Tri-Hull pros & Con

[JJBlack]

Looking for advantages and disadvantages of the tri hull design. Have a chance to pick up a project for the winter, but other than liking the looks of the tri, don't know much about their handling or operating characteristics.. After 2 hours of searching, decided to ask.

 

[JoLin]

Hi, and welcome to iboats.

I think they're cool, too. Back in the '60s tri-hulls were 'hot'. Fiberglass got popular and freed the manufacturers to experiment with new hull designs. The tri-hull was intended to retain the stability of a flat-bottom boat with a much smoother ride. It works to a point, but most have a pretty hard ride compared to a v-hull. Makes a great fishing platform, tho.

Ride comfort also depends to an extent on the particular boat. Some tried to strike a better balance by making a deep center 'v' with smaller sponsons to the outside, known as a 'cathedral' hull. A little less stability, a little better ride. A friend has a year 2000, 26' Chris Craft deck boat and I was surprised to see it had an advanced variation of the old cathedral hull. It also has an impressive ride- it seems to catch a lot of air under the hull that really smooths things out. No pounding at all.

Lot of things to consider- where you boat, what you'll use it for and which you prefer- ride or stability? If the water is generally calm any design will work. If you boat in choppy stuff you might want to lean toward a v-hull. What particular boat are you considering?

My .02

 

[Grub54891]

Had 16 footer myself, outboard powered. Ran it on inland lakes and it preformed nicely, stable and smooth for the most part. Took her out a few times on lake superior, was fine till coming back from the islands one day,and it got a bit rough, and I had following seas that day. Took on water from the transom waves but not enough the bilge pump would not handle. Now that boat was actually to small for the lake, If you are going on big water, Get something that can handle it. It did make a stable fishing platform though on the inland lakes.

 

[gm280]

A tri-hull rig has a better stable platform that doesn't take to the tipsy issue when moving in it from one side to the next like a "V" hull would/does. That makes if very nice when slowly moving along fishing or even anchored. It is very nice for bank or structure fishing using the trolling motor to go alone. It does have a tendency to pound harder in heavier wave action. And the is because like others stated, it traps the wave under the hulls instead of cutting through them. So it really depends on where and how you plan on using it. There really is not "Perfect" boat for all situations. If there were, they would be dominating the boating industry. JMHO!

 

[Chris1956]

You realize that Boston Whaler is about the only company that still makes something similar to a tri-hull? They ride very hard, compared to vee hulls. My neighbor has a 27 foot BW Outrage Center Console. That boat because it is very fast, but has low sides and a very rough ride. You need to hang on with two hands at all times, or risk getting tossed overboard or hitting your face or head, when hitting even a small wave.

Stick with the Vee hulls, unless you are using it on a small lake with small waves. JMO....

 

[alldodge]

The way back machine, had a 1966 signa I/O

Pro
Real Stable

Con
Rough riding with anything more then a slight chop

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard JJ:

I'm a fan of tri-hulls. I've had two of them until recently when I switched up to a much newer boat and wound up with a V hull (convenient and cheap upgrade).

On inland lakes and rivers (even bigger ones) the two major differences you'll see are that the tri-hull doesn't typically rock side to side as much as a V-hull of comparable size; and the tri-hull will be a rougher ride in heavier chop at speed.

A true tri-hull (all three sponsons the same size) will ride much rougher, but will plane out very nicely. They'll run very flat on the water, even in turns - so they can feel a little awkward in high speed, tight turns and will sometimes have some slippage with your drive.

A cathedral-hull (sometimes called a modified tri-hull) has a larger center sponson and smaller outboard sponsons. These hulls correct some of the rough ride and turning issues, but there's still a difference once you're in choppy water at speed.

Tri-hulls are much roomier up on the bow-rider, and layout very nicely for cruising with people on board. Some won't find that difference all that significant, but i did. Conversely, my new V-hull feels like it takes up a lot less space in the garage than the old "square jaw" boat did, even though it's longer and wider.

Rougher water at lower speeds and the boat hulls are more comparable. Smooth water at higher speeds, and I think the tri-hulls win.

Got pictures of the prospect?

 

[Starcraft5834]

JJ..

I'd offer this... my first boat was a trihull. they are very stable in the water....

I noted what Southhogs said... probably the largest consideration is what type of water are you going to be boating on..... smooth flat water conditions, or even river water conditions, (St. Lawrence River NYS not included)..I'd vote for the Trihull.... if you are going to be in large bodies of water.. ie- large lakes subject to pretty good waves,, a Trihull would be one of the last boats you'd want.. a deep V hull would be best there to handle all conditions well... my first trihull on the NYS Fingerlakes.. the largest of which being Seneca and Cayuga Lakes,, are 2-5 miles wide and 25-35 miles long.. even a "normal day" on those large bodies of water produce a teeth/head pounding experience, with the trihull smacking the water.... I got a 20ft deep V cuddy now,, no problems with that anymore... match the boat for the water you are going to be in...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Pro... Not worth chit so cheap to buy.

Con... Not worth chit so cheap to sell.

Pro... Closer to a flat bottom in handling so stable to walk around in sitting still.

Con... Closer to a flat bottom in handling so will beat the snot out of you in any sort if choppy water.


Personally I dislike em but there is still a group of people who really like em.

 

[bruceb58]

I can't stand Tri Hulls. Too rough of a ride. There is a reason they aren't made anymore.

My pontoon boat does better in rough water than a tri hull!

 

[mcnetwork]

I was like many, having not had good experiences riding on friends' trihulls in choppy water. However, even though I knew better, I bought the Merry Queen. She is a 1979 AMF Muskie 550 15' trihull. This little boat is amazing. Very stable and gets up on plane quickly with a matching Merc 500 Thunderbolt l think the engineering m​akes all the difference, as the center V extends (lesser so) clear to the stern. This results in an impeccable ride, with huge stability.

 

[H20Rat]

No Title

It all depends on where you boat... My current lake boat is a '94 kayot deckboat, which is more or less a cathedral hull under it. Even though it is a heavy boat, it still can beat you up in rough water! Overall, I love the boat though, the extra space is worth it, as well as a very unique looking boat! (lots of room for an 18' I/O... It is rated for 10 people, 6 adults easily fit, 8 adults is possible or 5 adult+5 kids.

Also, being a tri-hull, the thing is scary fast, even with just a v6 in it!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Tri-hulls. Beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes right to the bone! AND--You can't fix ugly.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Tri-hulls. Beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes right to the bone! AND--You can't fix ugly.

Quoted for 'trufe'

ROFLMAO

 

[Swoosh3]

Tough crowd Pretty unique looking craft there smokingcrater.
.
Not much other input on tri-hulls other than....I flipped one in my late teens jacking around
for kicks, it was all quite entertaining till it "dug in" while airborne and sideways.
I might add....Don't Do That!!!!

PS...floatation foam tested....it works!!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Looking for advantages and disadvantages of the tri hull design. Have a chance to pick up a project for the winter, but other than liking the looks of the tri, don't know much about their handling or operating characteristics.. After 2 hours of searching, decided to ask.

If it's a project, you'll put way more into it than you will ever get out of it. If you really want a tri-hull and plan on keeping it for quite a while, go for it. Keep in mind all the cons listed above. Around here you see them for sale everywhere...... Literally......

 

[alldodge]

They may or may not be ugly, eye of the beholder thing. As for ride and handling everyone has supplied sufficient opinions for the guy to make a decision. As major opinions have tried to get the guy to not buy it for no other reason they ride and it's a cheap boat. If a guy has little funds for a boat and they are every where for sale, so with that aspect they would be a good starter boat. I started with a similar boat years ago

Low cost to get one, and if solid a great boat for the family to go puts around. Can upgrade later when more funds come available and sell it to another first timer.

The OP does appear to be a one-and-done poster

 

[64osby]

Pro... Not worth chit so cheap to buy.

Con... Not worth chit so cheap to sell.

Pro... Closer to a flat bottom in handling so stable to walk around in sitting still.

Con... Closer to a flat bottom in handling so will beat the snot out of you in any sort if choppy water.


Personally I dislike em but there is still a group of people who really like em.

Kev, why don't you let us know how you really feel.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Actually loved my TriHull 18F WITH A 305 CHEBBY
Ride was pretty decent. Sense then i have had a few boats V hulls 24F and i do not think they ride any better really.
Been my experience that if its rough water they all ride rough.
Also sold the TriHull for $3500.

 

[Swoosh3]

I deleted a bunch of diatribe....this sums it up......

.. A good boat keeps the lake out!!..
A good engine gets you home!!!....

Everything else is up for debate!