| Should you build a small trimaran with wood or | | | | be pricier. |
| fiberglass? Building a trimaran with fiberglass, a.k.a. | | | | Level of Difficulty to Build - The molds and |
| Glass-reinforced plastic, seems like the way to go for | | | | time-consuming techniques for GRP building are going |
| larger boats. But I still like smaller trimarans built with | | | | to pose a much bigger challenge than wood |
| wood. | | | | construction methods. |
| First, lets talk about what could possibly be the | | | | I do realize it's rare that anything in life worth having |
| biggest disadvantage to building a small trimaran with | | | | ever comes easy. But some folks don't have an |
| wood ... the ability of a boat to maintain strong | | | | aptitude to work with their hands as well as others. |
| monetary/resale value in the marketplace. | | | | If you're somebody who wants to build a fast, fun |
| There is a reason why smaller trimarans, properly | | | | small trimaran with the least amount of hassle then |
| built with fiberglass, have strong resale value. Many | | | | there are ways to achieve this goal without enduring |
| sailors in the market for a tri just don't want to buy | | | | a 2 to 3 year building project. Building a boat in GRP |
| a wood boat. And all things being equal, a GRP small | | | | as a home project often takes somewhere between |
| tri in excellent condition is probably going to fetch a | | | | 1,000 and 2,000 hours. |
| lot more than a wooden small trimaran of comparable | | | | Reputable designers that explain in detail how to build |
| size and features. | | | | a small trimaran in GRP have sold many plans to |
| If resale investment is an important consideration for | | | | prospective boat builders. Many boat builders with a |
| you personally, then talk with a few sailboat brokers. | | | | dream purchase plans with every intention of finishing |
| Get their feedback on this subject. Whether buying | | | | the fiberglass boat. Many of these would-be builders |
| commercially or home-building, you need to know | | | | never complete their dream. |
| what the market wants, and will probably want in the | | | | What happens? |
| future, before deciding what type of sailboat you're | | | | Somewhere in the process the builder loses heart. |
| going to sink time and money into. | | | | Then they lose focus. Then the project languishes. |
| If resale factor isn't a very important factor for you | | | | Dreams serve as fuel for our goals. But individual |
| then building a wooden small trimaran may become | | | | goals should be real and genuinely attainable. |
| an attractive option. Here is why: | | | | If you've never built any boat before then building a |
| Cost - wood boats are generally much less pricey to | | | | 20-plus foot small trimaran in GRP is going to be very |
| construct. | | | | difficult. It'll be far more difficult, in my opinion, than |
| Even though wood and epoxy costs have taken off | | | | building with wood. |
| lately, wood building is still not going to cost as much | | | | I had one small tri designer tell me recently that as |
| as fiberglass construction. The materials for GRP | | | | many as 90% of those who purchase boat plans |
| construction, in addition to the equipment necessary | | | | never actually finish building their dream sailboat. This, |
| to put them together, will cost more money. | | | | of course, means only about 1 in 10 actually finish. |
| Even if you've got a healthy budget, and money isn't | | | | You may be up to the GRP challenge. But count the |
| an issue, then you still may want to consider wood | | | | costs in money, time and skill level before |
| for another reason we'll talk about in a moment. But | | | | undertaking such a project. |
| just keep in mind that building a GRP boat tends to | | | | |