| Recently, I spoke to a distributor for Magnum | | | | that turns easily. In other words, they're easy to |
| trimarans. These small sailboats are made by | | | | turn. |
| VirusBoats in France, and often serve as "day | | | | The stern of their vaka (main) hull is basically flat. |
| boats" for sailors who love to either sail solo or | | | | This design, which combines with the a |
| with a small crew of guests. | | | | centerboard, allows the Magnums to swivel to and |
| I was impressed by many of the things he | | | | fro quite easily ... almost as if they were |
| shared about these sailboats during our | | | | single-hulled dinghies. |
| conversation, but one thing in particular surprised | | | | Sailors who come back to shore after a sailing run |
| me. Apparently, there is a bit of a misconception | | | | for the first time often say they're amazed by |
| among some prospective buyers about these | | | | how easy these trimarans are to maneuver and |
| boats. The purpose of this article is to address it. | | | | turn. Apparently, their design shape allows such |
| It seems that because Magnum trimarans are | | | | handling to be possible, and was unique when the |
| multi-hulled craft, many sailors simply assume they | | | | boats originally came out. A few other trimarans |
| handle much like double-hulled catamarans. But this | | | | have now copied this feature in recent years. |
| couldn't be further from the truth. It's an | | | | The flat surface along the back of the boat's |
| assumption that should be quickly set aside. | | | | principle hull, combined with the centerboard, |
| You see, catamarans have a generally | | | | permit this fast boat to be nimble as well. And |
| well-deserved reputation for being difficult to tack. | | | | considering the fact they're stable on the water, |
| Their 2 long slender double-hulls, combined with | | | | such ease of handling is often a pleasant surprise |
| the fact they often glide along the water's | | | | for users. |
| surface on just one of them, make it hard for | | | | More about the Magnum will be included in a |
| those boats to turn easily. | | | | forthcoming book by the author. The new book |
| The Magnum trimaran sailboats, however, are | | | | will be exclusively about small trimarans. And |
| very different. | | | | readers may fill out any short survey posted in |
| When the Magnums first came on the boat scene | | | | exchange for a free trimaran-related information |
| several years back, they gave sailors a trimaran | | | | product in development. |
| that handled much more like any other small boat | | | | |