Powered Trimaran

Hi all I have been considering my boat building options for some time now. The boat I am now thinking of building is a trimaran about 25ft and powered by an inboard diesel engine, possibly a converted car engine.

At the moment I am strongly cosidering using oldsailor7's bucaneer 24 plans.

Are there any other reasonably priced plans out there I should consider? or does anyone know of powered 24ft trimaran plans that are available?

Thanks

 

Hi hwbd,

There don't seem to be too many power tris in this size. I don't really know why; small trimarans ought to work pretty well on a theoretical basis.

There was a good discussion on small tris last year.... http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/multihulls/22-24-trimaran-23449.html
The focus there is of course mainly on sailboats.

I'm working on an 8.5 metre (28') motorsailing trimaran design right now ( http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/projects-proposals/trailer-cruiser-revisited-trimaran-27032.html ) that is still a long way from viability, and slightly larger than what you're looking at. In my research on this one I have found very little in the way of existing or stock designs for small power tris. Many of the ones that are out there seem to be custom, experimental and/or one-off jobs.

You may find what you're looking for.... then again, it is equally likely that you may end up taking on the challenge of doing the design yourself.

Any targets re. use profile, speed, weight, etc.?

 

I have read the discussion on 22-24 tris.

I would be interested in a 28' design possibly, what is the width? Yeah Im thinking of building from the bucaneer 24 plans and modifying the rear and installing an inboard diesel so I suppose that woulb be another one off.

Speed is not of great importance but I would be looking to use an engine that would at least equal the speed achieved under sail on a 24. So maybe 20knots+.

Use would be comfortable overnight accomadation for two. I havnt given weight any thought to be honest, but the lighter the better. Saying that I plan on using cheaper materials for the build.

 

Hi hwbd,

I have two power tris in development that you may find interesting. Both of these boats were originally designed for the smallest engine possible with max efficiency while driving the boats at a 12 knot cruising speed.

They could, of course, go faster, as long as one realizes that they will be sacrificing best economy for the extra speed.

The smaller of the two, at 24' LOA, is designed to carry two adult passengers on a 10/1 length to beam ratio hull.

The larger design is 30' LOA and designed for four passengers on a 9/1 hull.

Both designs are for stitch and glue plywood an have simple plywood and glass box beams for the akas. While both boats can take a modest inboard engine, they are designed for the power to weight ratios of four stroke outboards. Modifications to either boat for inboard power are within the scope of the designs as they were also meant to take electric drive systems.

 

powered buc 24

hwbd, I have a Buc 24 and though it looks easy to build and is a good sail boat, I don't see it as a very good power boat. Mine is lighter than some (I don't have a cabin), but any more than 3 normal crew and gear will overload it. It also has too steep of aft hull angle for a good power boat, it would squat with very much power. There are small automotive diesels (Smart cars and others) that could be used in a proper hull design. Bruce

 

Hi Chris very interested in your two designs, I wouldnt mind building either size, what kind of width are the two designs? the economy is a very appealing aspect to me. When do you reckon you will have the design completed? and how much are you looking for the design?

cheers Henry

 

Thanks bruce I think Ill rule out the B24 then and look at other designs. good idea with the smart cars the 800cc engine with 40hp would make a great boat engine

 

Chris,
How much 4 stroke power would be required for either of your designs to reach a) The designed 12 knot cruise speed and b) a 20 knot cruise speed, at say half to two-thirds throttle?

 

The big boat (SurfBus) is going to take 20-25 hp to move along at 12 knots. It will need 50 to do the 20.

The smaller tri (Javelin) uses 10 hp to do the 12 knot target and 25 to bang out the 20 knots suggested.

Personally, I like the Yamaha Hi-Thrust models. They're quiet, sip fuel, remarkably dependable and last a long time with normal maintenance.

 

Henry,

I have sent you a PM in response to your questions.

 

I know this is an old thread, but since I'm thinking of converting my buc24 to electric power, thought I'd ask for ideas.
As far as sailing goes, I replaced the buc with an F24. Much easier for this old man to trailer and launch. And a better cabin for overnighting.
Since I'm not having any luck selling the Buc, I'm thinking about narrowing the buc and making it a solar/electric powerboat. I had electric on it for years and with my homebuilt 5k watt saildrive it went 12knots full throttle. And about 3k it's on 200w of solar only. So and efficient hull. Haven't started building yet, so tell me I'm crazy now.

 

Not crazy at all, go for it!

I assume you are narrowing to make it trailerable and more easily launch-able?

Consider a solar hardtop for shade and max surface area for panels and harvesting, or eliminating the wing nets and installing solar between the main hull and floats instead which is what I planned on doing to a rig-less reasonably priced Sprint 750 that was for sale local to me many years ago.

Keep us posted on how the project progresses!

 

Yes, I'd like to narrow to 8 feet so trailerable without disassembly. Yes to solar hardtop. I'll post here when I get progress.