Re: Tri-Hull Boats
I'm on my second 70s vintage Glassmaster trihull (usually called a tri-haul here in Louisiana
), and have mixed feelings about them.
First, they are butt ugly. Yeah, I know, I am supposed to look at the boat from a practical standpoint, and I do (which why I own one), but they are still frickin ugly!
Second, they pound in head-on seas. You pretty much have to run at about a 30 degree angle to the seas, to keep from getting wet.
But .... there are alot of things to like about them. They are very stable, which is one of the main reasons why I bought my second Glassmaster. I use the boat primarily for photography and stability is a major issue for me - I have to be able to move around in it with a camera up to my face, without feeling like I am going to fall over all of the time. They are also more forgiving in those head-on seas, if you back off the power and run in a bow high attitude. Operated that way, the boats can be reasonably dry and can handle some pretty crappy conditions.
Used trihulls are also inexpensive to buy because few people want them. My current hull was stripped and was laying on wood blocks at a local boat yard when I found it. The seller wanted $2,000 for it, but I waved five hundred dollar bills in his face and he took it. I had to rewire the boat, install a steering system and fuel system before it was usable. It did have a nice pair of aluminum saddle tanks (which could easily cost $500 by themselves if purchased new), so I felt pretty good about the deal. In the 2-1/2 years that I have owned it, I have spent many hours shooting photos and fishing in it, as well as performing search and rescue operations for the LA DWF & the US Coast Guard.
All things considered, I'm happy with the boat.
