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Summing Up

One of my fondest sailing dreams is to someday hop aboard a fast, zippy multihull, skip across the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas, and spend a long winter poking into every nook and cranny I can find. Without reservation, I'd happily take the Telstar, Dragonfly, or Corsair on such an adventure. That said, my time aboard left me with several observations about each boat.

The Telstar 28 is an extremely well-reasoned boat, but it was also first conceived in the 1970s, and unless you find beauty in utility, the profile is a bit boxy and certainly not as sexy as the other boats in this roundup. But with a price tag well under $100K, especially considering its portability in these days when moorage is at a premium, it's also a good bargain.

The Dragonfly 35 is the gold standard in this collection, and given its $370K cost, it certainly should be. It's foldable, yes, but not trailerable, and for some sailors in well-populated locales, finding a place to permanently moor it may be an issue. However, it's also a solid, superbly crafted vessel that with its systems and potential for extended sailing, will take one anywhere in high style.

The Corsair 31 tilts toward the high-performance end of the spectrum, and for some sailors, it may be a handful. But there are options galore in the four respective versions, and other sailors will relish the competitive opportunities with a vessel that also provides more than reasonable accommodations for coastal forays. It may be the most versatile boat of the three.

In short, when buying any boat, it's ideal to have choices. And if you're in the market for a small multihull—no matter what your budget or intended plans—with this segment of midsize trimarans, there's an excellent selection.

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Herb McCormick is a Cruising World editor at large.

Specs:

Telstar 28
LOA    27' 6" (8.38 m.)
LWL    26' 3" (8.00 m.)
Beam (amas out/in)    18' 0"/8' 6" (5.49/2.59 m.)
Draft (board up/down)    1' 0"/4' 3" (0.30/1.30 m.)
Sail Area (100%)    524 sq. ft. (48.7 sq. m.)
Displacement    3,000 lb. (1,361 kg.)
Water     30 gal. (113.5 l.)
Fuel    12 gal. (45.4 l.)
Engine    Honda 20-hp. outboard
    (Honda 50-hp. optional)
Designer    Tony Smith
Price    $89,500
Performance Cruising
(410) 626-2720
www.performancecruising.com


Dragonfly 35 Touring
LOA    35' 0" (10.68 m.)
LWL    34' 5" (10.50 m.)
Beam (amas out/in)     26' 11"/12' 10" (8.20/3.90 m.)
Draft (board up/down)    1' 10"/6' 3" (0.55/1.90 m.)
Sail Area    904 sq. ft. (84 sq. m.)
Displacement    8,598 lb. (3,900 kg.)
Water    37 gal. (140 l.)
Fuel    21.1 gal. (80 l.)
Engine    Volvo 30-hp. diesel
Designers    Borge and Jens Quorning
Price    $370,600/$404,700
Dragonfly Sailboats USA
(908) 232-7890
www.trimarans.com


Corsair 31
LOA    30' 10" (9.40 m.)
LWL    30' 0" (9.15 m)
Beam (amas out/in)    22' 5"/8' 2" (6.84/2.5 m.)
Draft (board up/down)    1' 4"/5' 6" (0.41/1.68 m.)
Sail Area (100%)    647 sq. ft. (59.9 sq. m.)
Displacement    3,850 lb. (1,747 kg.)
Water    25 gal. (94 l.)
Engine    9.9-hp. outboard
Designer    Ian Farrier/Corsair Marine
Price    $151,000

Corsair Marine
(619) 585-3005
www.corsairmarine.com

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