A trimaran is a sailing vessel that consists of one main hull and two outrigger hulls. The boat balances on these outrigger hulls and shifts between them when it is turning. While some trimarans are more than 90 feet in length, most of these boats are between 19 and 36 feet long. The following tips are for trimarans that are 36 feet or smaller.
Safety Tips
Make sure your trimaran has outriggers that are properly divided by sealed partitions. Your boat also should have a collision bulkhead as well as windshields that can protect the cockpit during a storm or rough seas. Your cockpit should have drains, because when you sail a trimaran, water is constantly entering both the cockpit and the entire top of the boat.
Mooring Tip
Trimarans are much lighter than other sailing vessels. As a result, you must be acutely aware of wind patterns when docking to prevent drifting and overshooting your dock. Use extra fenders to protect your boat from bumping against the dock. According to Small Trimaran Design, you should turn your engine off while mooring if you have fair weather and enough room; if conditions are choppy, you should use your motor.
Anchoring Tip
Rig a 7- to 10-pound anchor to the anchor line on your small trimaran. If you are in shallow water, all you need is several feet of chain and a nylon mooring line that is 3/8 inches thick. Although this 7- to 10-pound anchor is good for fair weather days, it should not be the only anchor on your boat. If you find yourself in heavier winds and choppy seas, use an anchor of 17 pounds or more. The additional weight will stabilize your trimaran and keep you safe in rougher seas.
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