corsair 31 trimaran review

CORSAIR 31/F-31 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of CORSAIR 31/F-31. Built by Corsair Marine and designed by Ian Farrier, the boat was first built in 1991. It has a hull type of Trimaran Dbrd. and LOA is 9.4. Its sail area/displacement ratio 37.42. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

CORSAIR 31/F-31 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about CORSAIR 31/F-31 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the corsair 31/f-31.

CORSAIR 31/F-31 was designed by Ian Farrier.

Who builds CORSAIR 31/F-31?

CORSAIR 31/F-31 is built by Corsair Marine.

When was CORSAIR 31/F-31 first built?

CORSAIR 31/F-31 was first built in 1991.

How long is CORSAIR 31/F-31?

CORSAIR 31/F-31 is 9.14 m in length.

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Corsair 31 feedback

• Thread starter JRT
• Start date Oct 29, 2018
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Might be looking at a Corsair 31 and I'm curious about any feedback? The ad is lacking in any details except rotating mast, which I really don't understand what that means. It also says Retractable Carbon Fiber Bowsprit , Kevlar/Carbon sails. Trailer included which makes it intersting to me. Thanks  

Momma, I’m going fast!  

John Tubb said: ...except rotating mast, which I really don't understand what that means.... Click to expand

So no experience with multi hulls but I've had an intetest in triamarans for awhile. Don't need to make a change but saw an opportunity so figured it can't hurt to look and ask.  

Yup I think it would be a blast, probably not the best boat for our area but the benefits would be additional stability for the wife and having the trailer to take to gulf coast on vacation would rock. The person with the ad hasn't responded still so maybe it was an error or already sold. No big deal as I've decided when the right boat and price shows up that will be fine. We looked very hard and long at a new boat in FL but decided the commitment just wasn't there yet with the kids still at home.  

If you think a Corsair31 is going to relieve your wife’s anxiety about sailing, you should reconsider. Those things scare me, require a very skilled crew.  

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Corsairs and they can be quite safe, reefed down. But powered up you need to understand their nature. Just look at my avitar; the lee ama is pretty well under in only ~ 12-15 knots of breeze. Of course, I'm reaching in the low- to mid-teens and loving it. I've had it out gusting over 30 knots, main only and reefed way down, and it wasn't bad. Another option is to reef more than you technically need to. Yesterday I was out in a breeze, singlehanding at 9-14 knots. Fun but stressful after a while. After a while I just wanted to relax and take pictures, so I furled the jib and sailed main only at 6-8 knots, without a care in the world. Reefed down she's not that fast, but she still faster than most, well-mannered, and quite weatherly. I often do that, just to relax. So it depends on what you want.  

Thanks, I've read the F-24 is wet ride, even the F-27 is pretty wet. I was really wondering about the 31 since it seems bigger and maybe more freeboard? We have some pretty low wind days around here but the gusting can get up fast with fronts coming over the mountains. The owner sent me an email, he seems to be having issues sending pics so trying another email. I might play skip work on Friday and head out to look at it if I can get some pics and description.  

Gunni said: If you think a Corsair31 is going to relieve your wife’s anxiety about sailing, you should reconsider. Those things scare me, require a very skilled crew. Click to expand

I have a Hobie 16 that I use when I just want to get an adrenaline fix. For cruising I use my H26. If a F31 is big enough for your purposes, then it might be a really fun compromise to having two boats. I guess it depends on if you want to do extended cruises or just short cruises and how many people need to comfortably sleep in the F31. I'm a family of 6 and almost always have at least 4 people on the boat... so the H26 will remain in my fleet for now.  

We are just day sailors, a trailer could improve that since we go to the Gulf and FL for vacations. My O'Day 25 is nice enough plus easy to sail and stress free. I've got an O'Day 272 LE with trailer on my radar and a MK III Catalina 30 also a few days of sailing up river from me too. The 272 LE looks nicely updated and maintained, the 30 will be a big boat for us and fit the family well but may be over kill for day sailing. This Corsair may just be too much boat, but the funny thing it is in between price wise of the 272 and Catalina 30.  

I went and looked at some interior pics of the F31. It looks like a family of 3 or 4 could do very well on a few short weekend cruises on this boat. How large is your crew? The nice thing about a fast boat is you can actually get someplace on a short weekend so short cruises can still be an adventure. You can also outrun some weather if you keep your eye on the radar apps.  

If I could afford one of those F37's.... I would buy it and never go to work another day of my life......  

John Tubb said: Might be looking at a Corsair 31 and I'm curious about any feedback? The ad is lacking in any details except rotating mast, which I really don't understand what that means. It also says Retractable Carbon Fiber Bowsprit , Kevlar/Carbon sails. Trailer included which makes it interesting to me. Thanks Click to expand

Thanks @DrJudyB for the feedback. I read Bob Perry's reviews and the few others I found around. Farrier web site has some great details and info. I'm just waiting to hear back from the seller and see what we have.  

Stan Breaux

So there's a Corsair 31 that showed up on the Birmingham Craigslist this morning for $20,000. Is that the one you're looking at? https://bham.craigslist.org/boa/d/corsair-31rs/6730135930.html I figure it's a scam. If he says it's sitting in his backyard here in Birmingham, then that's great -- I'll even drive by and take a quick look for you, but I have my doubts...  

Stan Breaux said: So there's a Corsair 31 that showed up on the Birmingham Craigslist this morning for $20,000. Is that the one you're looking at? https://bham.craigslist.org/boa/d/corsair-31rs/6730135930.html I figure it's a scam. If he says it's sitting in his backyard here in Birmingham, then that's great -- I'll even drive by and take a quick look for you, but I have my doubts... Click to expand

I have not been inside the Corsair 31, but the F27 was a disappointment inside. No headroom, and I am only 5’8”... no room for the head, no room for a fridge, not much of a galley. They are light, so they will not handle nicely in a chop. Super fast, but very wet. Keeping it in the marina means having a T dock because you will not close the outriggers on the water. You can, but you won’t. They are not really made for it. I agree that it is probably not going to ease your wife’s mind. They routinely fly a hull.  

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Corsair 36, Fast Cruising Tri

• By John Burnham
• Updated: June 7, 2005

What I thought was the weirdest thing about the boat at first turned out to be one of its outstanding features. The Corsair 36 has a stern deck at the back of the cockpit with two large bench seats made of mesh and stainless steel tubes, and they looked bizarre. But after a day or two of cruising with my wife and three daughters, I looked at those seats with complete appreciation. They were the most coveted, comfortable places from which our crew would sunbathe, snooze, and read. If I was lucky, sometimes I even got to sit in one to steer.

I’d been looking forward to cruising on Corsair’s new flagship and comparing it to our experience on the 31 a few years earlier ( “It’s Not All About Speed,” March ’01 ). Like the 31, the 36 is built with a vacuum-bagged foam/glass sandwich laminate, plus carbon and Kevlar reinforcing. The beams are made entirely with carbon, and the overall weight is a little over 2,000 pounds more than the 31. With 817 square feet of upwind sail area, the tri was fast-roughly as fast as the 31, but without the same twitch in the gut when it accelerated. Under main alone we broad-reached across a windy Vineyard Sound doing a relaxed 12 knots. Later, on a beam reach in about 12 knots on Narragansett Bay, with my 12-year-old daughter steering (one hand on the tiller extension, one hand holding a book), our speed jumped from 11 knots to 15.3 as I trimmed in the main and the sprit-mounted genoa (known as a screacher). And when I crewed in a local race with Multihull Source dealer Bob Gleason, we saw 17 knots on a tight reach. I’m told that reaching speeds in the low 20s are common, but what impressed me most was the light-air trip we made from Martha’s Vineyard, to Jamestown, R.I., in seven hours-40 miles upwind. To me that’s the big benefit of a boat like the 36; you can sail it quickly and quietly, eating up the miles while others are going no faster under iron genoa.

Because of its larger accommodations, compared to the 31, the 36 got the thumbs-up from my daughters. But it’s still a trimaran with a relatively skinny main hull; that’s the price you pay for speed. The narrow waterline reduces storage, but the hull flares outboard above the waterline, which provides room for an enclosed head on one side of the daggerboard trunk, as well as the dinette, which converts to a small double berth. There’s also a small galley area to starboard with a sink and two-burner alcohol stove.

On our boat, the fridge had been removed and an Igloo cooler was used in place of the bottom companionway step; but the standard configuration has a 12-volt fridge to port, just forward of the dinette area. An option is available for a propane-fired stove and propane on-demand hot water. There were five of us aboard, with two girls in the forward cabin, one in the dinette double, and the adults in the aft double, which is reached by lifting part or all of the stern deck at the back of the cockpit. We loved sleeping in that wide aft berth, although getting in and out required agility, and changing clothes in there was like dressing inside a tent. We decided if there were a follow-up cruise, we’d claim the forward cabin and move the girls aft.

Despite the constraints of the interior, the on-deck living spaces are expansive. With amas and trampolines to port and starboard, a small foredeck, plus the stern seats, any of the five of us could escape the others when we felt like it. We could easily carry our tenders-single and double kayaks lashed between the forward and aft beam on one side-and the large-volume outer hulls had plenty of room for storing anchors, paddles, even garbage. On the foredeck and forward beam, we found plenty of room to take solar showers and/or have some fun by dashing outboard and swinging off the spinnaker halyard. Speaking of solar devices, a flexible solar panel lived on the cabintop or port netting and provided an all-day trickle charge to our batteries.

The 36 we sailed was one of the first built, and while we were racing in hard reaching conditions, we heard a crack at theinboard end of the forward beam. Installed under the beam’sinboard end was a fiberglass block that gives a tight fit for the beam after it’s unfolded and bolted to the main hull. “The block we made,” says Paul Koch, Corsair’s president and design team member, “wasn’t up to the job. We’ve replaced it on all boats with a stronger aluminum casting.” Hull No. 8 is under construction at press time.

Overall, I liked the boat’s sailhandling systems-a full-length traveler across the stern deck and pairs of winches for main, jib, and screacher or spinnaker. While racing, I went forward to help with the asymmetric spinnaker and found that it was too big for me to take down to windward unless the skipper was willing to bear off. (For some reason he wanted to keep sailing toward the mark, so we dropped it to leeward instead.) But while cruising, the combination of the roller-furling headsails (jib and screacher) and a mainsail equipped with lazy jacks and jiffy reefing made sailhandling easy.

It was tough to balance on the boom to remove the full-length batten in the square-top mainsail, and I figured that was another small price to pay for performance. I learned later from sailmaker Dave Calvert that a quick-pin on a new Tides Marine batten-car design now releases the head so the batten can lie flat along the boom. Under power, with a 15-hp, long-shaft, four-stroke Honda, the 36 moved well and steered easily thanks to a small bar that is dropped into place to link the top of the engine and the outboard, kick-up rudder. An electric starter and power tilt made getting underway simple.

Compared to other Corsairs, which go on and off their trailers quickly, the 36 is a much more substantial boat. It’s considered a “transportable,” not a “trailerable” boat, in the sense that it’s not the type of boat you’ll launch for a quick afternoon sail. Except when traveling to new sailing areas, it will probably live on the end of a dock or a mooring-or in about five minutes it can also be folded up to fit in a slip. Manufacturer estimates for stepping the mast and launching are about two hours.

If your kids like to read and swim and you like to sail from harbor to harbor-whether at 17 knots in a breeze or 6 knots in light airs, go for a test sail . With a few agile, fit crewmembers to manage the spinnaker, you can race it hard as well. Whatever you do, don’t let the funky bench seats put you off.

Corsair 36 LOA 36’0″ LWL 35’0″ Beam (overall) 25’7″ Beam (folded) 9’10” DSPL 5,500 lbs. Draft (hull only) 1’8″ Draft (daggerboard down) 6’0″ Mast length 47’6″ Sail area 817 sq. ft. (1,084 w/screacher) Base price $208,000 www.corsairmarine.com

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Corsair Cruze 970

• By Tim Murphy; Photos By Billy Black
• Updated: August 7, 2014

Since 1985 the Corsair 31 has been a familiar trimaran on the racing and cruising scene. At yards in Australia and California, 303 of that model were built, with subtle design tweaks over the years. This year, the Corsair Cruze 970 replaces the 31 — and it’s all for the better.

Longer amas, as well as bows that are more plumb and hull forms with less rocker, add 20 percent more buoyancy to this boat, while retaining similar beam dimensions. The result is a more stable platform. The keel and rudder for the original 31 had been optimized for boat speeds between 3 and 10 knots. Incorporating the lessons from those 300 boats, today’s 970 features much thinner, higher-aspect-ratio foils that are optimized for speeds in the teens and higher. (A note to those who haven’t sailed Corsairs before: Those boat speeds are real. Try it!)

Living spaces, both inside and out, are improved in the 970. Boat of the Year judge Mark Schrader was a dealer for Corsair years ago and raced the boats many miles. “They’ve added two very comfortable park benches in the cockpit,” he said of the 970. On the 31, he said, “there wasn’t really any place for more than four people to sit, stand or do anything without hugging each other.” The 31 was offered with either an aft cabin or an aft cockpit arrangement; the 970 deftly manages to make space for both, while also adding headroom in the cabin. Using careful building techniques, including vacuum bagging, Corsair has added more furniture in the cabin yet kept the weight the same.

As with other Corsairs, the amas of the 970 can be folded inboard for trailering. The well-refined mechanisms for doing so are the same as in the previous versions.

We sailed the 970 in light air. With the screacher up in 8 to 10 knots of breeze, we posted 6.6 knots just above 60 degrees apparent, then cracked off and made 7.6 knots. Steve Marsh, a Florida-based Corsair dealer, said you can sail 15 degrees closer to the wind with the blade jib. Propulsion on the boat we sailed is a Yamaha 9.9-horsepower outboard on the transom, with a steering arm affixed to the 970’s tiller and remote engine controls in the cockpit. The 970 offers no inboard option.

Several years ago Australia-based Seawind Yachts purchased the Corsair brand. These days both lines are built at a single factory in Vietnam. The construction quality is quite good — better than the California-built 31s, observed Schrader. The company offers a five-year warranty on the structure, as well as manufacturers’ warranties on installed hardware.

Schrader summed up the pleasures of this boat: “You can park it on the beach. You can run around on the trampolines. You can get into a foot and a half of water. It’s your platform to go park in some little lagoon somewhere.”

And yet, all that idyllic parking doesn’t account for even half the fun. Because in getting there, you’ll learn what boat speeds of 20-plus knots feel like.

Click here to see more images of the Corsair Cruze 970.

Tim Murphy, a CW editor at large and a 2014 Boat of the Year judge, is the co-author of Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology (ABYC, 2012).

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Review of Corsair 31

Basic specs..

The Corsair 31 is equipped with a daggerboard keel. A daggerboard is a lifting keel that can be lowered and raised, allowing the boat to enter shallow waters as well.

The boat can enter even shallow marinas as the draft is just about 0.41 - 0.51 meter (1.35 - 1.65 ft) dependent on the load.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Sorry, we have no sailing characteristics available for this boat.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Sorry, we do not have sufficient statistical information available for this boat to provide a significant reliable analysis.

Maintenance

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Corsair 31 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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• Sailboat Guide

2002 Corsair 31 UC Trimaran

• Description

Seller's Description

PRICE REDUCTION 7-23-2020 Click here for all the details. 02corsair.com

The Corsair 31 Ultimate Cruiser (UC) combines performance with the ultimate in cruising accommodations. The forepeak houses the head, shower, wet dry storage and hanging locker. A full salon with standing headroom. An aft cabin double berth.The Corsair 31 UC is easy to trailer, beach and sail.

Equipment: Sails 2019 Mack Sails- Mainsail with roach and full battens Marblehead Dacron. Boom Furling. With Sunbrella Sail cover. 2019 Mack Sails-Screecher-with furling drum-Beam straps and Harken Blocks. And more. Motor: 2016 Yamaha 9.9 HP Four Stroke, Gas-Extended Shaft-High Thrust Remote In Cockpit Controls, Electric Tilt, start & choke. Batteries: Two West Marine AGM-92 Amp Hours Duel Purpose-900 Marine cranking amps-175 Reserve minutes. Rigging Mast: Aluminum Rotating. Stainless steel cable diamond stays and side stays with highfield levers and Forestay Harken furling drum for jib. 2nd Stainless Steel Forestay for hank on jib. 6 ft Bowsprit carbon fiber Electronics/Navigation 2017 Garmin GPS-MAP 547 XS- VHF Radio-Shakespeare-Mast head Antenna Tactic Digital-Speed Depth Display Compass-Magnetic-Bulkhead Mounted 2017 Simrad TP-32 Autopilot- with remote cable control.Laminated wood Tiller with Ronstan Battle Stick tiller extension. Anchoring Light, Steaming light, Deck Light Electrical Panel with volt meter & 12 volt socket (cigarette). Exterior Bottom Paint-Epoxy barrier coat under Petit Vivid Ablative/Biocide- Aqua Blue-New 2020 Wing and bow nets-New 2014- Sunrise-polyester coated- wing, with straps-bow, 3/8 open net 2019-fresh latex paint-laced with Dynema line. Hardware: 4 Harken two speed Self Tailing Winches. Mainsheet Bock 12:1 Interior: Interior Cushions- blue Sunbrella Three removable custom wood panels spanning center of salon with custom Sunbrella cushion. Dining Table. Galley Stove-two burner alcohol Two sinks-galley and head-with cold water faucet and electric water pump for water on demand Plow Anchor with Chain and Rode,Danforth Anchor with chain and Rode. Mast-raising equipment: Bow cradle, Stern stand with roller, Yoke, gin pole and mini stays. Two heavy duty Harken blocks with spare 70 ft halyard. Trailer: Trailex Aluminum Dual Axel 2018 New Brakes-Drum-Surge 2018 New Wheel Bearings and Bearing Buddy hubs 2018 Four new tires Spare Tire Refurbished Bunks New Trailer Nose Wheel/Stand (swing-up) Light Bar More Details see: 02corsair.com

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Corsair 31 Trimaran?

• Add to quote

You do sacrifice interior space for the speed but I think you''d be surprised with how well they can point. The boat suits our needs perfectly and we couldn''t be happier! If you think of a cruising monohull as a minivan and an F31 as a Porsche it will help you understand the differences... There is an active yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/f-boats you can also check out the manufacturers site: http://www.corsairmarine.com the designer''s site: http://www.f-boat.com many of the dealers now use yachtworld to host their listings online so you should be able to find some used boats there.  

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Folding System

Legendary ability, unbeatable reliability.

Folding and unfolding a Corsair trimaran takes only a minute. With just 4 bolts to remove, it is easily managed by one person, and is normally done while afloat. Simply raise (to fold) or press down (to unfold) the inboard end of one cross beam. It can be done from the safety of the cockpit and only a little force is needed due to the folding system’s carefully balanced geometry, and the movement of the floats being mostly horizontal.

The solid aluminium folding struts have absolute control over the folding motion and prevent flexing or racking. A stainless steel bolt on the inboard end of each beam secures the floats for sailing. Crucially, wingnets remain attached during the folding process – their frictionless fixing allows them to tension themselves appropriately through the folding process. The system is so simple and balanced that Corsair trimarans can even be folded while motoring.

TRAILERING ACROSS CONTINENTS

Corsair Marine trimarans are especially weight-conscious, and sit low on their trailers meaning they have excellent trailering characteristics. They are equally easy to launch, giving you more time on the water, and the ability to expore many more remote cruising grounds or participate in regattas far from home. Some Corsair trimaran models go from trailer to water in 25 minutes, and with practice even the largest boat models can be done in 40 minutes.

Corsair 880 Trimaran | 2022 Boat Review by Multihulls World

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Corsair 36: A big folding trimaran from the ‘global village’

The design of the central hull offers both interior volume and good performance under sail! Bravo...

Practical info

• Builder : CORSAIR MARINE INTL
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• Available in issue # 105

Boat Test price $5.00 Inc. tax

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Corsair was created by a New Zealand architect in California, and has built more than 1,200 folding trimarans between 1984 and 2008, which makes it the leader in this segment, along with the Danish Dragonfly. We have just tested the biggest of these trimarans, the Corsair 36...

The 36’ has now been replaced by the Corsair 37, a re-styled version of the same boat. Taking into account the small number of examples present in Europe, we leapt at the chance to test one, whilst waiting to present the 37’ carbon (RS) development.

Aluminium rotating mast, carbon bowsprit and nice Pentex sails by Calvert Sails: the Corsair 36 offers simple but high-performance choices!

The split with the founding architect

In 2000, Ian Farrier left the Chula Vista company that he had created and of which he was the vice-president and the emblematic architect. The disagreement with Paul Koch, the new strong man at Corsair (an Australian who built the Farrier Ostac), led the designer to return to his New Zealand offices, from where he re-launched his own range (F82, 32’, 36’ and 39’), intended for individual (up-market) construction, and Australian and Phillipine (Melvest Yard) production.

A really liveable trimaran which allows you to envisage offshore cruising...

The 36’- 37’: the flagship of a turbulent range

The 36’s characteristics show clearly that it belongs to the Farrier line, and it is obvious that despite the difficulties, the Corsair research and...

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• Sailboat Reviews

Corsair F-24 Boat Test

The corsair f-24 mk i cooks up a budget-friendly taste of fast..

In May 1999 Practical Sailor reviewed the then-new Corsair F-24 Mark II trimaran. Nearly 20 years later, were here to follow up with a focus on the Corsair F-24 Mark I, a boat that can represent a good value today since many newer designs have entered the market.

The late Ian Farrier (1947-2017) designed fast, trailerable trimarans for more than 40 years. A New Zealander, his first production success was the 18-foot Trailertri. His 19-foot Tramp was Boat-of-the-Year in Australia in 1981. In 1983 John Walton (of the Wal Mart family) founded Corsair to build high-performance multihulls, lured Farrier to Chula Vista, California, and the result was the very popular F-27 ( PS September 1990 ). Almost 500 have been sold since it went into production in 1985. It has since been superceded by the F-28.

In 1991, Corsair added the F-24 Sport Cruiser. This abbreviated version of the F-27, with a starting price more than 30 percent lower than the F-27, was designed to be affordable.

While she remained sharp in the performance department, her accommodations were even more spartan. We spoke with Ian Farrier several times about anchoring and cruising; it was pretty clear that his heart was in racing and he even suggested we were probably better in tune with the needs and practicalities of small multi-hull cruising than he was. Still, he designed a cabin that can handily do both, if you can accept the compromises.

The deck layout is similar to the typical 24-foot monohull, except that it is wide-18 feet-with wing trampolines on both sides. In addition to providing stability, this gives lounging space in fair weather and greatly increases safety in rough weather. Though lacking railings and lifelines-other than a pulpit and wrap-around stern rail-its hard to fall off the F-24 if jacklines and tethers are used. A single large Lewmar foredeck hatch provides ample ventilation. The cockpit will easily seat six, but three is more comfortable for vigorous sailing.

The cockpit is equipped with four Lewmar 16 winches (the jib winches are one-speed self-tailers, the reacher winches are standard two-speed), two multi-line jammers, and ten cam cleats. All essential sail controls, including halyards, are accessible from the cockpit, making for easy single-handed sailing.

The mainsail furls by winding around the boom; fast, convenient, and very gentle on the typical Mylar/carbon laminate sails. Reefing requires a quick trip to the mast to crank the boom around and attach the down haul, but that is it. The set up makes a vang impractical but few multihulls use them anyway, preferring to control the boom with the traveler.

The bow anchor locker holds two anchors and two rodes, so long as they are folding designs. Trimarans are best anchored using a bridle; the test boat uses a 20-foot Dyneema bridle that is retracted onto the wing nets when not in use.

The typical 6 horsepower outboard delivers about 5.3 knots at 1/3 throttle and about 6.5 knots wide open. The side mount provides decent performance in chop, pitching less than transom-mounted engines.

The portable fuel tank is protected from the sun and solar heating in an under-seat locker. It is wide is open for venting (but sealed from the cabin) and drains out through the open transom, safe and out of the way.

Since the emphasis was fast cruising and racing, storage and amenities are sparse. In the cabin there is storage behind the seat backs. The large rectangular top-opening lockers in the galley counter and under the seats can be fitted with hanging bags for easier access.

The head compartment has sufficient space for toilet paper and cleaning supplies. There is a large bottomless locker in the cockpit that also provides access to under cockpit areas. Lockers in the amas (outriggers) can hold light, bulky items.

There is sitting head room and ample seating for four on the starboard settee. An Origo alcohol stove and sink with rocker pump provide a minimal galley. A large cooler slides easily under the companionway. The forward V-berth is quite long, though a little pinched at the foot. The settee converts into a twin-sized bed using filler boards that slide neatly into storage slots under the companionway.

A portable head sits in a well behind a curtain, and is typically moved into the cockpit at bedtime for better privacy. Some owners rate the interior as poor, but most call it camping-out comfortable, suitable for an overnight or weekend.

Performance

Everyone wants to know how fast the little trimaran will go. To windward it points as well as most monohulls, thanks to a deep centerboard. Shell tack through less than 90 degrees if you pinch, though it’s faster if you bear off just a little. Keeping up with 40-foot cruisers is easy on any point of the sail, and you quickly chase them down on a reach.

With the wind free, expect to match true wind speed up to about 12 knots, after which you may reef or bleed power, depending on your mood. In lighter winds, pop out the reacher and you’ll get a whole new gear, easily exceeding wind speed.

In stronger winds, bear off until the true wind is on the quarter, and you’ll see 14 knots or more, although handling requires sharp attention if you haven’t reefed.

Compared to the Stiletto 27 (see PS July 2016), it is more weatherly, tacks faster, can safely handle more wind, but is slightly slower off the wind (though not as scary).

Upwind reefing begins at about 15 knots true for those who like fast sailing, but there is no reason not to reef a little earlier and enjoy more relaxed, but still spirited sailing. Maximum angle of heel is about 15 degrees.

With two reefs and the jib rolled up a little, shell take quite a lot of wind, perhaps 30 knots, without much excitement. Upwind in 20 knots is fun with the right reefs in, and that’s pretty good for a 24-foot boat. Farrier designed these conservatively, with windy conditions in mind. They are quite popular on San Francisco Bay, an area known for strong breezes.

The Mark II was touted as the new and improved version of the Mark I. By replacing the centerboard with a daggerboard, weight was reduced, and a rotating mast increased power, making the Mark II noticeably faster. The Mark I has more usable cabin space, since the centerboard case is hidden inside the settee, and the Mark I cockpit is also several feet longer, a boon to fun daysailing.

The centerboard is also a blessing in shoal water, automatically pivoting up if it smells the bottom, instead of breaking things when you find a sandbar at 15 knots. The Mark I has a kick-up rudder fitted into a cassette, keeping it under the boat, while the Mark II has a transom hung rudder. The Mark I works as a day sailor and weekender, while racers prefer the Mark II.

As with any multihull, there is always the capsize canard. Sailed poorly, any sailboat can capsize, says Farrier. My designs are not immune to this. With over 1,000 Farriers now sailing, even a low 1 percent capsize ratio would mean 10 capsizes a year. However, the capsize rate actually appears to be averaging .03 percent.

Large ocean-going monohull yachts are foundering annually, sometimes with loss of life. The basic safety difference is that the monohulls ultimate stability is resting on the bottom, while the multihulls is floating on top.

Reef appropriately and the risk is truly small. F-27s have completed successful transpacific and transatlantic crossings, and even the first circumnavigation of the North Pole under sail. Finally, the F-24 can’t sink. Built-in foam flotation, light construction, and multiple crash tanks in the amas and foam-filled akas (cross beams) make this impossible.

The F-24s main hull is fine, with a V-entry forward, U-sections mid-ships, and a relatively flat transom to damp pitching and provide lift for planing. Going to weather, most of the weight is on the amas, with fine V-sections that cut nicely through waves. Powering through short chop is not a strong suit among multihulls, but she has demonstrated considerable ability in choppy waters such as San Francisco Bay and the Chesapeake.

The heart of Farriers designs is the patented Farrier Folding System. Refined over the years, the mechanism allows the akas to fold-up, which reduces the F-24s beam from 17 feet 11 inches to 8 feet 2 inches.

We kept our F-24 in a small boat marina for a time, folding after every sail; we did this while motoring in the channel, requiring only a few minutes of light effort by one person.

While the claim of trailering to sailing in 20 minutes may be true for seasoned crews that race every weekend, allow two hours for the transition if you do this only occasionally.

Although no single step is physically difficult for a single person, there are many steps and a second pair of hands makes for safer work. The engineering has proved very reliable, and now that the patents have expired, copies abound.

Construction

Performance multihulls built to their designed displacements are hardly ever built on production lines. Corsair has been the exception to that rule. Light weight is an essential if you want a cat or trimaran to sail up to its speed potential, but you’re not likely to achieve it with normal materials and common construction techniques.

Turning out an F-24 that weighs 1,800 pounds (1,650 pounds for the Mark II) is no simple matter. It involves almost 50 separate molded parts, considerably more than same-length monohulls.

Carbon fiber and Kevlar reinforcement, vacuum-bagging, double-biased fabrics, acrylic-modified epoxy resin, and NPG gelcoat are all elements you’d expect to see in a custom shop. They all go into the F-24.

Glass/resin control, published laminate schedules, a computer-generated production protocol, universally bonded top hat joints between hull and deck, barrier coats of vinyl ester resin, isopthalic resin throughout the rest of the laminate, and bulkheads tabbed in seven places to the hull makes for a light but sturdy boat.

The akas appear to be held in place by the anchor bolts inserted when unfolding, but the sailing forces are actually carried by strong pivot arms connecting the akas to anchor points near the waterline, anchored deep within the hull, and by compression blocks where the arms meet the hull at deck level.

After 20 years we’ve had a few minor issues related to failed bedding and damage to the balsa core, but nothing affecting the main structural elements.

Conclusions

Whether you’re downsizing from a cruising cat, or upsizing from the family Hobie, the F-24 offers the sports car of youthful dreams, on a budget.

Is it worth paying three times as much as you would for a 24-foot mono-hull with more room? Not if you’re looking for cabin space and need an enclosed head. On the other hand, if fun sailing is the goal, the dollar-to-grin ratio is very high. Market demand is dependable and you will get your money back. It’s not the best beginners boat.

You can’t just sheet-and-forget, and getting the best from her requires experience and attention. But if you have a beach cat or fast dinghy background, it’s a great way to gain weekender capability without losing any of the fun. If you need a little more comfort or more speed, look at the Corsair F-27. And if money is no object there’s a world of Farrier designs to choose from.

Cruising in an F-24 is a tiny step above camping, but for the bare-bones cruiser who wants to cover some ground quickly, it fits the bill quite handily.

1. An alcohol stove and a small sink serve the micro-galley. 2. The V-berth is tight, but the convertible settee in the main cabin makes a twin-sized bed. 3. The porta-potty sits under the V-berth. It is often moved to the cockpit at night while sleeping. 4. A folding table seats one for dining.

• Fast, weatherly, and quick to tack.
• Stable. Only 15 degrees heel.
• Reefing starts at about 18 knots apparent.
• Easy to fold from 18-foot beam to
• 8-foot in about two minutes.
• Roomy cockpit. Tramps are fun in the summer.
• Eighteen-foot beam makes it hard to fall off.
• Well-built with stout rigging.
• Cramped cabin. No standing headroom and few amenities.
• Limited storage space.
• Portable head and no head compartment.
• Quick motion.
• Slow under power.

• Corsair Marine

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By far the most comprehensive review of the F-24 I was able to find online. Many thanks for the write-up, very informative and helpful.

Lakeside Marine & Motorsports has been awarded Best of Forsyth Boat and Marine Service as well as Used Boat Sales. Please contact us for any kind of Boat work or Purchase.

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