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Why Would Anyone Want a Trimaran?
April 6, 2026 · 10 min · 118K views
Dragonfly Trimaran slicing water at speed under full sail
What this video covers
The Dragonfly 36 trimaran costs roughly $600,000 new — about $200,000 more than a comparable new Beneteau 40 — while offering less interior space, fewer cabins, and less storage.▶ 8:21 The case for paying that premium rests on speed and shallow draft. Where a Beneteau 40 sails at six to seven knots with 10–15 degrees of heel, the Dragonfly 36 reaches 10–15 knots while staying flat, because trimaran stability comes from beam width rather than a weighted keel.▶ 2:43 With the centerboard raised, the Dragonfly draws only two feet, opening shallow anchorages, tight coves, and beachable spots in the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and along the East Coast that a deep-keel monohull cannot reach.▶ 6:23 The folding ama system — a Dragonfly feature for roughly 60 years — narrows the boat enough to fit a standard marina slip, but adds a system to operate and maintain.▶ 7:09 Payload sensitivity is a real limitation: unlike the Beneteau, which tolerates extra gear and provisions without penalty, the Dragonfly responds noticeably to added weight.▶ 5:48 The used trimaran market, including Corsair models, brings costs down substantially.▶ 9:19 The core trade is space and simplicity against speed, access, and sailing sensation.
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