Tornado catamaran tilt trailers could one be adapted to carry a 14' beam trimaran?

That KH trailer idea is a neat solution for "demountable" tris, as opposed to *fully folding* tris.

So it would be useful for tris that were so large they could not be kept to the min trailing width without demounting the amas.

But really only practical for those with a mooring that can be used during the 'season', otherwise the time wasted demounting and remounting (more than once) would be a PITA. Similar to what bruceb does in the US.

A folder is a better option, but width length ratio limited to around 30ft....although feasibly not with a 'wide vehicle permit' which in NSW are now much easier to obtain, and only require red/yellow flags at the four extremities and a flashing light and a 'wide load' sign at rear.

So an *overwidth* trailable folder might still be a more suitable option than demounting, especially for short duration trips such as from your home (boat storage) to the nearest boat ramp.

Damn sight easier to hang a few flags and a flashing light on the boat than to spend an hour or three demounting the amas every time you want to go sailing....

 

Buzz

What about strength? Poles that are not folding are stronger than those that fold for the same weight.

Would you combine the two? Folding and rigid (demountable) mounts?

What if the foldable width was still a wider 12 to 18 feet? You would maintain use of the floats when moored, without the highest mooring fees. Would you keep two rigid (demountable) mount points and 2 folding points?

 

Demountable akas would be able to be lighter than folding ones, but not much in it, I guess, judging by what Farrier and Kendrick offer.

And a folder system is, by its nature, also 'demountable'.

For a purely racing-orientated boat, slightly lighter demountable option might be preferable, provided you had a mooring you could keep it on (or a hardstand at a sailing club to haul out and leave 'mast up').

Otherwise, a folder is most appropriate for people without a lcoal hardstand (or who want to avoid the cost of that or mooring or marina) and because maintenance can be done at home, boat 'lives' out of the water when not in actual use etc etc.

When cruising, a folder makes more sense because you can tuck the amas in and pay only monohull rates in narrow marina berths, unlike fixed width cats or tris.

Most marina berths are too narrow for larger, wider tris, so they tend to get stuck on the outer side of the marina, usually in the more exposed and less comfortable position.

Most trimaran cruisers anchor out and dinghy ashore. Cheaper and you can move if the weather gets up to a less exposed position.

Horses for courses.....

 

Thanks!

 

For a small light boat like mine I don't think the demounting is too much of a chore it's 8 nuts to pull on and off and folding or not you still have to put the mast up on a trailerable.

 

True, but how long does it take you? And how much more likely would you be to go sailing if it takes less time to set up???

I'm guessing it takes you at least 15-20mins, at both ends of the trip. A folder might take a few seconds, and there are plenty of vids of Farrier boats being launched and motored out while unfolding, so no time is lost at all, really, with a folder.

And with yours, you have to remount them every time you want to go sailing, unless you leave the boat on a mooring or hardstand or marina, all of which have some negatives.

And a properly thought out and practised mast raise is not that tricky, really, and once practised is not too time-consuming, but as you say either way you have to do this, so it's not a negative for either system.

Frankly the convenience of the folding system, and its other positive attributes, far outweighs the minor weight penalty for me...but then, I'm not a racer....

 

The demounting wont effect my racing or usage. I enjoy the setup time with my fellow club members and they don't launch as quickly as Ian suggests even with a Farrier with mast up storage. Big boats are big boats folders or not I can trolley launch from the club ramp which is too shallow for the big boats. A bit of careful thought about how to make a trolley or trailer to make the demounting process as straightforward as possible will make it quick enough. Lets be honest if the only thing that mattered was quick launching and retrieval we would all just have powerboats.

 

LOL...or sail out of a marina berth..!!!

Yeah, I dig where you're coming from, and that set up is ideal for you. It just wouldn't work for me.

I'm a "marina launcher" on a pensioners budget.... lol

What I really need is a riverfront property and a pontoon....sadly even that is becoming unaffordable for ordinary folk....although there is a whole island for sale not far from me for "only" $250K.

I wish.

 

Only $250,000 ... Well, when I get that extra cash, I may buy it and let you keep a berth ....

 

Nah, pass on that. There's enough kids in the world already.....

 

ROFL!

HEY! I want my one kid! My brother had all the excess kids. Is 12 enough? (Are for our grammphobes). He and his wife adopted 8. I just want a wifey and one or two ....

 

Yeah, one's enough for me too. He turned 18 a few months ago and struck out on his own, despite parental disapproval, moved in with his girlie and is now broke.

Haven't said "I told you so" because I know he knows.....

But that's getting off topic.....

 

I hope to live long enough to see a son make it to 18 ... but, where I love to be, he might choose marriage - cause his girlie might make him do so ....

But, back on topic .... is the Farrier system that much more desired than other folders?

Cause I think I got a better one, heavier though, in mind ....

 

The start a thread to discuss it - this one is for Tornado tilt trailers.....

 

The biggest advantage of the farrier system is in my opinion the way the geometry of the folding system works. As the floats come in the beams lift up the floats can tuck in under the hull flare so you can have a wide gunnel and still achieve trailerable width. It also means that the boat has reasonable stability while folded you do have to be somewhat careful though it's not unknown for Farriers to capsize while folded. Most times when we are at the dock at Hastings for example we would leave the boat unfolded or with one float unfolded.