Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

[imported_Andy_P]

I have a 1980's fiberglass tri-hull 16' boat. All the newer boats I see are single hull. Was this a 1980's experiment or fad that was shown to be inferior? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a design?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Tri-hulls date back to the late 1950s with the first Boston Whalers, which themselves were derived from the old Hickman Sea Sleds. Anyway, the advantages are they provide a very stable platform at rest, a generally stable ride, and give a bit more interior space. Disadvantages tend to be a rougher, wetter ride - and most of them tend to have a bad case of the uglies...
- Scott

 

[JB]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

They lost popularity because they pound in a chop, Andy.

The vee hulls are much more comfortable, though they are usually less stable and have less room, particularly up front.

I like the hybrid hulls with a deep vee entry up front and a wider hull. They best example I can think of is my classic 1986 Boston Whaler Striper 15 which is smoother riding than the classic Montauk 17 I had before. It is only 14" shorter than the "17", which is really 16'7", but a lot smaller inside.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Tri hulls usually ride hardon plane, and will throw you around some if they catch a wave the wrong way sideways, but there are exceptions to this rule, like the Boston Whalers, and, Another great Hybrid is the Wellcraft Airslot hull, it is a very stable, high, dry ride, and built like a tank, but a bit heavy. Back in the early 70's Wellcraft ran 2 full center page ad's in the major boating magazine's of their test of a 16" Wellcraft Airslot, with an 85hp motor, crossing Biscayne Bay in a light chop, with 1,700 egg's on board, and I think only 2 broke but that was by default,,,lol To prove it was smooth riding. I had 3 of them, 1- 16' outboard with a 135hp Johnson, and 2-18.5' I/O's one with a straight 6cyl- 165hp Mercruiser, and one with a 302V8 188hp- Mercruiser.

Check it out here: hsmarine.com/WellCraftAirslots/index.htm

 

[chrismarion]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

I know that this is an old post and I am not trying to hi jack this by any means. I have been trying to find other boats like mine, but with no luck. I love tri hulls ever since my father had one when I was a kid and it rocked as a flats boat. Held more weight than a V and floated in 6 inchs of water.

Now, the link I followed from your post MikeDee is exactly like mine. The company mine was made by is Sabre, so the title says. I bought it from an older man who attempted to rebuild the boat, but lost interest due to age so I picked it up. Were there any other companies that made the same style as the air slot? My build date is 1978 by Sabre Boat Manufacturing. I love the deep V entry, but did not know that they were considered hybrids. I just thought mine was a bit different being it was older than my fathers, along with the fact that I can fly through some thick chop with no problems. Wouldnt trade this thing for any new flats boat.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

I have a 14ft tri-hull (1978 Tom-boy). It does seem to hammer rather badly in chop. Propper tilt adjustment on the motor does help with that. My boat has that cut-out at the stern so it runs rather deep in the water. Also, the hull design seems to almost demand bunks rateher than rollers on the trailer.

TerryMSU

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

I had a 16 ft tri hull with a 55 rude on it. I had heard a few stories about the bow digging into a wave in rough water but found it hard to believe until it happen to me. This happened while flounder fishing on the eastern shore of Va. It would have been a great boat for lakes or rivers.

 

[kalla man]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

MIKDee,

I agree with you on the Wellcraft, there is a 24' cuddy up for sale in my neighborhood right now that I am drooling over!!!!

 

[nate_evans79]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Here is a pick of my 1978 Monarch McFast 17' tri-hull. I love how stable it is, and the great fishing area up front.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

I know that this is an old post and I am not trying to hi jack this by any means. I have been trying to find other boats like mine, but with no luck. I love tri hulls ever since my father had one when I was a kid and it rocked as a flats boat. Held more weight than a V and floated in 6 inchs of water.

Now, the link I followed from your post MikeDee is exactly like mine. The company mine was made by is Sabre, so the title says. I bought it from an older man who attempted to rebuild the boat, but lost interest due to age so I picked it up. Were there any other companies that made the same style as the air slot? My build date is 1978 by Sabre Boat Manufacturing. I love the deep V entry, but did not know that they were considered hybrids. I just thought mine was a bit different being it was older than my fathers, along with the fact that I can fly through some thick chop with no problems. Wouldnt trade this thing for any new flats boat.

The Boston Whaler larger hulls are the closest things to the Wellcraft Airslot, Just a note here, all these designs are not as fast as a V-hull, but these 2 are some of the better ones. The Airslot was primarily a V-hull with sponsons, and had steps in it. The Chrysler tri-hulls, and the Thunderbird, were a close second to these in performance, don't know the Sabre? but a lot of the rest were wide, or flat, or were trihull from the bow to stern, and, or, a cathedral hull design.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

http://www.fiberglassics.com
This site shows the different style hulls, and may even help somebody identify there boat. I have a try hull myself and what got me into it was fishing with my uncles and my brother whom all had tri hulls and they were all stable in the lake when being passed by boats as we were fishing.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Ok, here's a Pic. of a section of the Wellcraft Airslot patent, it shows the V-hull with the step, and the side sponsons, which change near the rear of the hull into flat area's alongside the Vee, quite a unique design, IMO one of the best of it's type out there! Being a trihull, It's certainly not the prettiest out there, but effective, and **** Cole tried to make the whole package as sleek, modern, & up to date, as possible, Plus they're strong well built boats, my 16'- 1972 hull was rated for 125hp! and I put a 135 evinrude on it, and it didn't phase it, the transom, & hull were built like a Rock! Those who don't like tri-hulls, will run the other way, seeing any form of tri-hull anyway lol

 

[woosterken]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Here is a picture of my '74 MFG She is 17'3" like every body says She is very stable,but does ride a little harsh in chop.in a hard corner it tracks flat like a dirt track race car.

Mine has a 120hp I/O

woosterken

 

[Mark42]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Advantage: Way cool retro look.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Who says tri hulls are slow & dopey looking? Not these guys! There is actually a grass roots level racing circuit that runs the older tri hulls. These guys are nuts!

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

Slick looking boat, that ain't no ugly duckling, Fast Too!
I'd like to know the brand.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

I think the boats of choice are the old Glastron V156 series...
- Scott

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

OUCH! that first pic has MY back hurting!

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

mine was pretty fast & stable, a little rough in choppy waters..

 

[3car]

Re: Tri-Hull - Advantages and Disadvantages?

MIKDee,

I agree with you on the Wellcraft, there is a 24' cuddy up for sale in my neighborhood right now that I am drooling over!!!!

It isn't in Hudson is it? If so, I bought the Armstrong bracket off it.