfly is known for its commitment to easy trailering and ease of use, shown in designs for the Dragonfly 25 and Dragonfly 28.

The “Swing Wing” system on the linchpins is one of the key features of the dragonfly series. The system’s application makes it possible for the trimaran to narrow its beam as much as 50%.

Attesting to its Scandinavian manufacturing, most parts of the trimaran are made in-house. This guarantees quality and ensures that all used parts are above standard.

You don’t need to look further than the Dragonfly 25. Its centerboard slightly offset to port. Extra space is created in the main hull’s interior with a trunk buried under a settee. Performance-wise, the low drag and narrow hull shape allow the boat to reach blistering speeds.

Dragonfly 28 In Numbers

Length: 8.75m
Beam folded: 2.54m
Max crew: 5-7 people
Max Speed: 22+knots

Dragonfly 25 In Numbers

Length: 7.65m
Beam folded: 2.30m
Max crew: 4-6 people
Max Speed: 21+knots

2. Farrier F-22

New Zealand enters the trimaran manufacturing race with this premium sea goer. The vessel comes in two different versions: a performance variation with more horsepower and a full cabin cruising version.

Compared to the dragon series the F-22 has the biggest allowance for space.

The F-22 is known for being one of the easiest trimarans to fold and load.

The sports version of the F-22 has some really good performance to offer. It has an aggressive spirit: you can mount a sail while leaving plenty of space for the boat’s fine entry and flared forward sections. The build quality is also topnotch—a lasting memorial to a principle that Ian Farrier always worked by: excellence.

Farrier F-22 In Numbers

Length: 7.0m
Beam folded: 2.5m
Max crew: 3-5 people
Max Speed: 20+knots

3. Corsair Series

This boat series has an exciting history. Farrier created it to promote his trailerable tri concept. However, the series is now independent with a top-class vehicle to its name.

The Corsair 760 is listed as providing some of the best performance and safety benefits to sailors.

Building off the spirit of excellence of the founder, the Corsair 760 has created a boat with comfort and racing potential. The boat can be tricky to handle at first, but it will be a breeze once you get the hang of it.

It is also worth noting that the corsair 37 is the largest trailerable trimaran on the market today.

Daysail Trimarans That Can Be Transported

Boats that are made for dayssailing are usually smaller, cheaper and more easily handled. They are perfect for those looking to enjoy a full day on the water in calm weather, but are usually less suitable for multiday events or rough sea sailing.

4. The Astus Models (20ft, 22.5ft, and 24ft)

If you’re looking for something small but still capable of doing day sailing, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed.

The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings.

The Astus brand specializes in transportable trimarans, worth noting is that some models need a specific trailer whilst the smaller boats use a standard trailer.

5. Weta 14.5

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials.

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently.

The small size makes it more suitable for daysailing in good weather rather than multiday cruising, although more experienced sailors will of course push the limits of this boat.

6. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility.

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability.

What’s the Largest Trailerable Trimaran?

The largest trailerable trimaran is the Corsair 37 , this multihull is built for single-handed cruising while still maintaining the ability to comfortably seat 6 people.

The Corsair 37 provides comfort, speed, and safety. It also contains just enough space to accommodate amenities like a propane stove, a sink, and other equipment.

The vessel is designed to be a performance cruiser. It features an aluminum rotating wing mast, carbon fiber bowsprit, and premium deck hardware. The corsair can still cut through the water with ease despite its size, putting the wind in your sails.

What Is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a boat with two hulls (a trimaran has three) connected by a bridge deck. Catamarans usually offer more space than both monohulls and trimarans of the same length. The catamaran is usually somewhat slower than a trimaran but faster than a monohull. They are usually made of fiberglass or carbon fiber.

Catamarans come in all shapes and sizes. You can find straightforward sailing catamarans, perfect for those who are only starting their sailing journey. Larger sailing catamarans have become extremely popular for long-distance sailing.

There are also power catamarans, they have huge diesel-powered engines (sometimes electric) and no sails. Also called “power cats”, these boats can reach 30+kts.

Can a Trimaran Be Trailerable?

As discussed above, some trimarans are possible to put on a trailer and move to another sailing area or to be stored at home. This is usually not possible with catamarans but is sometimes possible with the trimarans that are fitted with foldable amas (the two outer “floats” or “hulls”).

Some trimarans can be trailerable, this is mainly due to the ability to drastically decrease the vessels beam, sometimes as much as 50%. This allows the trailer plus trimaran to be below the legal requirements of the road.

Final Thoughts

It has proven difficult to beat the trimaran in terms of speed. Through the ages, this type of vessel has proven to be immensely enjoyable in all kinds of sailing activities. These can range from sea adventures to waterborne relaxation in your free time.

Trimarans come in various types, foldable, for cruising or racing, etc. However, there is a common factor: many of the small ones are trailerable. This makes them easier to move than most other types of boats.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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The Complete List of Trimarans

There is no single trimaran that is best for everyone. Where some prefer luxury cruisers for long trips with family and friends, others might opt for a high performance racing tri for thrilling rides at breakneck speeds. With the recent spike in trimaran popularity, these days there is a perfect tri for every sailor. So to help prospective trimaran owners decide which boat is just right for them, we here at WindRider have put together a comprehensive list of the best trimarans on the market today! Read through for simple at-a-glance trimaran comparisons of boats both big and small, exhilarating and relaxing, and for all price points.

Jump to a specific sailing trimaran: Neel Weta Corsair WindRider Dragonfly Catri Astus Hobie Sea Pearl Farrier Sea Cart Multi 23 Triak SeaRail Warren Lightcraft Diam Radikal Challenger

Known for their award-winning luxury trimarans, NEEL is based in La Rochelle, the capital city of sailing in France. NEEL trimarans are built for fast cruising with an average cruising speed of about 10 knots, and are even configured to facilitate that sustained speed under motor propulsion. The NEEL 45 was notably named Cruising World’s Most Innovative Vessel in 2013, and by all accounts is an easy-to-sail, high performance boat that is just plain fun.

At a glance:

Models: NEEL 45, 65

Length: 45’ – 65’

Cost: $$$$$

Use: Luxury cruiser

A fan favorite, Weta trimarans are fast, stable, and remarkably easy to rig. This single-sailor tri has a capacity of up to three, and the ease with which it can be transported and stored makes this a great, versatile boat for beginners. The Weta was named Sailing World’s 2010 Boat of the Year, and one ride is enough to know why: simply put, the Weta is an absolute ton of fun to sail regardless of skill level.

Models: Weta

Length: 14’5”

Cost: $$ $$$

The high-end Corsair trimaran definitely holds its own in the categories of versatility, performance, and convenience. Boasting a rigging time of 30 minutes from trailer to sailor , the Corsair 42 – whose convenient folding amas makes trailering possible – is a simple option even for single sailors, though cabin space is suitable for two adults. These boats are wicked fast, capable of reaching speeds of 20+ knots, and were made for skilled sailors seeking solid construction and high performance vessels, not for beginners.

Models: Pulse 600, Sprint 750 MKII, Dash 750 MKII, Corsair 28, Cruze 970, Corsair 37, Corsair 42

Length: 19’8” – 37’

Cost: $$$$ $

Use: Sports cruisers

Built for the sailor who wants to maximize the joys of sailing while minimizing any hassle, WindRider trimarans are notoriously fast, very safe, and a blast to sail from start to finish. With several models that can hold between 1 and 6 riders, including adaptive designs to allow participation from sailors of all levels of mobility, there’s something to suit every sailor’s needs. The WindRider 17, an exhilarating ride perfect for families or camper sailors, has been known to reach speeds of up to 20mph. This easy day sailor goes from trailer to sailing in under 30 minutes and is sure to fit in perfectly with whatever adventures you have planned.

Models: WR 16, 17, Tango, Rave V

Length: 10’11” – 18’3”

Cost: $ $$$$

Use: Day sailor

The Danish-built Dragonfly trimarans come in a variety of models ranging from 25’ – 35’, all known for their spry performance, comfortable ride, and ease of use. Every model comes equipped with the unique “SwingWing” feature, a motorized system that can unfold the amas even while the boat is already underway – making it accessible to marinas and slips, and even makes trailering possible. Perfect for those who don’t want to sacrifice their comfort for high performance, the Dragonfly can breeze along at 13 knots while remaining one of the quietest compact cruisers out there.

Models: Dragonfly 25, 28, 32, 35, 1200

Length: 25’ – 39’

Designed for both safe cruising as well as for high speed racing, Catri trimarans will make your day. Especially noteworthy is the Catri 25, a stable yet wildly fast foiling trimaran with accommodations for up to 6 people. With profiles optimized for speeds of 25+ knots when foiling, this is no beginner’s sailboat. The special attention paid to stability in the foil design allows the Catri to be a single sailor vessel, even at foiling speed, with no special physical abilities. Whether you’re taking a small crew for longer rides at shuddering speeds or bringing the whole family along for a shorter, but still thrilling sail, the Catri is truly one of a kind.

Models: Catri 25

Length: 25’

Use: Cruiser/racer

A popular brand of trimaran in Europe, Astus has recently made its way to the US market to the delight of sailors on this side of the pond. Designed to offer maximum pleasure with minimum hassle, all models of Astus trimarans are fast to set up, quick on the water, inherently stable, and always a joy to sail. Their outriggers are mounted on telescopic tubes for easy stowage and towing, and can even be extended and retracted on the water for access to narrow passageways and monohull slips in marinas. With models in all sizes and price points, Astus trimarans are a great option for any sailor.

Models: Astus 16.5, 18.2, 20.2, 22, 24

Cabin: Some models

Length: 16’ – 24’

Use: Sport cruisers

HOBIE ADVENTURE ISLAND

Great for beginners and adventurers alike, the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island series is nothing if not just plain fun. With the option to use as a kayak or as a very basic trimaran, the Hobie is transportable, versatile, unintimidating, lightweight, and wonderfully affordable. The pedal system known as “Mirage Drive” allows a person to pedal the kayak using their legs for an extra kick of movement in slow winds. Amas tuck close to the main hull for docking or car-topping, adding serious ease and convenience to the exhilarating experience of the Hobie.

Models: Hobie Mirage Adventure Island, Mirage Tandem Island

Length: 16’7” – 18’6”

Use: Convertible kayak/trimarans

Best known for its use in camp cruising excursions, the Sea Pearl offers a roomy main hull and particular ability to sail in very shallow waters, making beaching and launching a breeze. The lightweight Sea Pearl trimaran is easy to tow, and the larger-than-expected cabin opens this vessel up for overnight adventures with plenty of storage space. The simple design makes the Sea Pearl notoriously low maintenance, and the ease it takes to rig and sail it add to the overall delight of owning this boat.

Models: Sea Pearl

Length: 21’

Use: Camper cruiser

Quick, lightweight, roomy, and trailerable, Farrier trimarans are made for versatility to fit every sailor’s needs. Different Farrier models are available in plan or kit boat form for those who appreciate building their boat themselves, but of course, also as the full production sail-away boat for the rest of us. Single-handed rigging and launching takes under 10 minutes from start to finish, minimizing hassle and getting you on the water fast. All non-racing Farrier designs use a minimum wind capsize speed of 30 knots or more to ensure safety for all those aboard. Add the roomy cabin and high speed capabilities to the equation and you’ve got a boat that is great fun for everyone.

Models: F-22, 24, 25, 82, 27, 28, 31, 9A, 9AX, 9R, 32, 33, 33R, 33ST, 36, 39, 41, 44R

Length: 23’ – 39’4”

Cost: $$$ $$

Use: Sport cruisers/racers

One of the biggest names in the game, SeaCart is internationally noted for its high performance trimarans that far exceed expectations for a production boat of its size. The SeaCart trimaran performs as brilliantly off the water as it does on with its super-light and efficient harbor folding system, making light work of trailering. Notoriously easy to manage and maintain, the SeaCart 26 One Design is the ultimate day racing trimaran, designed for both course and inshore/coastal distance racing. Absolutely worth the international buzz it has garnered, the SeaCart is a thrill from beginning to end.

Models: SeaCart 26

Length: 26’

A high performance racer class, the Multi 23 is a lightweight, powerful trimaran known for its wicked speed of up to 25 knots. Multi trimarans of both available configurations were designed to give beach cat thrills and speed without any of the stability or seaworthy concerns. Open ocean sailing is no issue for the Multi’s big bows, which do their job to keep her stable. Built for sailors with a need for speed, the Multi makes a perfect weekend boat for racers, especially those with a taste for boat camping.

Models: Multi 23

Length: 23’

Another dual outrigger sailing kayak/canoe design, the Triak trimaran was designed to be effortless and fun, especially for beginners. Paddle the kayak with sails furled, use the foot pedals for an extra kick of momentum, or sail with just the mainsail – the only boat in its class to feature an asymmetrical spinnaker – for exhilarating speeds and a blast on the water. Car-top the Triak anywhere for a quick sail or plan for a week long expedition, but always count on having a great time on this easy little boat.

Models: Triak

Length: 18’

Use: Convertible kayak/trimaran

SeaRail trimarans are known for being affordable, light weight, trailerable trimarans that offer the perfect combination of exciting and relaxing experiences to a wide range of sailors. Whether it’s day sailing with your family, resort or camper sailing, SeaRail trimarans are ideal leisure vessels. Leave the hassle to the other boats – the SeaRail takes you from trailer to sailor in 15 minutes. But don’t let its reputation as a leisure tri fool you: if speed is what you want, rest assured that the SeaRail can deliver that as well.

Models: SeaRail 19

WARREN LIGHTCRAFT

Warren Lightcraft trimarans , another example of a convertible kayak-to-sailboat option, are known for their aesthetically pleasing designs that are also, as the name implies, very light for simple transportation and ease of use. Convert the kayak into a fast, high performance sailboat in just minutes, fly around on the waves all day long, then simply car-top the 68lb Warren for a maximum enjoyment, low-hassle day on the water. Perfect for sailors and paddlers of all skill levels, the Warren Lightcraft is the best of both worlds and an absolute joy to sail.

Models: Warren Lightcraft

Length: 15’6”

Built strictly with racing in mind, the Diam 24 is a light, powerful one-design class trimaran and a notoriously exceptional performer. Boasting blistering speeds of up to 30 knots, Diam trimarans are not intended for beginners. For racers who crave the very best in terms of intense speeds, smooth handling and impeccable performance, the Diam is the red-hot one-design racing tri for you.

Models: Diam 24

Length: 24’

For the sailor who prefers the finer things in life, the Radikal 26 delivers. Perfect for bringing the whole family out for a day on the water, this high performance, trailerable sailing trimaran strikes the most luxurious balance between quicksilver speeds and a smooth, comfortable ride. The Radikal 26 trimaran is as convenient to transport and set up as it is pleasant to sail, with a folding system that minimizes rigging hassle and also makes this a trailerable tri. Built for a fast and comfortable sail rather than a hold-onto-your-seats thrill, one-the-water safety and overall pleasure makes the Radikal 26 what it is.

Models: Radikal 26

Use: Sport cruiser

A solidly-built, single-handed trimaran, the Challenger also doubles as an adaptive design – meaning it is made to accommodate sailors of all levels of physical mobility. Best suited to lakes, the Challenger is a very safe, seaworthy boat for sailors of all ages and experience levels. Add to this the ease of owning, transporting and maintaining the Challenger trimaran and what you get is a simple, fun sailboat perfect both for beginners and those seeking a cheap thrill alike.

Models: Challenger

At a glance comparison:

Did we miss one? Let us know. Tell us what you sail and what you like about each boat in the comments below.

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Astus 20.5 Sailing Trimaran

A small and simple trimaran that makes sailing simple and fun!

Astus Makes Owning A Small Tri Easy. Here's How:

Cheaper Dockage

The Astus 20.5 has telescopic beams which means that it can easily be collapsed to a narrower width. This makes finding a slip or moorage both easy and affordable. The bottoms of the hulls stay the bottom of the hulls when folded, unlike Corsair's folding design, so you needn't worry about a scum line after being left in the water while folded. Many marinas have shallow, close to shore, slips available at discount as they are hard to rent. The Astus 20.5 can easily be docked at a slip suited for a boat as small as a Potter or Compac!

Safety First

Trimarans are very stable boats making it less likely for crew to trip or fall. The Astus 20.5 is unsinkable with multiple buoyant chambers. The 20.5 is a coastal weekender that is ready to make memories that will last a lifetime without the risk involved with sailing a monohull or catamaran!

Performance Focused

Trimarans are fast. The Astus 20.5 is designed and built to make it fast and responsive. With a centerboard and artisanally designed chines, this boat is designed to be driven hard on any point of sail and canvassed to provide all the power you could need to beat the weather or your fellow club mates.

Easy to Transport

The Astus 20.5 is both lightweight and easy to collapse which makes this boat a dream to transport. You can tow this boat with a Subaru Outback and many other small cars! The lightweight construction of the boat will allow this boat to be pulled by even the lightest weight cars on the road. The amas can be collapsed with 1 person, on the water, in only a few minutes and without any tools!

Easy to Rig

The French are at the bleeding edge of quality and technology in the sailing industry. In addition to this, they are also not known for being the biggest statured people, on average. This means Astus needed to design an easy way to step the mast and with an optional mast stepping rig, you can easily step the mast of this boat (on land or on water) with only 1 person in no time flat!

Fun for the Whole Family

The biggest issue with a small sailboat is...it is small, there's no room for kids to be kids. The Astus 20.5 solves this problem with its nearly 300 square feet of deck area! In addition to the large deck space, there is a small cabin capable of sleeping a family of 4 if needed or for the kids to escape the elements on an overly sunny or rainy day.

What Are the Members of the Press Saying?

Mers & Bateaux
Bateaux.com
Voilee & Moteur (Boat & Motor)
Boating Business
Boat Industry Magazine

The Astus 20.5, designed by legendary French design firm VPLP, is the most practical small trimaran on the market.

This boat is capable of racing with larger boats, daysailing with the family and even camp sailing (coastal raiding)! The 20.5 is easy to rig, easy to dock; is essentially a beach tri with a cabin!

With enough capacity to carry and comfortably sail with the whole family the Astus 20.5 is the trimaran that checks all of the boxes and at a lower price point than a 22.5!

Shipping is not included in the price of this boat. Estimated shipping to anywhere in the USA is $4000-7000. Call to get your quote today! 410-705-5026

MAKE YOUR BOAT YOUR OWN

The options and accessories below are sure improve and enhance your time on the water!

We are working to add these options to our site. Please be patient. For any questions about Astus, please call 410-705-5026 or email us at [email protected]

Epoxy treatment plus antifouling or coppercoat

Antifouling of hull and floats

Sport version stickers

Carbon rigging (Mast, boom) & Textile shrouds

Infusion made hull

Contest 101 - compass

high comfort cockpit seating

mast stepping kit

Chemical Porta Potty

Motor bracket

Swim ladder

2 opening portholes or 2 bigger fixed portholes

Stainless steel pulpit

Carbon rudder and tiller

removeable cockpit table

Supplementary Spare Cushion

Mattress and bunk plank

Sport fittings upgraded main sheet and tiller extension

Continuous Furler - hook with spring loaded gate

Mainsail rail & carriage ( adjustable traveler)

Wing Mast Upgrade

supplementary reef

lazy bag + lazy jack

UV repelling strip for jib

Extra sails PX black

Extra for Sport Sails Square cross-cut

Extra for Sport Sails in Armid (Black Technora)

Asymetric Spi on bowsprit

Winch for sport gennaker

Gennaker SPORT Grand Prix STORMLITE 210

Gennaker SPORT MAXLITE 150 on bowsprit with furler

Gennaker liesure mp70 & furler, not the right boat for you let's find your perfect boat .

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3 Small, Sporty Trimarans

By Herb McCormick
Updated: March 5, 2009

When it comes to cruising multihulls, the trimaran often plays second fiddle. The main reason is the sheer popularity and growth of cruising catamarans, thanks in no small part to the charter trade. But trimaran sailors have come up with a rather amusing handle for their beloved vessels: a cat-and-a-half. There’s some truth to the name.

If part of the reason one goes cruising is for a quality sailing experience, it’s hard to beat a well-executed tri. With shallow draft, they can easily poke into the shallows or up on a beach away from the madding crowd. And many midsize trimarans can be folded up and trailered for a cruise to Maine or the Florida Keys. As one tri sailor put it, “It’s sweet to go to windward at 65 miles per hour.”

I had the opportunity to sail a trio of cruising trimarans over a variety of waters and with an array of avid sailors and builders. Interestingly, the respective boats and venues-the Telstar 28 on Chesapeake Bay, the Corsair 31 on Massachusetts’ Buzzards Bay, and the Dragonfly 35 in the U.S. Virgin Islands-seemed especially well suited for one another. All boats are compromises, and trimarans are no different: Unlike cruising cats, which can handle those hefty payloads and multiple staterooms, tris are limited in space and accommodations by the parameters of their layout. But when all was said and done, I came away with a fresh appreciation for the viability of a relatively compact tri as a terrific, even exhilarating, coastal cruiser. Here’s what I discovered.

Telstar 28: Bred on Chesapeake Bay

The result of an exacting evolutionary process, the Telstar 28 is the proud creation of expatriate British multihull designer Tony Smith, who’s been testing and refining his notion of what makes an appealing triple-hulled pocket cruiser for almost four decades. His Chesapeake Bay-based business, Performance Cruising Inc., is very much a family affair, with his wife, kids, and son-in-law all prominently involved.

Smith launched the first incarnation of the Telstar, a 26-footer, in England in the early 1970s, eventually building 300 of them before relocating to this side of the Atlantic. A 1981 fire put the Telstar on hold while Smith shifted his emphasis to producing the Gemini line of cruising cats. But earlier this decade, he brought the trimaran out of mothballs and began to fine-tune his original vision, going through more than half a dozen prototypes before he was satisfied that he had a boat worthy of the marketplace.

For Smith, a hard-core multihull racer in his youth, the tug toward performance has always been strong. But with the Telstar 28, he wanted a boat that would be fun and fast under both sail and power but that could also serve for weeks at a time as a floating home, possessing features and systems that are foolproof and strongly engineered but dead simple to apply. A foldable, trailerable cruising boat sounds good, but it’s much less so if operating it is a chore for the owner.

And so Smith and his son, Neil, went to work, experimenting with rig size, outrigger shapes, and engine horsepower. They fussed with float deployment, steering systems, construction techniques, and numerous ways to raise and lower the mast. The goal was straightforward: a boat that sailed simply and well and that a couple or small family could enjoy. When he had everything just so, Smith made a couple of trips to Florida, by himself, trailering a Telstar. He launched and retrieved the boat, put the mast up and took it down, and went sailing, all alone. Only then was the reincarnated boat ready for prime time.

The revamped Telstar, now 28 feet long, has been in production for several years, and nearly 70 new boats have been built. On a visit last August to the boatyard on the Chesapeake’s Back Creek, Will Hershfeld, Smith’s son-in-law, gave me the tour.

Smith is especially proud of the arrangements for folding and deploying the outriggers and for stepping and striking the deck-stepped spar, both of which a lone sailor can do almost effortlessly in no time flat. The outriggers can be deployed or retracted on the trailer or in the water utilizing an ingenious rotary-pivot joint that reduces the maxed-out 18-foot beam to a mere 8 feet 6 inches in collapsed mode. The mast can be winched up (or lowered) from the cockpit via a set of four A-frames that work in tandem to support the stick during the evolution. Neither the sails nor the boom need to be removed for the mast’s raising or lowering, which maximizes the efficiency of the task.

Somewhat less heralded but also extremely clever is the tiller/outboard connection. With a single pin in place, the tiller and engine operate in tandem for optimum steering control under power. Under sail, the pin can be removed and the engine raised, thus linking the tiller directly to the rudder. The standard engine, incidentally, is a 20-horsepower Honda that scoots the boat along at a tidy 7 to 8 knots. A 50-horsepower Honda that will reportedly deliver 15 knots of boat speed is an option to form a sail/power version of the boat.

Belowdecks, the immediate and biggest surprise is the spaciousness of the central hull, particularly the 6-foot standing headroom. A large head compartment is forward of the saloon, which includes a pair of 6-foot-long settees flanking a folding dinette. With a series of slats in place down the main thoroughfare, one of the settees can be converted to a generous double berth. On either side of the companionway, a small galley with a two-burner stove and a simple navigation area addresses the essentials for dining and piloting.

Thanks to vacuum-bagged infusion for the outrigger assembly and a foam-core laminate in the main hull, the Telstar 28 weighs in at an almost unbelievable 3,000 pounds. The working sail area, augmented by the mainsail’s generous roach, measures 524 square feet. The power-to-weight ratio seemed promising, and I was eager to see how it translated to speed under sail.

The Chesapeake was in a cooperative mood as we powered out of Back Creek and set the main and 150-percent genoa in 12 to 15 knots of true wind. Sailing closehauled at about 30 degrees apparent, the boat slid along respectably at 6 to 7 knots with a well-balanced, fingertip touch to the tiller. We threw in a few tacks, and a couple of things were quickly apparent. First, the combination of formidable side decks along the main hull and fabric trampolines (not nets) between the outriggers made for an extremely dry ride, something I wasn’t expecting. But the 50-horsepower outboard on our test boat was a slight burden, dragging a bit, even when raised, on starboard tack. Our performance spiked when we flipped over to port and the propeller completely cleared the water.

The Telstar really came alive when we set the 400-square-foot screacher off the sprit. At 50 degrees apparent, we bettered 10 knots, and when we fell off to a beam reach, we topped off at a very lively 13.2 knots. A small chop was building on the bay, however, and it definitely slowed us down slightly, as the light boat just didn’t have the inertia to muscle through the wavelets. It’s a small quibble: I was already impressed. This child of the Chesapeake-an ideal cruising ground for this quick, shallow-draft trimaran-had displayed plenty of gumption on its home waters.

Dragonfly 35: A Trade-Wind Rocket

The marvelous Danish-built Dragonfly 35 stands apart from the other pair of trimarans in this roundup on multiple fronts, the most notable of which are size, cost, and accommodations.

In the protected harbor of Great Cruz Bay, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I met Dr. James Clayton, the proud owner of hull number 11 in the Dragonfly 35 run. Looking for a bit faster ride, with roomier accommodations and better sun protection, Clayton had moved up to the 35-footer from the 33-foot Dragonfly 1000, a boat that he loved and which is no longer in production. The 35 comes in two versions, Touring and Ultimate, the latter, which Clayton owns, boasting a slightly taller carbon-fiber mast with exotic, high-tech Vectran/Technora sails and strong, lightweight standing and running rigging.

Clayton obviously enjoys a boat that performs well, but he also likes creature comforts, and he’s loaded the boat with a variety of options, including an Andersen 46ST electric winch for mainsail hoisting, a watermaker, a three-bladed folding prop (instead of the standard two-bladed version), a diesel heater, and even a bow thruster, which is employed via a “garage door” that lies flush to the hull when not in use.

It seemed odd to choose the high-tech version of the boat and then load it up (and weigh it down) with such a long list of amenities. But Clayton had good reasons for his choices. The bow thruster proves very handy in controlling the fine, light bow in close quarters on windy days, and the heater was welcome during a cruise through Nova Scotia.

The Dragonfly 35 employs the builder’s Swing Wing system to fold the amas, but with a 12-foot-10-inch beam when the outriggers are retracted (down from a graceful, sweeping 26 feet 11 inches in sailing mode), trailering isn’t an option. Still, the folded boat will fit into a standard marina slip.

The accommodation plan doesn’t enjoy the interior volume of a contemporary 35-foot monohull, but it’s a clean, modern design that makes excellent use of the space. There are generous double berths on either end: a V-berth in a dedicated cabin forward, and another double beneath the cockpit. An enclosed head is situated forward of the main cabin, which has 6-foot-4-inch headroom and features a long settee to port, a cozy but handy navigation station at the foot of the companionway, and a lengthwise galley to starboard, with an abundance of counter space and good storage. The Volvo diesel, with saildrive, is located in a dedicated aft compartment.

The deck layout and corresponding sailhandling systems are also extremely well executed. A retractable carbon sprit in a sealed, dedicated tube is just forward of the recessed Facnor headsail-furling gear. Four flexible 9.5-amp Sunware solar panels do a fine job of topping off the house batteries. The single-line reefing system is led aft to the cockpit, an extremely comfortable space with a large bimini overhead and a rounded helmsman’s backrest aft. The traveler is mounted on a central beam just forward of the helmsman, while the double-ended mainsheet is close at hand.

There’s good visibility for the wind and speed instruments mounted over the companionway, and clear sight lines exist to the Raymarine chart plotter mounted on the rear of the coachroof. A portable beam can be removed to provide walk-through access to the transom and the aft deck shower. Finally, each of the amas is equipped with a rear hatch, through which can be stashed a pair of 17-foot sea kayaks. The Dragonfly 35 can most definitely be classified as a sport utility vehicle.

We sailed the boat on a day of moderate easterlies blowing at 12 to 14 knots. Upwind, at roughly 30 degrees apparent, the boat made anywhere from 7.9 to 8.4 knots, and as we eased sheets and bore off, the speed ratcheted up accordingly, to 8.5 to 9 knots. Frankly, I was somewhat disappointed in the sheer speed (Clayton has made more than 18 knots in breeze ranging in the 20s), but as I mentioned, we were carrying a boatload of extras. It was a choppy day, but the Dragonfly was in no way hampered by the seaway. The V-sectioned central hull cleaved nicely through the waves without hobbyhorsing, providing a smooth, purposeful motion and leaving the smallest of wakes. And steering the boat was a real joy, with the Jefa rack-and-pinion steering system offering true fingertip control. I’d love to sail a 35 in big breeze.

Corsair 31CC: Island Cruiser

The final stop on my Magical Trimaran Mystery Tour was Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, the site of last summer’s annual Corsair Trimaran Nationals. That event was a fun, lively occasion with lots of action on the water and fun off it. No sailors, it seemed, were more excited about their boat than Charles and Hilary Badoian, who were spending the New England summer living aboard and cruising their Corsair 31, Ship o’ Fools.

The Corsair 31, originally designed by Ian Farrier and updated in recent times by Corsair Marine, has been in production now for well over a decade, with nearly 300 of them built. Originally produced in Australia, today they’re built in Vietnam. The 31 has been tweaked considerably from its inception, and it’s now available in four different models: the 31UC (Ultimate Cruiser), the 31AC (Aft Cockpit), the 31CC (Center Cockpit), and the 31-1D (One Design).

The One Design version comes with streamlined accommodations and a carbon-fiber rig with a retractable bowsprit as well as racing sails and modified foils, but it should be noted that every new Corsair 31-all of which now feature rotating masts-can be ordered with carbon rigs and retractable sprits.

The Badoians had been wandering through the Elizabeth Islands, southeastern Massachusetts, and Cape Cod for several months, and while they enjoyed the liveaboard lifestyle, they were also conducting, from their compact underway home, their full-time business as event planners. They’d come to the rendezvous to meet like-minded sailors, compare notes, and enjoy watching the racing from the deck of their own 31CC. Former owners of a Catalina 30, they’d made the switch to multihulls and were certain of one thing: After the easy speed and shoal draft of their trimaran, they weren’t going back.

Their 31-footer was actually an older model, built in 1996, but there are many similarities that have carried on through time. The most important was the basic layout of the center-cockpit version, which still features a V-berth forward, an enclosed head in the central cabin-along with a settee, a small dinette, and a surprisingly workable galley-and a second separate cabin aft, which is ideal for guests or storage.

The deck layout is also conducive to efficient shorthanded sailing, with the traveler and mainsheet well aft, easily within reach of the helmsman yet behind the tiller, making tacking and jibing a hassle-free maneuver. (In the Aft Cockpit version, the traveler is forward of the tiller.) The Badoians also were enamored of the roller-furling boom, another item that’s been passed down the line. Reefing, they said, was a snap.

The couple said they regularly enjoyed boat speeds ranging from 9 to 12 knots on Ship o’ Fools, which isn’t equipped with a bowsprit or a screacher. Unfortunately, on the day I sailed with them, the wind hovered between 5 to 8 knots, with only an occasional puff of around 10 knots. Still, under main and genoa, when it blew 5 knots, we made 5 knots. And when it topped 10 or so, we eased along at an effortless 7.5. In the flat water, steering from well outboard to get a clear view of the telltales, the sensation was almost more akin to flying than to sailing.

Corsair dealer Bob Gleason, whose Massachusetts brokerage firm, The Multihull Source, was hosting the Corsair Nationals, said that newer models far exceed the performance potential of older boats, thanks to a slightly taller rig, the aforementioned standard rotating mast, and the addition of a screacher mounted on a pole that retracts into a tube mounted in the forward cabin.

Gleason said the rotating masts also aid in raising and lowering the spar, as the outboard shrouds aren’t connected to the main hull; a pair of temporary shrouds are used to facilitate the operation. The amas of the Corsair 31 are also easily retracted and deployed via the longstanding Farrier Folding System, which hinges on just four bolts. The boat can be set up or put away by an experienced sailor in about half an hour.

The Badoians at some point may upgrade to a larger trimaran, but for now, they couldn’t be happier with their Corsair 31.

One of my fondest sailing dreams is to someday hop aboard a fast, zippy multihull, skip across the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas, and spend a long winter poking into every nook and cranny I can find. Without reservation, I’d happily take the Telstar, Dragonfly, or Corsair on such an adventure. That said, my time aboard left me with several observations about each boat.

The Telstar 28 is an extremely well-reasoned boat, but it was also first conceived in the 1970s, and unless you find beauty in utility, the profile is a bit boxy and certainly not as sexy as the other boats in this roundup. But with a price tag well under $100K, especially considering its portability in these days when moorage is at a premium, it’s also a good bargain.

The Dragonfly 35 is the gold standard in this collection, and given its $370K cost, it certainly should be. It’s foldable, yes, but not trailerable, and for some sailors in well-populated locales, finding a place to permanently moor it may be an issue. However, it’s also a solid, superbly crafted vessel that with its systems and potential for extended sailing, will take one anywhere in high style.

The Corsair 31 tilts toward the high-performance end of the spectrum, and for some sailors, it may be a handful. But there are options galore in the four respective versions, and other sailors will relish the competitive opportunities with a vessel that also provides more than reasonable accommodations for coastal forays. It may be the most versatile boat of the three.

In short, when buying any boat, it’s ideal to have choices. And if you’re in the market for a small multihull-no matter what your budget or intended plans-with this segment of midsize trimarans, there’s an excellent selection.

Herb McCormick is a Cruising World editor at large.

LOA 27′ 6″ (8.38 m.) LWL 26′ 3″ (8.00 m.) Beam (amas out/in) 18′ 0″/8′ 6″ (5.49/2.59 m.) Draft (board up/down) 1′ 0″/4′ 3″ (0.30/1.30 m.) Sail Area (100%) 524 sq. ft. (48.7 sq. m.) Displacement 3,000 lb. (1,361 kg.) Water 30 gal. (113.5 l.) Fuel 12 gal. (45.4 l.) Engine Honda 20-hp. outboard (Honda 50-hp. optional) Designer Tony Smith Price $89,500 Performance Cruising (410) 626-2720 www.performancecruising.com

Dragonfly 35 Touring

LOA 35′ 0″ (10.68 m.) LWL 34′ 5″ (10.50 m.) Beam (amas out/in) 26′ 11″/12′ 10″ (8.20/3.90 m.) Draft (board up/down) 1′ 10″/6′ 3″ (0.55/1.90 m.) Sail Area 904 sq. ft. (84 sq. m.) Displacement 8,598 lb. (3,900 kg.) Water 37 gal. (140 l.) Fuel 21.1 gal. (80 l.) Engine Volvo 30-hp. diesel Designers Borge and Jens Quorning Price $370,600/$404,700 Dragonfly Sailboats USA (908) 232-7890 www.trimarans.com

LOA 30′ 10″ (9.40 m.) LWL 30′ 0″ (9.15 m) Beam (amas out/in) 22′ 5″/8′ 2″ (6.84/2.5 m.) Draft (board up/down) 1′ 4″/5′ 6″ (0.41/1.68 m.) Sail Area (100%) 647 sq. ft. (59.9 sq. m.) Displacement 3,850 lb. (1,747 kg.) Water 25 gal. (94 l.) Engine 9.9-hp. outboard Designer Ian Farrier/Corsair Marine Price $151,000

Corsair Marine (619) 585-3005 www.corsairmarine.com

More: 2001 - 2010 , 21 - 30 ft , 31 - 40 ft , Boat Gallery , Coastal Cruising , corsair marine , day sailing , dragonfly , multihull , racer / cruiser , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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Are you really considering buying or building a small trimaran?

The first one was called Small Trimarans and then More Small Trimarans followed later. They both include some interesting interviews, some with well known and reputable designers.

But as interesting a read as they are, they were missing the technical data, critical reviews and comparisons between the small trimarans under discussion. So when editor Joe suggested I might just be the most independent person qualified to do this, I decided to take on the task.

The result is a 22‑page Technical Report that not only compares many of the tris in Joe's books, but looks at the data for many more—a total of 20 in fact, all between 19' and 25' in length. Twelve (12) of these are reported on with a critical look at what they might offer YOU the potential buyer—all in numerous pages of text with color photos.

I also included two useful charts showing average building times and cost for tris of different lengths as well as a 2‑page spreadsheet with LOADS of data about each boat—things that will keep you busy for hours!

Although this had to be a somewhat personal look, I do bring 60+ years of sailing experience to it, as well as a lot of past boat building and designing as a qualified naval architect and engineer. I invite you to check some of the articles on this site to get a feel for whether you think I can help you or not. But just to make SURE I was on the right track with this, I first sent it out to five of the most reputable small multihull designers in the world who with just one exception, were not directly involved with the Small Trimaran boats—so could say what they wanted, quite independently.

So here below, also with a sample of the report, is what they wrote back to me, and I hope this will remove any doubt in your mind that the report is indeed worth reading.

My report is available at $9.00, complete with graphs and spreadsheets. On payment, you will receive the report by email, usually within 24 hours. It comes in PDF format, so that you can print out at home in full color. As one reviewer already remarked, this is about as close as one is likely to get to an independent consumer report on small tris!!

The 20 Small Trimarans included in this Report are the A21, Cardiff 21, Corsair Sprint, Day Tri 20, Discovery 20, Farrier F22, K24T, Hughes KH‑23 & KH‑24, Kolibri 23, Leneman L7, Magnum 21 & 21S, Ostlind Z65, Scarab 22 & 670, Spitfire 20, Tremolino, Trinado, and the Warren 23.

Here is what some very well-known designers had to say about this report:

10 Best Small Sailboats (Under 20 Feet)

Best Small Sailboats Under 20 Feet | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Compact, easy to trailer, simple to rig, easy to maintain and manage, and affordable, the best small boats all have one thing in common: they offer loads of fun while out there on the water.

So whether you're on a budget or just looking for something that can offer ultimate daytime rides without compromising on safety, aesthetic sensibilities, alternate propulsion, and speed, the best small sailboats under 20 feet should be the only way to go.

Let's be brutally honest here; not everyone needs a 30-foot sailboat to go sailing. They come with lots of features such as electronics, entertainment, refrigeration, bunks, a galley, and even a head. But do you really need all these features to go sailing? We don't think so.

All you need to go sailing is a hull, a mast, rudder, and, of course, a sail. And whether you refer to them as daysailers, trailerable sailboats , a weekender sailboat, or pocket cruisers, there's no better way to enjoy the thrills of coastal sailing than on small sailboats.

There are a wide range of small boats measuring less than 20 feet available in the market. These are hot products in the market given that they offer immense thrills out on the sea without the commitment required to cruise on a 30-footer. A small sailboat will not only give you the feel of every breeze but will also give you the chance to instantly sense every change in trim.

In this article, we'll highlight 10 best small sailboats under 20 feet . Most models in this list are time-tested, easy to rig, simple to sail, extremely fun, and perfect either for solo sailing or for sailing with friends and family. So if you've been looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats , you've come to the right place.

So without further ado, let's roll on.

Table of contents

The Marlow-Hunter 15 is not only easy to own since it's one of the most affordable small sailboats but also lots of fun to sail. This is a safe and versatile sailboat for everyone. Whether you're sailing with your family or as a greenhorn, you'll love the Hunter 15 thanks to its raised boom, high freeboard, and sturdy FRP construction.

With high sides, a comfortable wide beam, a contoured self-bailing cockpit, and fiberglass construction, the Hunter 15 is certainly designed with the novice sailor in mind. This is why you can do a lot with this boat without falling out, breaking it, or capsizing. Its contoured self-baiting cockpit will enable you to find a fast exit while its wide beam will keep it steady and stable no matter what jibes or weight shifts happen along the way.

This is a small sailboat that can hold up to four people. It's designed to give you a confident feeling and peace of mind even when sailing with kids. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and easy to launch. With a price tag of about $10k, the Hunter 15 is a fun, affordable, and versatile boat that is perfect for both seasoned sailors and novices. It's a low-maintenance sailboat that can be great for teaching kids a thing or two about sailing.

Catalina 16.5

Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker. Designed with a hand-laminated fiberglass sloop, the Catalina 16.5 is versatile and is available in two designs: the centerboard model and the keel model.

The centerboard model is designed with a powerful sailplane that remains balanced as a result of the fiberglass centerboard, the stable hull form, and the rudder. It also comes with a tiller extension, adjustable hiking straps, and adjustable overhaul. It's important to note that these are standard equipment in the two models.

As far as the keel model is concerned, this is designed with a high aspect keel as the cast lead and is attached with stainless steel keel bolts, which makes this model perfect for mooring or docking whenever it's not in use. In essence, the centerboard model is perfect if you'll store it in a trailer while the keel model can remain at the dock.

All in all, the Catalina 16.5 is one of the best small sailboats that you can get your hands on for as low as $10,000. This is certainly a great example of exactly what a daysailer should be.

There's no list of small, trailerable, and fun sailboats that can be complete without the inclusion of the classic Hobie 16. This is a durable design that has been around and diligently graced various waters across the globe since its debut way back in 1969 in Southern California. In addition to being durable, the Hobie 16 is trailerable, great for speed, weighs only 320 pounds, great for four people, and more importantly, offers absolute fun.

With a remarkable figure of over 100,000 launched since its debut, it's easy to see that the Hobie 16 is highly popular. Part of this popularity comes from its asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam sandwiched hulls that include kick-up rudders. This is a great feature that allows it to sail up to the beach.

For about $12,000, the Hobie 16 will provide you with endless fun throughout the summer. It's equipped with a spinnaker, trailer, and douse kit. This is a high-speed sailboat that has a large trampoline to offer lots of space not just for your feet but also to hand off the double trapezes.

Montgomery 17

Popularly known as the M-17, The Montgomery 17 was designed by Lyle C. Hess in conjunction with Jerry Montgomery in Ontario, California for Montgomery Boats. Designed either with keel or centerboard models, the M-17 is more stable than most boats of her size. This boat is small enough to be trailered but also capable of doing moderate offshore passages.

This small sailboat is designed with a masthead and toe rail that can fit most foresails. It also has enough space for two thanks to its cuddly cabin, which offers a sitting headroom, a portable toilet, a pair of bunks, a DC power, and optional shore, and a proper amount of storage. That's not all; you can easily raise the deck-stepped mast using a four-part tackle.

In terms of performance, the M-17 is one of the giant-killers out there. This is a small sailboat that will excel in the extremes and make its way past larger boats such as the Catalina 22. It glides along beautifully and is a dog in light air, though it won't sail against a 25-knot wind, which can be frustrating. Other than that, the Montgomery 17 is a great small sailboat that can be yours for about $14,000.

Norseboat 17.5

As a versatile daysailer, Norseboat 17.5 follows a simple concept of seaworthiness and high-performance. This small sailboat perfectly combines both contemporary construction and traditional aesthetics. Imagine a sailboat that calls itself the "Swiss Army Knife of Boats!" Well, this is a boat that can sail and row equally well.

Whether you're stepping down from a larger cruiser or stepping up from a sea kayak, the unique Norseboat 17.5 is balanced, attractive, and salty. It has curvaceous wishbone gaff, it is saucy, and has a stubby bow-sprit that makes it attractive to the eyes. In addition to her beauty, the Norseboat 17.5 offers an energy-pinching challenge, is self-sufficient, and offers more than what you're used to.

This is a small, lightweight, low-maintenance sailboat that offers a ticket to both sailing and rowing adventures all at the same time. At about 400 pounds, it's very portable and highly convenient. Its mainsails may look small but you'll be surprised at how the boat is responsive to it. With a $12,500 price tag, this is a good small sailboat that offers you the versatility to either row or sail.

If you've been looking for a pocket cruiser that inspires confidence, especially in shoal water, look no further than the Sage 17. Designed by Jerry Montgomery in 2009, the Sage 17 is stable and should heel to 10 degrees while stiffening up. And because you want to feel secure while sailing, stability is an integral feature of the Sage 17.

This is a sailboat that will remain solid and stable no matter which part of the boat you stand on. Its cabin roof and the balsa-cored carbon-fiber deck are so strong that the mast doesn't require any form of compression post. The self-draining cockpit is long enough and capable of sleeping at 6 feet 6 inches.

The Sage 17 may be expensive at $25k but is a true sea warrior that's worth look at. This is a boat that will not only serve you right but will also turn heads at the marina.

Having been chosen as the overall boat of the year for 2008 by the Sailing World Magazine, the Laser SB3 is one of the coolest boats you'll ever encounter. When sailing upwind, this boat will lock into the groove while its absolute simplicity is legendary. In terms of downwind sailing, having this boat will be a dream come true while it remains incredibly stable even at extraordinary speed.

Since its debut in 2004, the Laser SB3 has surged in terms of popularity thanks to the fact that it's designed to put all the controls at your fingertips. In addition to a lightweight mast, its T- bulb keel can be hauled and launched painlessly. For about $18,000, the Laser SB3 ushers you into the world of sports sailing and what it feels to own and use a sports boat.

As a manufacturer, Fareast is a Chinese boat manufacturer that has been around for less than two decades. But even with that, the Fareast 18 remains a very capable cruiser-racer that will take your sailing to the next level. In addition to its good looks, this boat comes with a retractable keel with ballast bulb, a powerful rig, and an enclosed cabin.

Its narrow design with a closed stern may be rare in sailboats of this size, but that's not a problem for the Fareast 18. This design not only emphasizes speed but also makes it a lot easier to maintain this boat. Perfect for about 6 people, this boat punches above its weight. It's, however, designed to be rigged and launched by one person.

This is a relatively affordable boat. It's agile, safe, well-thought-out, well built, and very sporty.

If you're in the market looking for a small sailboat that offers contemporary performance with classic beauty, the Paine 14 should be your ideal option. Named after its famous designer, Chuck Paine, this boat is intentionally designed after the classic Herreshoff 12.5 both in terms of dimensions and features.

This is a lightweight design that brings forth modern fin keel and spade rudder, which makes it agile, stable, and faster. The Paine 14 is built using cold-molded wood or west epoxy. It has varnished gunnels and transoms to give it an old-time charm. To make it somehow modern, this boat is designed with a carbon mast and a modern way to attach sails so that it's ready to sail in minutes.

You can rest easy knowing that the Paine 14 will not only serve you well but will turn heads while out there.

Many sailors will attest that their first sailing outing was in a Lido 14. This is a classic sailboat that has been around for over four decades and still proves to be a perfect match to modern small boats, especially for those still learning the ropes of sailing.

With seating for six people, the Lido 14 can be perfect for solo sailing , single-handed sailing, or if you're planning for shorthanded sailing. While new Lido 14 boats are no longer available, go for a functional used Lido 14 and you'll never regret this decision. It will serve you well and your kids will probably fall in love with sailing if Lido 14 becomes their main vessel during weekends or long summer holidays.

Bottom Line

There you have it; these are some of the best small sailboats you can go for. While there are endless small sailboats in the market, the above-described sailboat will serve you right and make you enjoy the wind.

Choose the perfect sailboat, invest in it, and go out there and have some good fun!

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ).

Hull Type: Long fin keel
Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
Designer:Per Brohall
Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
Year First Built:1965
Year Last Built:1979
Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

Hull Type: Full Keel
Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
Displacement/Length Ratio:49
Designer: Carl Alberg
Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
Year First Built:1974
Year Last Built:1988
Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
Designer:Michael Dufour
Builder:Dufour (France)
Year First Built:1975
Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
Rig Type: Cutter rig
Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
Designer: Robert B Harris
Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
Year First Built:1986
Last Year Built: 2007
Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
Designer: Herb David
Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Best small cruising trimaran revealed

Oct 22, 2020

less than a min

A trimaran is a boat categorized as a multihull. What it means is that this particular vessel is composed of three hulls that aid the boat during sailing but also provide interior spaces for the crew and guests to enjoy.

Trimarans are very popular in the sailboat market. They are mainly appreciated for their speed but also for their cruising character that can address families’ interests as well. Trimarans allow for leveled sailing, ample deck space, stability, comfort, shallow draft, and most importantly the good old family fun time.

A small cruising trimaran is probably one of the most popular boats nowadays as it provides an affordable but also an interesting way how to spend your free time and enjoy what nature has to offer. Let’s get to the gist of it then. Which is the best small trimaran nowadays?

Most popular small cruising trimaran

The best small cruising trimaran so far remains the F22 . The F22 Trimaran is designed by Ian Farrier and built by Farrier Marine company. It features a swan design and can be purchased in two versions, racing or cruiser form. This is a small trimaran that includes many interesting features within a compact space. It has a slightly offset centerboard trunk that allows for an ample interior.

In addition, it has an ama folding system. This is an advantageous feature as it allows the ama beam strength to remain to a maximum while the interior is free from any structural support structure for the beam. Fly spray is also reduced due to the folding struts being carried higher than before in case of deployment. This feature allows the F22 trimaran to have a greater performance under sail.

This small cruising trimaran comes in two versions, either with a carbon mast or an aluminum one. In addition, it is equipped with a boomless mainsail furling rig which makes sail handling easier. Most importantly, sailing efficiency is not sacrificed in any case.

What makes this boat the best small cruising trimaran is the fact that it can be used as a cruiser due to its interior. The galley has a two-burner Origo stove, a small sink, and a stow for sailing. In addition, the companionway has a pop-top that increases the headroom. Moreover, the F22 is equipped with a small chemical toilet that is quite private due to a roll-up screen and bulkhead that can be folded. All in all, the F22 contains 4 berths and can be used by families as well.

Compare the best small trimaran with other multihulls

You can learn more about the F22 trimaran on TheBoatDB . TheBoatDB provides an organized platform that anyone can use for free with a no time limitation account or what we like to call a “Forever free account”.

You can compare the F22 to other trimarans or even catamarans and single-hull boats and see for yourself whether this boat is up to the challenge for you. In addition, you can shortlist this trimaran or select a few different boats for future references. All in all, you will get your boating life on one platform as we like to say!

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How to sail a trimaran: Expert advice for sailing with three hulls

Theo Stocker
February 13, 2024

For their size, trimarans can punch well above their weight in speed, cruising potential and fun. Monohull sailor Theo Stocker gets to grips with how to handle one

Humans tend to gravitate into tribes of like-minded enthusiasts, enjoying the encouragement, support and sense of identity, while often looking askance at others; sailors at motorboaters, cruising sailors at racers, monohull sailors at raft, I mean, multihull sailors, and everyone looks askance at jet-skiers.

Large cruising catamarans (40ft now counts as a small one) are a world apart from monohull sailing, but there’s a sub-tribe of sailors dedicated to life on three hulls and builders such as Dragonfly, Corsair, Farrier, and Astus give them plenty of choice.

I’ve been sailing a 22ft (7m) Astus 22.5 this season, with just enough space for a family of four and a minimum of creature comforts. Thanks to her VPLP-designed hulls and 650kg all-up weight, we can sail upwind at 7-plus knots and downwind at over 10 knots with ease, all on a roughly even keel, while the kids play Duplo down below. It can also be beached and is towable behind a car.

Having, it seems, caught the trimaran bug, I wanted to get better at sailing and handling the boat, but my monohull sailing experience and habits were proving something of a hindrance, so we sought advice from some existing trimaran owners, and well as the UK’s top multihull sailors.

Much of the advice will apply to all multihulls , whether two or three-hulled, while other parts are just for small trimarans. I also found that brushing-up some of my rusty dinghy sailing skills helped get my head around what we were trying to do.

To try out our expert tips we went out sailing to see what difference they made. On the day, we got a solid Force 4-5 southwesterly, averaging 16 knots, but fluctuating between 12 and 20 knots true.

Blasting about on a sporty trimaran is a whole world of fun, but is much calmer than it looks

Trimaran sail trim

One of the biggest differences between a cruising monohull and a multihull is how the mainsail is trimmed. Leech tension on a yacht is often largely controlled by the kicker and the backstay, while the mainsheet sheets the mainsail in and out, predominantly controlling the angle of the boom to the centreline, and there may be a short traveller.

On a mulithull, however, there’s more than enough space for a good, wide traveller. Those who sail on performance monohulls will also be used to this. The sail shape is mainly controlled by the mainsheet, and the traveller then moves the boom towards or away from the centreline.

This is exaggerated on a multihull which has wide shrouds, swept well aft with no backstay, making space for a powerful square-top mainsail with full-length battens. There’s no backstay to bend the mast and flatten what is anyway a pretty rigid mainsail.

The mainsheet purchase creates enough power to control the leech of the square-top mainsail

Depowering a trimaran

Sailing on a monohull, heel and weatherhelm and eventually a broach give loads of warning that you’re pushing too hard. With straight hulls and little heel, those warning signs don’t really apply to multihulls.

In reality, however, there are a host of warning signals that it’s time to back-off; they’re just a bit different. Even then, there’s still a large safety margin before you get close to danger.

By way of reassurance, with the boat powered up on a beat, Hein, from Boats on Wheels, the boat’s owner, stood on the leeward hull and lent on the shrouds. Even as his feet got wet and the wind gusted at the top of Force 4, the boat didn’t bat an eyelid, thanks to the huge buoyancy of the floats.

Even with a person on the leeward float the boat was extremely stable

On the water – sail trim

My first inclination was to point the boat as high upwind as possible, pin the sails in and go for height. Doing that resulted in a not-terrible boat speed of 5-6 knots and a good pointing angle.

Free off by a handful of degrees however, and ease the sails just a smidge, and the speed leapt up to 8-9 knots – over 50% more; a huge increase. So, don’t pinch. If you had a decent chartplotter on board, you could find your optimum speed to angle using velocity made good (VMG).

I was also tempted to pinch in the gusts, but it’s better to hold your course and let the speed increase until the main needs easing.

On the wind, it’s time to get the boat fully powered up

If that’s the case, drop the main down the traveller an inch or two or ease some twist into the mainsail and it makes all the difference in the world, but not so far that the top battens fall away and invert – that really isn’t fast. Push too hard and the boat will slow down, largely from the drag of submerging the leeward float and crossbeams. If you’re still overpowered and the main is luffing, it’s time to reef. Downwind is different, but we’ll get onto that later.

After we put a reef in the main, our boat speeds upwind remained largely the same, and the boat was much happier. I came away feeling reassured that even a little trimaran like this would be pretty difficult to capsize, and there were always plenty of warning signs telling me to take my foot off the pedal a little.

Article continues below…

Catamaran sailing skills: Mooring and anchoring a multihull

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Monohull or multihull: which is best for blue water?

As former editor of Yachting World, David Glenn has plenty of experience of both monohull and multihull cruising. Here he…

Tacking and gybing a trimaran

Everyone knows that multihulls don’t tack as well as monohulls. Straight hulls and wide beam don’t lend themselves to turning, especially when coupled with the displacement and fixed keels of big cats. Trimarans are a little easier, with a single central daggerboard to act as a pivot, and one or other of the floats will generally be clear of the water. On the downside, light displacement means that there isn’t much momentum to keep you going through the turn and plenty of windage to stop you.

On a trimaran the central daggerboard helps the boat to turn by providing a central pivot point that catamarans lack

Speed is your friend. Build speed up before the tack to give you as much momentum as possible. The helm needs to steer positively into and through the turn, and if necessary, keep the jib backed on the new windward side to help the bow through the wind. Don’t worry about scrubbing speed off, but you don’t want to get stuck in irons.

When it comes to gybing, speed is again key. The turning bit isn’t going to be an issue as you’ll be scooting along, but the faster you’re going, the less load there will be on the sails. The more you slow down, the more the true wind will pile up.

Trimaran sailing skills

Tacks took a bit of practice. It felt plain wrong to jab the tiller across the boat, slamming a big break on in the water but I ended up putting us through the tacks far too slowly, losing a lot of speed. A more aggressive approach worked better. On the Astus, the traveller was between me and the tiller, so the tiller extension needed to be swung around the stern behind the mainsheet onto the new side.

Similarly, old habits of controlling a gybe needed to be modified. With the asymmetric set, we were planing at well over 10 knots, and the ideal is to stay on the plane. Heading dead downwind and centring the main lead to a more violent manoeuvre than flying into the gybe as fast as possible and, as the boom was never that far out thanks to the apparent wind angle, it didn’t need much extra controlling.

Coming up onto the wind after the gybe helped the asymmetric around the front of the jib and to fill on the new side. Stay too deep and it’ll get blanketed by the main. Once we had built up some apparent wind, we could bear away again.

You’ll be on a course deep downwind before you know it, hitting speeds in the double digits

Downwind in a trimaran

Upwind cruising may be fun in a multihull, but bearing away and going with the wind is what it’s all about. Easily-driven hulls, a generous sailplan and light weight mean you can be up and planing, leaving displacement boats wallowing in your wake.

The big difference comes from apparent wind. If you’re in a boat that can do 15 knots downwind in 20 knots of true wind, the resulting wind angles can really mess with your head.

To get going then, says Brian Thompson, ‘Use those leech tell-tales again when sailing downwind and reaching to set the correct twist through the mainsheet, and use the traveller to set the correct angle of the whole sail to the wind.’

As the wind and your speed builds, bear away and trim the main accordingly.

In theory, you shouldn’t need to ease the traveller at all, but you may need to if you want to sail deep downwind. As the gust fades, you’ll find the boat slows down, so you can come back up towards the wind a little to pick up some more breeze, and then bear away as you accelerate again.

Bear away as the boat accelerates. Your course will be something of a slalom as you look to keep a consistent wind angle

This results in something of a ‘slalom’ course, and will also be accentuated if you’re sailing down waves, but that’s all quite normal for apparent wind sailing. Ultimately, you’re looking for a consistent apparent wind angle, even if the resulting wake isn’t straight.

It’s worth remembering that apparent wind reduces the felt effect of the wind, so you need a sailplan to suit the true, not apparent wind speed.

I found that the boat was more sensitive to having a balanced sailplan and trim downwind than upwind, largely because you’ve got almost double the canvas up, with the bowsprit as an extra lever. When weather helm built, I needed to ease the mainsheet to increase twist to depower so that I could bear away. I must admit, getting the boat balanced, sailing fast and light on the helm at 15 knots was something I came away feeling I needed more practice at.

Reviewing the images, I suspect the asymmetric was sheeted in too hard, with too much twist in the main.

Getting a float fully submerged is when it’s time to back off

On the water

Unfurling the gennaker worked best on a beam reach, giving plenty of airflow over the sail to help it fully unfurl. This was also roughly the fastest point of sail, ideal for getting up some speed for apparent wind sailing. We mostly had the sails set for a close reach, even when we were beyond 120º off the true wind on a broad reach.

It was possible to soak deeper downwind, but lose the apparent wind benefit downwind and our speed dropped off dramatically, prompting us to point a bit higher to find some more speed.

As the boat powered up, it paid to hold a slightly higher angle than I would have done in a monohull for the boat to properly take off and get up into double digit speeds – topping out at 15 knots. Lymington to Cowes would have taken us just half an hour at that speed. It’s easy to give yourself a heck of a beat back!

We were sailing on a pretty flat day, so didn’t have to contend with any waves to speak of. On the recent RTI this is what caused the capsizes of at least two multis, a sobering reminder that you need to sail much more conservatively in lumpier conditions.

The bows want to point downwind, so a stern-first approach works with rather than against the boat

Coming alongside

A 650kg boat with no draught and plenty of windage feels dreadfully skittish when manoeuvring in confined spaces. Straight hulls with no forgiving curves and fragile-looking sharp bows make berthing tricky. You’ve got a couple of advantages on your side, however. In the Astus, the floats are at pontoon height making stepping off easy.

Whether you have an engine in each hull of a cat, or one in the central hull of a tri, there’s also a lot more leverage to play with to turn the boat and drive her on or off the pontoon. A steerable outboard gives you even more options.

If the boat has a lifting keel or daggerboards, put them down if there’s enough depth to give you a pivot and to resist drifting. Think about getting corners onto the pontoon, rather than putting the boat alongside. On tris, you won’t be able to get to the bow to fend off as it’s too narrow. You can rig a fender up forwards on a line, and two fenders are enough on the flat sides.

Steering with the outboard towards the pontoon will drive the stern in more; steer away to drive the bow in more

Offshore wind

Coming onto the pontoon with wind blowing off, it worked well coming in stern first. If there’s a tide running, you’ll want to be heading into the tide, so find a spot down wind and down tide to start your approach so you come in at an angle.

On our first attempt we had a bit of tide under us to start with so we came in at a much steeper angle, almost 90º, although this worked out OK in the end.

The crew could then step ashore, taking a line from the stern quarter round a cleat.

Drive forwards against the line and the bow will obediently drive up towards the pontoon, bringing you flat alongside. Getting off was simple, releasing the bowline, and allowing the bow to swing out the before slipping the stern line.

Coming in astern and stopping upwind of the berth meant the bows blew towards the pontoon far to quickly

Onshore wind

Getting onto and off a pontoon with onshore wind proved rather trickier. On our first attempt we came in stern first. The issue was that once we were just upwind of our desired berth and stopped, we lost steerage and the bow immediately blew off with alarming speed towards the pontoon.

Going ahead would only increase the force of the impact, while going astern only increased the bow’s sideways drift. I managed to back out without smashing the bow, but only just, and ended up awkwardly stern to the wind with the bows pointing at the pontoon.

On our second attempt we came in bows first but having aimed at the berth, I had to motor the stern to leeward to stop the bow hitting, making for a rather forceful coming alongside.

On take three, I came in forwards and began ferry gliding towards the berth early, keeping the bows to windward of the stern. Being able to steer with the outboard meant I could go ahead to keep the bow up, and go astern with the engine pulling the stern down toward the pontoon. In this way, it was possible to come in pretty well controlled and parallel to the berth.

To get out, motoring astern against a bow line pulled the entire boat clear before slipping the line

Leaving was a different proposition all together, as I didn’t want to drag the bow along the pontoon, or to drive hard onto it to spring off. Instead, we rigged a slip-line from the forward cross beam. Going astern against this, and then turning the engine towards the wind, I could pull the stern, and the rest of the boat, out and away from the pontoon.

Keeping power on astern, once we’d reached a decent angle, we slipped the line and went astern, finding steerage way almost at once, with the bow following obediently in our wake with more control than I had anticipated.

Whether the wind is blowing onto, or off the pontoon, you want the engine to be driving or pulling the boat off the pontoon with a line on the corner you are going away from. That way you avoid point-loading fine ends where it’s hard to fender.

You’ll want a bridle to reduce swinging, but keep the pick up lines on the bow as backup

Anchoring and mooring a trimaran

While mooring a catamaran is complicated by the lack of a central bow, things should be simpler on a trimaran, and they are, mostly. Picking up a mooring buoy from the main hull bow with a low freeboard and dropping the pick-up line onto a cleat is easier even than a monohull.

The bow may be narrow, but for any lines that pass through a ring on the buoy, you still need to take it back to the same cleat to avoid chafe. That should be it, but windage from the two extra bows and the lack of keel mean the boat can dance merrily around the mooring buoy in a breeze.

Rig the bridle so the buoy sits to one side to stabilise the boat

In practice, we found that a trimaran benefits from a mooring bridle in the same way that a catamaran does. It can’t be rigged from the floats’ bows, as there are no mooring cleats, so a line passed around the outboard ends of the forward beams gave a pretty good angle, again with long lines passed through the mooring and back to the same side. The main pick-up lines stay as a safety backup.

The other trick is to rig the bridle asymmetrically so that the buoy sits to one side or the other, just enough to not be dead head to wind, making it much more stable in the wind.

On the plus side, the lack of draught or keel means that you’ll nearly always be lying head to wind, so the cockpit remains nice and sheltered whatever the tide’s doing.

We ran out of time on the day to try anchoring, but rigging a bridle, effectively a long snubber to a point on the anchor chain in a similar way wouldn’t be tricky.

If you needed not to swing, or to behave more like deeper boats nearby, hanging a bucket over the stern can help, or there’s always anchoring with a kedge, either out ahead in a V, or in line astern.

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Any sailor will agree that the trimaran is the best platform for a sailing machine. No monhull or catamaran can equal the speed, upwind sailing ability and helming sensation of a well balanced trimaran. Trimarans are about 50% faster than catamarans and about 100% faster than equivalent length monohulls. Until Neel trimarans and Dragonfly trimarans entered the market, these high performance multihulls were considered exotic and small compared to catamarans. The Dragonfly and especially the Neel change this. They combine true high performance sailing, with safety, stability and space. And lets not forget to mention – they are unsinkable.

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COMMENTS

Report on Nine Small Folding Trimarans
SEACLIPPER 20 Well, Jim Brown (in partnership with John Marples) has been at it again and he's come up with something that could certainly interest those ready to go weekending in a small but tough and stable trimaran—a boat with enough heft to glance off a few underwater obstacles without much damage, as well as taming down the nervous excitement that a small light boat like the WETA offers ...
Small Trimaran Design
Small Trimarans Report. Back in 2010, sailor/naval architect Mike Waters published a 22-page report covering 20 small trimarans. It includes charts, graphs, photos, and critical objective reporting on many of them. Read more…. Review of nine Small Trimarans. Mike Waters' review of nine small folding trimarans 14-20 feet including six ...
16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For
This trimaran retails for $595,000, making it a cheaper option than the Rapido 60. 5. Dragonfly 40. The Dragonfly 40 measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length. It features high-comfort standards, making it one of the best trimarans in the market for taking your family for a cruise.
Sailboats
The new "Mini Trimaran" as it is being called (for now) is an evolution of our work in small multihulls over the years. It combines elements of the successful Expedition Sailing Canoe and the "kayak trimaran" named 'Spongebob' into a new vessel.Hull #1 was cut out as a CNC kit in July 2020 and is now in the process of going through sea trials.
6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing
The small size makes it more suitable for daysailing in good weather rather than multiday cruising, although more experienced sailors will of course push the limits of this boat. 6. WindRider 17. The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market.
Trimaran boats for sale
Trimaran sailing vessels for sale on YachtWorld are available for a variety of prices from $6,825 on the relatively moderate end all the way up to $3,068,731 for the most expensive yachts. Trimaran By Condition. Used Trimaran 85 listings . New Trimaran 46 listings . Manufacturer of trimaran.
Astus 20.5: Fast, fun and affordable trailable trimaran
If you want to sail from Poole to Weymouth for the weekend in a 20ft trailer-sailer, for example, it might take a while. This is where speedy trailable trimarans like the Astus 20.5 come in. When I sailed its predecessor, the 20.2, about 10 years ago, we regularly hit 15 knots on a reach without breaking sweat and maintained an easy 6.5 knots ...
The Complete List of Trimarans
The WindRider 17, an exhilarating ride perfect for families or camper sailors, has been known to reach speeds of up to 20mph. This easy day sailor goes from trailer to sailing in under 30 minutes and is sure to fit in perfectly with whatever adventures you have planned. At a glance: Models: WR 16, 17, Tango, Rave V.
Astus 20.5 Sailing Trimaran
The Astus 20.5, designed by legendary French design firm VPLP, is the most practical small trimaran on the market. This boat is capable of racing with larger boats, daysailing with the family and even camp sailing (coastal raiding)! The 20.5 is easy to rig, easy to dock; is essentially a beach tri with a cabin!
3 Small, Sporty Trimarans
3 Small, Sporty Trimarans. The experience provided by three hulls will be uniquely different aboard this trio of thoroughly modern trimarans, the Telstar 28, the Dragonfly 35, and the Corsair 31. A boat review from our November 2008 issue. When it comes to cruising multihulls, the trimaran often plays second fiddle.
Tips on Sailing a Small Trimaran
Tips on Sailing a Small Trimaran Part 1 Adjusting & Setting sails + Boat trim . Builders of the W17 will one day appreciate to know how to sail their boat to advantage, so after spending a few seasons putting over 1200 nautical miles on my own W17R, here is what I can share. Even if one might claim I'm biased, I can honestly report that 'Magic' is one of the most satisfying boats I've ...
Technical Report on 20 Small Trimarans
The 20 Small Trimarans included in this Report are the A21, Cardiff 21, Corsair Sprint, Day Tri 20, Discovery 20, Farrier F22, K24T, Hughes KH‑23 & KH‑24, Kolibri 23, Leneman L7, Magnum 21 & 21S, Ostlind Z65, Scarab 22 & 670, Spitfire 20, Tremolino, Trinado, and the Warren 23.
Small Sailboat Sizes: A Complete Guide
Small sailboats are generally under 20 feet in length, come in a variety of designs, and have different hulls. These include monohulls, catamarans, and trimarans. As long as they have a mast, rudder, sail, and are under 20 feet, it is considered a small sailboat. According to experienced sailors that use a smaller boat, it is best to have one ...
Dragonfly 25: Folding Trimaran for Small-boat Cruisers
Feb 2, 2016. This latest offering from Denmark's Quorning Boats, which won a nod from SAIL 's 2016 Best Boats judges as their Best Small Cruiser, is the smallest boat in the builder's current line of folding "Swing Wing" trimarans, which range all the way up to 40ft in length. Quorning, refreshingly, is something of a throwback as ...
10 Best Small Sailboats (Under 20 Feet)
Catalina 16.5. jlodrummer. Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker.
5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world
Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk. A sensible small boat with a "go-anywhere" attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package. Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder.
Best small cruising trimaran revealed
What makes this boat the best small cruising trimaran is the fact that it can be used as a cruiser due to its interior. The galley has a two-burner Origo stove, a small sink, and a stow for sailing. In addition, the companionway has a pop-top that increases the headroom. Moreover, the F22 is equipped with a small chemical toilet that is quite ...
SeaRail-19
The SeaRail-19 out playing in light air. Weighing in at only 700 pounds fully laden the SR-19 turns those under 10 knot Summer days into pure EXCITEMENT. The SeaRail remains the highest performance least expensive small trailer trimaran on the market today. A complete package (Base Boat, Main, R/F Jib, Spinnaker, and Trailer) list for $31,500. ...
How to sail a trimaran: Expert advice for sailing with three hulls
Large cruising catamarans (40ft now counts as a small one) are a world apart from monohull sailing, but there's a sub-tribe of sailors dedicated to life on three hulls and builders such as Dragonfly, Corsair, Farrier, and Astus give them plenty of choice. I've been sailing a 22ft (7m) Astus 22.5 this season, with just enough space for a ...
Trimaran boats for sale
Trimaran. Ideal for overnight cruising and day sailing these Trimaran boats vary in length from 14ft to 72ft and can carry 4 to 15 passengers. There are a wide range of Trimaran boats for sale from popular brands like Corsair, Neel and Dragonfly with 43 new and 103 used and an average price of $224,500 with boats ranging from as little as $6,975 and $2,949,391.
Sailing Trimarans for Sale
LEEN 72 Nr.2 Available Now. Living Aboard a Catamaran. NEEL 52 trimaran. 5 Highlights of the McConaghy 75. As the largest multihull dealership in the world, Aeroyacht offers fast 24hr competitive quotes on new and pre-owned Trimarans. Call 631-246-6448.
Top 5 Small Sailing Dinghies and Trimarans Over $5K 2022-2023
Are you a fan of small sailboats? In this video, we're sharing our top picks for some of the best small sailing dinghies and trimarans that you can buy for o...
Trimaran Sailboats for sale
These sailboats have a minimum total sail area of 717 square feet, a maximum total sail area of 2,077 square feet and an average of 1,012 square feet. Boat Trader currently has 13 trimaran sailboats for sale, including 2 new vessels and 11 used and custom yachts listed by both private sellers and professional dealerships mainly in United States.