How Stable Are Farrier Trimarans?
There has been a general trend towards bigger floats and more beam, resulting in much more stable boats. The latest Farrier designs are also considerably more stable than earlier designs, but care has been taken to ensure that the float shape does not overstress the beams, and windward ability is not lost due to higher windage from excessive beam. Both can create safety, comfort, and performance problems Correct float design avoids too much fullness at the keel, to give an ability to initially heel a little to help safely absorb unexpected gusts. It also softens the motion through waves, and avoids heavy pounding or shock loads to the beams (and the crew). Excessive beam quickly adds windage and weight, and such boats then require a larger rig to overcome the extra windage and weight. The rig itself then adds even more windage and weight. The result is a boat that is slower to windward, and pitches considerably more. It is also more prone to nose diving off the wind, due to the fore an
