Multi hulls

There are two popular types of multi-hulls, the catamaran and the trimaran. The catamaran has two hulls and the trimaran has three hulls with the crew occupying the center hull. The outer hulls on a trimaran are called amas. Stability in a multi hull is provided by the width of the hulls and do not require the heavy keel of a keel boat. This factor makes the multi hull very light compared to a keelboat. Multi hulls are some of the fastest sailboats ever constructed due to the light weight and low wetted surface.  This trimaran weighed about 500 pounds and was clocked by GPS at 11.9 knots . I have no doubt that it had exceeded that speed, but no official speed  was recorded.

The Idea

As I approached retirement, I looked for a project to pursue. Sailing had been a long time love of mine, but the last sailboat had been sold years earlier because there was too little free time to sail it. I examined all types of boats and decided that the ideal boat for me would be a day sailer that was fast, stable and able to be sailed single handed. I had seen a trimaran day sailer on Chesapeake Bay some years earlier and I fell in love with the low, sleek appearance of it in the water. I searched for information on trimarans and found that the only way I could afford one was to build it myself. Over a period of years, I had accumulated woodworking equipment in anticipation of many leisure hours in my retirement years, so I already had the necessary tools. This, then, would be "The Project". The search for plans for "The Boat" was now begun.

The Plan

I finally settled on a plan from Norman Cross, the Cross 18. The eighteen foot tri is the smallest multi hull in the Cross catalog of designs. Most of Cross's designs are ocean cruisers, but the eighteen footer reminded me of the one that I had seen on Chesapeake Bay and it was the right size. The plans were ordered and received, I looked forward eight years ahead when I would actually be starting the construction.

Changed Plans

I spent many hours examining the plans and detailed instructions as well as photos that Cross had sent. I was curious as to how difficult cutting out one of the many frames would be. One spring day, I purchased some plywood and Douglas fir framing material and cut out a frame, I was hooked. The eight years ahead were discarded, I would start now!