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Why Buy a Trimaran? Pros and Cons of Trimarans - NEEL 43
October 28, 2024 · 9 min · 100K views
What this video covers
Trimarans offer a distinct design compromise between monohulls and catamarans, centering 90% of the vessel's weight and buoyancy in a single main hull.1:04 The NEEL 43, a 20,000-pound cruising trimaran, demonstrates this configuration by keeping its outer hulls, or amas, light and barely submerged.1:50 Unlike catamarans, which lose stability if a hull lifts, trimarans maintain a predictable righting moment as the leeward ama is pushed down.2:36 While trimarans provide superior speed—reaching top speeds of 20 knots—and better upwind performance than catamarans, they lack the dual-engine maneuverability and interior volume of a catamaran.4:22 Trimarans also handle excess cruising weight better than catamarans but require disciplined reefing, as they do not bleed off wind through heeling like a monohull.3:31 Construction is robust to handle the complex twisting forces across three hulls, yet pricing remains competitive with similar-sized catamarans.5:10 Ultimately, trimarans prioritize speed and stability, whereas catamarans favor living space and monohulls offer the most forgiving handling and lowest maintenance costs.
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