| When I interviewed the founder and publisher of | | | | exactly how the designer of that boat laid things out. |
| Duckworks Magazine he shared some great tips for | | | | A small little change here or there can affect many |
| anyone who might consider building their own trimaran | | | | other things because the whole design is meant to |
| sailboat. This article is excerpted from our | | | | work together. Individual parts contribute to a whole |
| conversation. One of the subjects he covered was | | | | entity. So changing the dynamics of one little part may |
| what he thinks are the "biggest mistakes" new boat | | | | affect other parts in ways you never envisioned. |
| builders can make. | | | | -- The biggest mistake a new trimaran builder may be |
| After building close to 20 boats (probably about 1 per | | | | tempted to make is to "overbuild" their craft. They |
| year) for the last 18 years or so, this gentleman | | | | assume if the plans only call for a quarter inch thick |
| certainly knows something about this. And since he | | | | piece of plywood then it's okay to make things |
| helps others do the same thing each business day, it | | | | "sturdier" by substituting a half-inch instead. But doing |
| makes his advice all the more compelling. | | | | such a thing is extremely unwise. |
| -- He said the first mistake he often sees new | | | | Why? |
| boatbuilders make (and this would include someone | | | | A trimaran, especially a wooden one, can give you |
| who wants to build a trimaran) is not buying a good | | | | great performance when it's properly designed to be |
| set of plans in the first place. | | | | light in weight. If you overbuild the boat it'll become too |
| Trying to build a boat from scratch ... especially without | | | | heavy. It won't float along its designated lines, and then |
| any prior experience ... is not a good idea. | | | | it won't perform very well. |
| -- The second mistake a new trimaran sailboat builder | | | | Good boat designers generally create small trimarans |
| might make is changing a set of plans after they've | | | | to be light and fast. And this is how they should be. |
| gone ahead and purchased them. This isn't good | | | | Boats that are lighter and faster are simply more fun |
| because so many things about the sailboat need to be | | | | to sail for us small tri speed addicts. |