Hedley Nicol Trimaran Plans

Nicols Cavalier MK II

If this Tri' is NOT a Nicols Cavalier MK II, then what do you think it is and how old do you think it is

Bill
Australia

 

Sorry for the confusion Bill. The tri is a Nicol Cavalier. There wasn't a MK2 plan is what I should have said. The Cavalier was derived from the Vagabond MK2 which was developed from the original Vagabond design. The Cavalier is a bit wider than the Vagabond MK2, with a taller sheer giving more room and payload and is built a bit heavier with thicker decks, ama skins, stringers and some of the wing frames. Great boats!

As to the age see if you can trace the registration. The plans were sold in the 60s and most of the boats were finished in the late 60s to mid 70s. Some renovators have re-dated boats from more recent "rebuilds".

 

Thanks mate

Thanks for the clarification mate. Nice Tri to be sure, are they suitable for one old bod and his dog living aboard full time, cruising the Pacific and SE.Asia?
I sold my Careel 22 last week so I'm looking around for a replacement, a Tri or a Ferro Cement mono may suit me but we'll see what comes up.
I take it the Tri is built using the West system, poly or epoxy on ply. If she's from the 60s early 70s, I guess she's poly on ply but being no expert, I could well be wrong.

Bill
Australia

 

The boats can do it if properly built, upgraded and maintained but you need a professional survey by somebody who understands wood multihull construction. Many in Oz were built with epoxy as you guys seemed to get a jump on it. The thing to remember is most were amateur builds and need to be examined accordingly, some did a great job some didn't but there are fewer of the bad builds around now after all the time. There is a Cavalier rigged as a sloop up in BC that has been around the world and I've heard of others. Get it out in wind and sea and hop in the amas to check for any undo movement. Not overloading is important for performance and safety, they are rated for more but I'd keep the payload around 3000-3500lbs max. My dog likes our Vagabond MK2 but only if he gets to get ashore frequently. The Cavalier has higher underwing clearance so will bang less on wavetops if not overloaded. Read the thread for more info.

 

gdaay to all, and how is every one these days?
anyone remembers my last or one of my last post about selling the old girl, well couldnt get much for the old girl, sadly, and the up grade boat i was selling my old girlthe boat, wellthe boats now sold sadly as well so my old girls off the market, please the boat old girl that is???? lol just joking, no really

OH and BillAU, the boat your talking about i know of and have been aboard and met the owers,they to my likey are great people, i can get you what ever info or knowings you may wish to know where and what i know of course, and believe mat would have no problem with this at all,feel free to pivate message me with your number and any question and ill get back to you asap with a call,
regards alex

 

Does that mean you still have your Wanderer ? It might be meant to be, a good Nicol can weather the storms of relationships as well as the sea!

 

its not much but a few update pic i found for ya
big change if you look back on some of the old picsof the keels, was the only real good pic i have sadly at moment,

 

yes i still have her, havent been out out in her for a sail in a while sadly, but trying to get a few seeable changes made for this years wonder on the wonderer
gday cav matey, is 1:50am im buggered yet im still up drawing or redrawing the same pics it feel, but if i mange it i want it right and to know where any thing needs to be moved to can and is the best easiest placement, well is the idea

 

We are getting closer to boat work weather here, can't wait to finish some things up. Always busy in the winter but we still get some sailing in to make up for spending warm weather working on the boat. Your Nicol probably wants to keep you so things get done!

 

oh there getting done, just not up to any thing thats seeable, all the underside was done, im 2/3 getting the wiring completed, whole lot of other none notice jobs, but have new building, glassing gear ready, few other things to get, few more measurements to check, the hopefully have done with in next month to months

 

heres a Q for ya might know, whats the max carrying weight and ideal weight for the wanderer? any ideas

 

I really don't want to tell you because I think it is too much but a Wanderer was rated for 4000 pounds. The Cavaier 4500. Your engine and extra gear weight should come out of the payload according to Norman Cross' charts and I think he was right. I'll have to look more for the build weight. It was probably 4500-6000 lbs.

 

Taow check out post 842 on the previous page for the official study plan displacement and payload. Built to plan displacement is 1 3/4 tons' So under 4000 pounds. 2 ton+ payload. All up weight loaded for cruising would be about 8000 pounds. If you come across a crane with a scale see where you're at, the margin to 8000 pounds is your remaining payload.

Multihulls are like airplanes and need to be loaded like them. Fuel, water, batteries, stoves etc....are all part of the payload. The Nicols have a big payload but after outfitting and equipping without minding the scales it could be down to 2000 pounds, which also has to accommodate the weight of the crew. Less gear = more room for beer!

 

Nicols Cavalier MK II

G'day Alex,

Thanks for your offer mate, I sent you a PM.

Cheers,

Bill
Corio

 

true cav mate, im pretty sure her weight was at 5ton when i got her? i dont have a crane or scale available to me, so not sure how ill go there finding her true weight. as where i slip her they use a trailer to hall her out on, cost me less then a crane and the less worry of a crane doing damage. as for the future fit out all fuel and water tanks are being moved to a better balance, then where that are now, so willreally have to look into her true weight as 5ton seems a lot more then your info, to be honest nothing the guy i bought her off has been true to date.sadly, but she moves along at 5 to 7 knts in a average breeze say 10 to 15knt, in 20knt+ winds i had her at 11.9 knts but thats the fastest ive managed to get her to date, and only got back last november after an 7month sail trip away, but i do still need to do a bit of work with the sail plan setup yet. and a few id like to say but a lot of other changes,i have 80m of 8mm anchor chain,which i think ill cut back to 40 or 50ms and just add some rode for when needed, i usually have no need to anchor in under 10m of water and usually find im in 2 to 4m depth at low tide when at anchor anyway, sorry for any errors its been a long day this way,,