Small Trimarans, including the Edel 22

Edel 22

Hobie Tandem Adventure Island

Mill Creek

Little Wing 15.5

WindRider

Because of my blog there are a number of people who email me telling of their experiences with small sailing boats. Some also seek advice or offer theirs. Now and again they refer to websites containing pertinent information. A few readers of the blog have become Cyberspace friends, and because of our shared boating interests we have met in person for further discussion.

A couple of days ago I was replying to an email on the subject of converting sailing dinghies into trimarans, and the thought occurred to me that readers of the blog may also be interested; therefore I’m reproducing a highly amended version here, along with added links to trimaran websites.

The Email

Dear …………..,

I had a look at the websites. (i.e., those suggested by the sender.)

A thing that concerns me about sailing my Pike skiff is the possibility of capsizing her. With my condition of Raynaud’s disease, capsizing could prove fatal, but it is a risk I take.

Converting her into a trimaran by adding cross-beams and amas would reduce the chances of her capsizing. In practice, fitting cross-beams and amas prior to launching, and removing them after afterwards, would take a fair amount of time. I would also have to transport them to and from the launching site. As it is, I find ‘Pike’ almost more than enough to launch, because she is nose-heavy on her launching trolley. For these reasons I have dismissed the idea of converting her into a trimaran.

As I see it, there are two advantages trimarans have over monohulls: 1 They are usually more stable, and 2, They are often faster.

Their disadvantages, especially if they are trailer-sailers, are: 1 Setting them up at the launching site - off or on the water. 2 Coming alongside and mooring to a pontoon or jetty is not easy. 3 Unless they have stable trampolines or decks, getting on or off when moored to a jetty or a pontoon can be problematical. 4 They are not as handy as monohulls for sailing between boats on moorings and when there are tight situations, such as marinas and narrow rivers or canals.

Trimarans are generally better kept on permanent moorings, and they come into their own when sailing on open water. They are speedy passage makers.

I’ve never owned one, but I wish I had.

When I was cruising the Bay of Biscay with my friend Bill, aboard his Eventide 26, I was invited to sail an Edel 22* trimaran. She was tremendously exciting, on account of her speed, but very tricky to manoeuvre in the marina - even when being propelled by her outboard. This was not just because of her wide beam, but because of wind drift.

Below, you’ll find a number of links to articles referring to the Edel 22 and other small trimarans.

Cheers,

Bill.

Links

*Edel 22 Trimaran as mentioned in Cruise of the ‘Ishani’, a 26’ Eventide - Part 11: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cruise-of-ishani-26-eventide-part-11.html 

Edel Tri 22 winds 25-30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqzAUopFPdg

Edel Tri 22: http://www.nauticaltrek.com/8388-edel

Edel Tri 22 for Sale in Murcia Spain for 13,200€ : http://www.inautia.com/used-boat-49605020140748675450676766494567.html

Edel Tri 22 for Sale for 15,000€ : http://www.nauticaguardamar.com/product.php?id_product=55&id_lang=1

Hobie Mirage Trimaran: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/hobie-mirage-tandem-trimaran.html

WindRider 16 Trimaran: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/windrider-16-trimaran.html

Hobie Island Adventure Trimaran: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/hobie-island-adventure-trimaran.html

CLC Mill Creek 6.5 Trimaran: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/clc-mill-creek-65-trimaran.html

Little Wing 15.5 Kayak Sailing Trimaran

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/little-wing-155-kayak-sailing-trimaran.html

Little Wing 15.5 Sail

http://www.warrenlightcraft.com/kayaksailboats.html 

Little Wing 15.5 Sail - The 68 lb. Kayak Trimaran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTYSleXDAgI 

DIY Tris

http://www.diy-tris.com/

Small Trimarans

http://smalltrimarans.com/blog/ 

Small Trimaran Design

http://www.smalltridesign.com/ 

Review of Nine Small Folding Trimarans

http://www.smalltridesign.com/Trimaran-Articles/review2.html 

Which Windrider is Right for You?

http://www.windrider.com/windrider-sailboat 

Trimarans Ahoy-Boats

http://www.ahoy-boats.co.uk/ 

F22 Sport Tri

http://www.f-boat.com/pages/trimarans/F-22.html 

Small Trimarans are Taking Off

http://www.windcheckmagazine.com/small_trimarans_are_taking_off 

Scarab 16 Folding Trimaran

http://www.teamscarab.com.au/scarab16/design.html 

Crusoe Modular 18ft Trimaran

http://www.gizmag.com/crusoe-modular-18ft-adventure-trimaran/15195/ 

Lunada Design Small Trimaran

http://lunadadesign.net/tag/small-trimarans/ 

Cruising Trimarans

http://www.widgetsailor.com/sbjournal/tri/index.html