Telstar 26 Trimaran

  • 02 Jun 2018 18:46
    Reply # 6282580 on 6259050

    The Telstar has been sold, so I either missed a bargain...or missed.....

    Still will keep looking, and a Telstar is on the list, though the later ones got a bit fat.

    There is a 32’ foil stabilised tri that has caught my interest, down in Kent, so a long way to go and look, though surprisingly closer to Edinburgh by sea than the Telstar was at Stranraer.  Would definitely make the coolest / kookiest junk around,  and only asking £3,500!  

    A governing factor will be the weight of the mast such that it could be handled single handed if need be.  Perhaps a timber / carbon fibre composite?    I have still to get my head round calculating righting moments and mast stress,  is there an idiots guide?

    Thanks, Mark

  • 28 May 2018 00:23
    Reply # 6267576 on 6259050

    Be cautious about putting the mast too far forward.  My experience with beach cats was that this depresses the bow.  Thomas Firth Jones, in his book Multihull Voyaging, recounts that one of his early catamarans was nicely balanced in light winds, but developed wild weather helm in strong winds.  tilting the mast forward didn't help.  A multihull designer advised that moving the centre of effort forward depressed the fine lee bow of the catamaran, and lifted the rudder.  The cure was to tilt the mast back.

    Things can be different if you have a foresail that lifts the bow, as some spinnakers apparently do.  A junk sail on mast that is canted forward would not lift, but push down.

    Weather helm can always be cured by a large and balanced rudder, attached to strong pintles in a strong transom.

  • 26 May 2018 17:19
    Reply # 6264795 on 6259050
    Deleted user

    I sailed a Telstar for 5 years in the '70's. As I remember (could be wrong after this time!) You can trim for hands off sailing under Genoa alone if you half lift the board (it swings back and up) and tilt the rudder blade forward. So, you will have some control on the lead. If it was mine I'd put the mast further forward and just use the forepeak for stowage. There are good saloon berths

  • 25 May 2018 07:18
    Reply # 6260824 on 6259050

    Mark, it's good to see that you're ready to take the plunge.

    Is there a case for an offset mast, to retain access to the forward end of the hull? 

    Pete Hill, James Wharram etc, go for low AR rigs on multihulls, for safety, and a forward raked mast seems to make sense here - a fantail type of sail, which is happiest on a forward raked mast?

  • 24 May 2018 13:47
    Message # 6259050

    I have just spotted one of these at a very fair price, could be a good choice for my (first) Junk rig conversion, so am scoping possibilities and cost for the rig.

    Boat spec is

    26' / 8m long   16' / 4.9m wide, 1.3t displacement,  34sqm total sail area.

    If I do buy her, probable will be keen to get going, rather than make something too complicated at the start.

    The BM mast is deck stepped, with a post below - at the rear of the table on the plan.  Moving it forward to the front bulkhead is an option, though will restrict access forward. Leaning the mast forward is a possibility if it remains with base as present post base.  I am not sure how sensitive to balance she will be - I think I recall we do have members who have had a similar if not converted tri?

    Mast would be either alumium tube plus timber top, or all timber + epoxy / glass sheath - as Pete Hill's.  All timber less cost, perhaps a bit more time to make?

    Any suggestions welcome.

     

    1 file
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

                                                              Site contents © the Junk Rig Association and/or individual authors

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software