Quick, steady and a lot of fun under sail, a trimaran offers a different way to enjoy the wind.
What a trimaran is
A trimaran is a sailboat with a main central hull and two smaller outer hulls, called floats or amas, connected by beams or a deck. The main hull carries the living space, while the floats provide stability. Because the hulls are slender and the boat is light for its size, trimarans tend to sail quickly and stay fairly level.
Who it suits
Trimarans suit couples who love sailing and want a responsive boat, from day sailors and weekend cruisers to owners planning longer coastal trips.
Typical sizes and layouts
Smaller trimarans run from about 20 to 30 feet, and many of these fold their floats in to narrow the beam for trailering or a standard slip. Corsair and Dragonfly are well known for folding designs. Larger cruising trimarans, such as those from NEEL, run from the mid 40s to over 50 feet and put the living space on one level in the central hull.
Strengths and tradeoffs
Strengths: lively sailing performance, stability under sail, and shallow draft on many models with a centerboard or daggerboard.
Tradeoffs: a wide beam on non folding models can limit slip choices, interior space is smaller than a catamaran of the same length, and the selection on the used market is limited.
On Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast
Steady breezes on Tampa Bay and shallow water along the coast suit a trimaran well. Folding models can be trailered to new waters, and shallow draft designs reach anchorages that deeper keel boats skip.
How it compares
Compared with a monohull, a trimaran sails flatter and often faster, with less interior space in the main hull. Compared with a sailing catamaran, it usually feels more like a traditional sailboat at the helm, while the catamaran offers more living space across two hulls.
Buying tips
- Inspect the beams, folding mechanism and float connections closely.
- Review the rigging, sails and any centerboard or daggerboard systems.
- Confirm slip width, or trailer plans for a folding model.
- We highly recommend an independent survey on every deal.
Explore your options
If a trimaran fits your plans, we would love to help you compare options.
Selling your trimaran? Michael lists and markets boats like yours to qualified buyers across Florida and the USA.
Talk with Michael about a trimaran
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