saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:27:46 -0400, "mmc" wrote:

saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.

Wish I'd seen that. I'm thinking more and more that I'd go for a tri
over a Mac 26. Have to get in shape though. There's another tri
that's a little slower than the Farriers but has other advantages.
Can't remember the brand now.
But unless I get off my ass and start exercising, it'll be a Carolina
Skiff. If I can get over the gunnels without too much huffing and
puffing.

--Vic

On Oct 24, 5:49*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:27:46 -0400, "mmc" wrote:
saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.

Wish I'd seen that. *I'm thinking more and more that I'd go for a tri
over a Mac 26. *Have to get in shape though. *There's another tri
that's a little slower than the Farriers but has other advantages.
Can't remember the brand now.
But unless I get off my ass and start exercising, it'll be a Carolina
Skiff. *If I can get over the gunnels without too much huffing and
puffing.

--Vic

There are Dragonfly trimarans that are supposed to be just a bit
slower than the Farriers. For just going fast, you might consider a
Windrider trimaran.

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:52:54 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

On Oct 24, 5:49Â*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:27:46 -0400, "mmc" wrote:
saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.

Wish I'd seen that. Â*I'm thinking more and more that I'd go for a tri
over a Mac 26. Â*Have to get in shape though. Â*There's another tri
that's a little slower than the Farriers but has other advantages.
Can't remember the brand now.
But unless I get off my ass and start exercising, it'll be a Carolina
Skiff. Â*If I can get over the gunnels without too much huffing and
puffing.

--Vic

There are Dragonfly trimarans that are supposed to be just a bit
slower than the Farriers. For just going fast, you might consider a
Windrider trimaran.

I'll have to check out the Dragonfly.
The one I couldn't remember is the Telstar 28.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxRc8...eature=related
I like it.

--Vic

On Oct 24, 6:52*pm, Frogwatch wrote:
On Oct 24, 5:49*pm, Vic Smith wrote:



On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:27:46 -0400, "mmc" wrote:
saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.

Wish I'd seen that. *I'm thinking more and more that I'd go for a tri
over a Mac 26. *Have to get in shape though. *There's another tri
that's a little slower than the Farriers but has other advantages.
Can't remember the brand now.
But unless I get off my ass and start exercising, it'll be a Carolina
Skiff. *If I can get over the gunnels without too much huffing and
puffing.

--Vic

There are Dragonfly trimarans that are supposed to be just a bit
slower than the Farriers. *For just going fast, you might consider a
Windrider trimaran.

Another consideration for trimarans is room below. An F27 has about
as much living space below as a Catalina 22 monohull. An F31 Farrier
has about much room as an Oday 25 below and my 28' S2 monohull has
much more room. However, the tris are trailerable and fast.
Before I built my Tolman Skiff, I was serious about building a 32' Tri
and considered both the Farrier and Kurt Hughes designs. Both have
kits to install the folding structure but Kurt Hughes seemed to
suggest what he called "demountable" amas. These do not fold but are
carried above the main hull on the trailer and are attached to the
support structure at the marina and it was supposed to be fairly easy
but i do not remember the drill.
One reason the trailer tris are so small inside is because they are
made to be less than 8' 6" wide for legal trailering. Both Hughes and
Farrier said their boats can be built wider (9' 8") giving much more
room but this would require a special oversize trailer permit. I
checked into this and you would have to buy such a permit for every
state you entered but it is good for a year in FL. The wider version
is not available as a production boat.

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:34:56 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:



Another consideration for trimarans is room below. An F27 has about
as much living space below as a Catalina 22 monohull. An F31 Farrier
has about much room as an Oday 25 below and my 28' S2 monohull has
much more room. However, the tris are trailerable and fast.
Before I built my Tolman Skiff, I was serious about building a 32' Tri
and considered both the Farrier and Kurt Hughes designs. Both have
kits to install the folding structure but Kurt Hughes seemed to
suggest what he called "demountable" amas. These do not fold but are
carried above the main hull on the trailer and are attached to the
support structure at the marina and it was supposed to be fairly easy
but i do not remember the drill.
One reason the trailer tris are so small inside is because they are
made to be less than 8' 6" wide for legal trailering. Both Hughes and
Farrier said their boats can be built wider (9' 8") giving much more
room but this would require a special oversize trailer permit. I
checked into this and you would have to buy such a permit for every
state you entered but it is good for a year in FL. The wider version
is not available as a production boat.

Good info. I know the tris are light on below deck space, but don't
plan to cruise much beyond a few days.
What I like about them is speed under sail, seakeeping ability, and
fishing platform.
If I end up on the gulf, going 20-30 miles offshore for grouper could
be more safely done in the tri than in an open boat.
And with a lot less gas!

--Vic

On 10/24/09 7:46 PM, Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:34:56 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:



Another consideration for trimarans is room below. An F27 has about
as much living space below as a Catalina 22 monohull. An F31 Farrier
has about much room as an Oday 25 below and my 28' S2 monohull has
much more room. However, the tris are trailerable and fast.
Before I built my Tolman Skiff, I was serious about building a 32' Tri
and considered both the Farrier and Kurt Hughes designs. Both have
kits to install the folding structure but Kurt Hughes seemed to
suggest what he called "demountable" amas. These do not fold but are
carried above the main hull on the trailer and are attached to the
support structure at the marina and it was supposed to be fairly easy
but i do not remember the drill.
One reason the trailer tris are so small inside is because they are
made to be less than 8' 6" wide for legal trailering. Both Hughes and
Farrier said their boats can be built wider (9' 8") giving much more
room but this would require a special oversize trailer permit. I
checked into this and you would have to buy such a permit for every
state you entered but it is good for a year in FL. The wider version
is not available as a production boat.

Good info. I know the tris are light on below deck space, but don't
plan to cruise much beyond a few days.
What I like about them is speed under sail, seakeeping ability, and
fishing platform.
If I end up on the gulf, going 20-30 miles offshore for grouper could
be more safely done in the tri than in an open boat.
And with a lot less gas!

--Vic


Uh...

I'd dispute that.

Decently powered monohulls properly designed for offshore use tend to go
where you point them, e.g., in a straight line towards shore if
necessary. Sailboats, all sailboats, are much more dependent upon the
vagaries of nature.

If I am going fishing 20-30 miles offshore and my choices were a 27'
deep vee or power cat, or a sailboat...well...I'd hop on the powerboat,
knowing my chances of outrunning an incoming storm were far greater with
a boat that can do 30 knots and head straight in.

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:27:46 -0400, "mmc" wrote:

saw one those folding trimarans this morning on the Indian River near the
192 causeway, think it was a F-27.
There was barely enough wind to ripple the water but those things are so
light the boat was making probably 4-5 kts. He (or she) was definitely going
faster than the wind speed on a reach.


Where we were fishing for bass was just south of Cocoa, up from Lake
Poinsett.