Tri-Hull Boats

[ylop]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

we still build them new here in oz and the price is not to bad second hand have a look this is a 16ft model

http://www.boatsales.com.au/boats-for-sale/details.aspx?R=2903103

Paul

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I've owned four trihulls, none particularly by choice but they have all had their uses. I sold them simply since I don't live in an area or boat in an area where they were practical. They are fine on smooth water but once in rough or choppy water, they beat you to death at any sort of speed.
They are super stable and the normally square bow arrangement makes for lots of storage and/or fishing space. They carry more weight per given length than most V hulls too. But when it comes to rough water, forget them. If I lived where there were larger lakes or longer rivers where I could run I'd have nothing but, but since I run half of the time in the bay and ocean, they're not really a choice for me.
As far as the vote, there's not a correct choice, I can't say I love or hate them, they're just not the right style hull for my type of uses.
If a low powered inshore fishing or crabbing boat was my only use, then a trihull would be fine.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I do not like them three hulls.They limit me to small ponds.While I like to go out on Lake Ontario and Cape Cod bay or Stellwagen Bank,weather permitting.
Now have you ever seen a tri hull on the brine?????

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I do not like them three hulls.They limit me to small ponds.While I like to go out on Lake Ontario and Cape Cod bay or Stellwagen Bank,weather permitting.
Now have you ever seen a tri hull on the brine?????

I used to run my old Starcraft Capri and an old Evinrude trihull in the ocean and bay but only on calm days. Both being bow rider style boats I was more concerned with taking water over the bow than I was with the ride. There was no way to lessen the harshness of the ride when it got rough though.
I doubt if I'd do it now, but those boats are long gone. I do have a few buddies that don't hesitate to run in big water with fairly small trihulls though. It's all a matter of how much abuse you can take.
These days, I'd pretty much limit a trihull to crabbing duty in the back bays, the added space would come in handy as would the stability.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I pretty much agree with all that's been said here, it's a love /hate relationship with trihulls. I had 3 of them, all bowriders, and all Wellcraft Airslots, one 16' outboard, & two 18' I/O's, I like to stick with a good thing. The Airslot was one of the better designs, with actually two sponsons ending 1/2 way back, becoming a deep vee all the way back, with a step in the hull on each side. All 3 were fairly heavy, strong, (built like a tank) fast, smooth, & dry riding, in a mild chop, But, in the rough hitting waves at an angle, or rollers from either side, would cause the sponsons to dip, and throw it off balance a bit, plus it would pound, (a soft pound because of the Vee hull design) but, abit of a rough ride, but seaworthy still. At rest it was extremely stable, like your own little island in the middle of the bay. As unique as the hull design was, it was still abit slower then your standard semi vee, or vee bottom boat. I finally decided to go with a deep vee hull, and in the late 70's, it was getting tough to sell this odd looking "Rocket sled" design. There is a place for these, especially in a small size, producing the best stability for fishing, crabbing, and watersports, as long as you know it's limitatons on ride & handling quality.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I love my little Glastron T-166 for playing in the river. Bought a 19' V for taking the family out on the mail lake tough

 

[mthieme]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

Do I have to vote to see the poll results - or has noone voted?

Mods ?

 

[BF]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I'm no mod... but you see the results after you vote... pretty even three way split right now...


I voted "hate em"... We had a 15 footer when I was a kid. Pounded and rattled in anything bigger than ripples. Seriously, running in 6" stuff would rattle you. It was one where the sides were almost as large as the middle V.

Seems ones that are more of a cathedral hull handle way better than ours did, but I've never had one of those.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

After some thought, I voted for trihulls because in their element, the do what they were intended to do and make for a very stable platform.
Just like any boat type or style, there are compromises.
A lot also has to do with who's or which style of trihull you have experience with as well. Many were nothing more than Deep V hulls with two outer sponsons to stabilize the boat at rest, while others were full on trihulls.
The best designs in my opinion were those like the Wellcraft Airslot and Glastron Aqua Lift II. They seemed to give the best ride vs. stability for a trihull. I've also owned an early W hull Evinrude which was pretty decent but not as smooth a ride as my Duo was. The Starcraft Capri was a good ride at higher speeds and at low speeds, but mid range on rough water could be more than a bit harsh. I've also had V hulls which rode just as bad, a few Bayliners, several newer Starcraft aluminum hulls, and one bass boat all with what I would say were medium dead rise V hulls, would jar every joint in your body just the same as the worst trihull, if not even more so.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I've also had V hulls which rode just as bad, a few Bayliners, several newer Starcraft aluminum hulls, and one bass boat all with what I would say were medium dead rise V hulls, would jar every joint in your body just the same as the worst trihull, if not even more so.

I agree with you to a point RF, but I don't know what you mean by this? A V hull, or Deep V, giving you a hard ride? I do know most boats were either flat bottom, or "Semi-vee", back in the 60's, & early 70's. Meaning they were a V in the front but were flat bottomed at the transom, with either round, or angled (non-trip) chines, these boats were somewhat harsh riding in the chop. This was before the introduction of the true V, or Deep V design, (ending at the transom) like most boats are made nowadays, with maybe an exception of aluminum boats.
Glastron was one of the 1st boats to have a full V bottom, meaning V from stem to stern, most builders thought it too risky to build a boat so small with a V bottom, because of stability issues, usually they only ventured into making 18' and larger V bottom hulls (eventually all the other builders gave in, due to competion, and found ways around this) A true V bottom boat, or a Deep V bottom boat was, is, not very stable, especially in smaller sizes. If you saw one of these Glastrons back then, you couldn't help but notice a scary list to the side at rest when somone boarded, or got out at the dock. The tri-hulls filled the bill in between at that time because of better stability, on smaller size boats. This was also about the time the Cigarette Deep V ocean racer offshore boats were designed, & produced, because stability was not as much of an issue with these longer hulls, and they rode better in the ocean, they sacrificed some speed (about 15%), for a smoother ride, and gained some back because you could travel faster through the chop, and hold more speed, then a pounding, or flying, Semi-V raceboat. I haven't followed aluminum boats design to know if they make a V, or Deep V in aluminum, but I'd bet the smaller ones 16' and under are still Semi V's due to stability issues, again fiberglas tri-hulls are your best design for this size, & smaller.
Finally a boat with a V bottom at the transom, is a true V, or Deep V depending on the dead rise, anything else is a Semi V, or flat bottom.

I lived through these yrs, and payed some attention along the way. So much for my lesson of the day, I know, I know, I'm a windy old fart

 

[Searay 150merc]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

have owned both In small lakes the tri hull was very stable.

 

[DJ]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I love tri's for what they are. Stable, good running, fast, for the HP bolted to them.

My Beloved Boston Whalers are modified "tri's".

We deal with the shortfalls to love them for what they are.

 

[rtpassini]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I have a '75 Crestliner Muskie 550 Tri-hull!

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I have a restored 1979 mckee craft.it one of the best safest boats ive owned .as far a not seaworthy ,i fish off grandisle la i dont run far but have made 34 mile runs on good days ,but have alsobeen caught in some serious stuff out there .the boat is indestructible if ya can hang on and with tabs and some hp they will jump up and run,running 175 evin on mine it loves it

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I remember when I was about 15 my ex-BIL had a tri-hull. We went out with him a few times. It beat the heck out of you. I don't think he knew how to run it. It broke down and he ran us aground a few times too. Not the fault of the boat but poor maintenance and OP error. Anyway I had a lot of trouble getting my Mom out in my boat because she still remembers that experience, Finally she's been out with us a few times and enjoyed it!

KWB

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

I love my 15ft Challenger bass boat tri hull. It is stable as can be, fished up to 4 people in it 2 kids and 2 adults and have also fished 3 adults out of it with no problem. My brother owns a tri hull, and 2 of my uncles own a tri hulls. We've traveled in some rough water and haven't had to much problems but we were not at WOT either.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

so is my 1979 thundercraft viking ss18 a tri hull? it has a vee all the way down the center but two small dips up front on the sides for about 3 feet?

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

so is my 1979 thundercraft viking ss18 a tri hull? it has a vee all the way down the center but two small dips up front on the sides for about 3 feet?

Go to www.fiberglassics.com and click on the link "boat info" then click on "hull types" it shows the differences in the hulls.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

delta34 you have a Private message.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Tri-Hull Boats

ok, i guess i have a tri hull. hope it won't jar my teeth out in canada in eagle lake. just one patch of big water, rest is small inlets and 200 yard wide channels. just have to wait and see i guess.