| In the opinion of many sailors, small trimarans are | | | | down, while their sailors sit on the overturned |
| safer than other types of small sailboats. Their unique | | | | vessels, waiting to be rescued. After seeing these |
| design allows them to be safe in both how they sail, | | | | kinds of pictures, how many people ask why they |
| as well as the trimaran design itself. | | | | don't see similar kinds of photos that feature |
| First, it's a fact that small trimarans (and all trimarans | | | | monohulls? The reason is simple. There are a lot |
| in general) do not carry around a lead ballast in order | | | | fewer pics of monohulls in distress situations because |
| to balance the boat. This means that this particular | | | | they usually sink. There are no picture taking |
| weight doesn't reside in the bottom of any hull. | | | | opportunities for boats that disappear from the |
| Should any of the boat's three hulls ever become | | | | water's surface. |
| damaged, they won't have that ballast weight drag | | | | Small trimarans are also lighter than monohulls of |
| the entire craft underwater... where it would begin | | | | similar length. They're easier to tack and jibe. This |
| serving as a new home for a variety of fish species. | | | | allows them to be much faster sailboats. This higher |
| As a matter of fact, most small trimarans contain a | | | | performance means if a storm comes up while sailing |
| number of air-tight compartments within each of their | | | | offshore, then a small trimaran will be able to get into |
| 3 hulls. In addition to providing valuable storage space | | | | shore, while other boats are still fighting big waves |
| for trimarans, the amas and main hull frequently have | | | | further out. |
| air-sealed pockets tucked away in certain portions. | | | | I recently read about a trimaran that had been sailing |
| They'd work to "support" the boat, and keep it from | | | | offshore, and hit an unknown object in the water. |
| being totally swamped, even if the main hull was | | | | The main hull filled up with water to a point, but the |
| damaged badly. | | | | boat stayed stable and drifted until the Coast Guard |
| Trimaran safety is also offered by its wide beam. | | | | was able to come and rescue the distressed boat |
| Their outriggers produce a more stable ride than | | | | and its sailors. |
| most other types of sailboats. The boats don't | | | | If that boat had been a monohull, it almost surely |
| typically don't "heel over" when sailing. But this also | | | | would have filled with water and sunk... and rather |
| means there is less chance the boat is going to | | | | quickly at that. The crew might not have even been |
| capsize or pitch pole. But if a trimaran ever does | | | | able to call for help by sending off the distress signal. |
| overturn, it's safety features are usually | | | | And even if they had, they probably would have had |
| demonstrated even further. | | | | to use a life raft, or life vests, until help arrived. |
| How so? | | | | Given that scenario, wouldn't you rather be in a |
| There are pictures of trimarans scattered here and | | | | trimaran? I would... every time. |
| there on the Internet that show them floating upside | | | | |