| I like small trimarans of all kinds. This means | | | | trimarans that incorporate wood ... and this refers |
| trimarans that are available through commercial | | | | to some very nice older plans in the marketplace, |
| purchase or through self-built plans (assuming, of | | | | in addition to the newer ones. Whether you want |
| course, good plans are used). This also includes | | | | to go with a tiny boat, or a trailer-able one in the |
| trimarans made using GRP (glass-reinforced | | | | 20-something foot range, there are affordable |
| plastic) or wood/epoxy. | | | | plans offered by reputable designers readily |
| I'll be covering all types on my blog. | | | | available. |
| The allure of wood building, however, appeals to | | | | -- You can probably build a small wooden trimaran |
| many do-it-yourselfers because of the perception | | | | a whole lot easier, and in a lot less time, than a |
| that wooden-built boats are always going to be a | | | | fiberglass one. This one is probably the most |
| more inexpensive route to acquiring a tri sailboat | | | | appealing factor in favor of wood when |
| in the long run. This isn't necessarily the case | | | | comparing the different building approaches. |
| though. | | | | After considering fiberglass requirements for |
| Building costs are up nowadays. | | | | things such as lofting, molds, spray guns, etc., |
| Those who build fiberglass boats accurately point | | | | those wood boat building forums that teach Stitch |
| out the costs of marine-grade plywood, combined | | | | & Glue construction begin to look very, very |
| with the generally high cost of epoxy, can put | | | | appealing -- at least they do for me. (Boat builder |
| dollar amounts for building with wood on par with | | | | Sam Devlin provides an excellent S/G summary |
| fiberglass. Not only that, but when added time and | | | | on his website in case you're interested). |
| money are factored into the long-term equation | | | | If you've got a lot of experience building with |
| for maintenance costs, many home builders lean | | | | fiberglass already then this may not be the case |
| towards using fiberglass instead of wood. | | | | for you. But overall, I think this would probably |
| I understand where they're coming from. All of | | | | hold true for someone that has never build a boat |
| the facts need to be taken into account. But with | | | | before. |
| this in mind, I'm simply going to offer a few | | | | -- You can build cheaply with wood before building |
| reasons why I still like the idea of building small | | | | a more expensive, polished version with either |
| trimarans with wood. Here are 4 thoughts to | | | | expensive marine-grade plywood or fiberglass. |
| weigh in: | | | | You might be thinking, "Why do this?" But it may |
| -- If we were discussing "big" trimaran sailboats | | | | not be a bad idea. Why not do something like this |
| here then you might not be reading this article on | | | | ... especially for a small sailboat? |
| wooden boat building. It's not the wood per se, | | | | You can purchase some plans for a small trimaran |
| but the task of a "big boat" project is one I | | | | you're pretty sure you want at this point, and |
| probably wouldn't want to tackle by myself (and I | | | | then build a "cheaper" version of it using low-grade |
| have a lot of experience working with wood). | | | | woods and other materials so you can decide if |
| We're not discussing big trimarans though. We're | | | | you REALLY like it. What I'm talking about is |
| essentially talking about fast, little day boats that | | | | essentially building a full-scale model of a boat you |
| provide a lot of fun for single sailors, 2 partners, | | | | don't need to worry about making perfect. |
| or a small group. (The only exceptions are those | | | | You could build one that provides some sailing fun |
| "weekend" trimarans that include a small cabin in | | | | in order to test things out ... before shelling out |
| their design). | | | | more dollars for the highly-involved project. In |
| Even though a wooden boat requires more care | | | | addition, you can get some real-world boat building |
| than a fiberglass one in order to ensure its | | | | experience under your belt and become very |
| long-term health, the costs in either time or | | | | familiar with the boat you've imagined you really |
| money aren't going to be huge. A little effort and | | | | want in the process. |
| care can go a long way, especially if you properly | | | | One boat builder discussed this idea during a |
| store a home-built wooden small trimaran out of | | | | recent interview (currently featured as a |
| the rain and sun. | | | | download from our site). In my opinion, this |
| -- The design options for wood building are good. | | | | expert really put things into perspective when it |
| From the current crop of plans available out there | | | | comes to building boats with wood - including small |
| I see very nice design options for smaller | | | | trimaran sailboats. |