Searching for the Ultimate Retirement Boat ?

Here is my experience...

by Jim Van Natta

Having heard of several sailors who are close to retiring and now looking for that ultimate last boat, I thought my own experience that started 3 years ago, could be of interest. Most of us have owned bigger boats, but finally, the hassle (and perhaps cost) of layups and launchings just become too much and we yearn for a simpler experience. But in my case, I wanted a boat that still offered the thrills I once enjoyed when younger, yet with less physical stress coupled with staying drier and more comfortable  At least, that was what was driving me. Small traditional boats can indeed be beautiful, but the reality is that they heel quite a lot, risk to get swamped with the associated capsize risk, and just do not have the performance I dreamed of that would allow me to travel a little farther each day,

I had sailed as a kid but then not again for many years until I was bitten fifteen years ago after we bought a cottage on Eggemoggin Reach on Little Deer Isle Maine. This must be a meca for traditional boats I have owned several during that time including a sleek Dark Harbor 17 that I loved for her beauty and spirited sailing. She was hardly ‘low maintenance’ though, but  I had great times with all my boats and learned a lot.

But as many have come to realize, true sailing pleasure is almost inversely proportional to boat size, so I decided my ideal retirement boat would be one that got me closer to the water; show an upgrade in performance and be one that did not have high cost haulouts or winter storage. This boiled down to one that was easily trailerable, yet could sit on a mooring without me worrying about constantly bailing her out. As I love woodworking projects, I also wanted the satisfaction of building this ‘retirement boat’ myself.

So I started scanning the magazines to see what caught my eye and planned my annual trip to the WoodenBoat show in Mystic, as I really have no aversion to building in wood since epoxy came out.

While web browsing, I have to admit I became captivated by the elegance and performance features of the great ocean-going trimarans of the day. Groupama 3, that was later renamed IDEC SPORT, was soon to blast around the globe to set a new Jules Verne record of just under 41 days. Those amazing boats were oozing with performance features such as long sleek amas, elegant arched beams, flat-top mainsails, rotating masts, curved mainsheet tracks, under-hull spade-rudders and fine plumb stems.  The stable trimaran format also allowed IDEC to have a seemingly ridiculous SA/D ratio of 60 (compared to 20 being more the norm for a racing monohull). 

So when I happened upon a magazine article review about three years ago, and saw the W17 trimaran designed by a very experienced naval architect, she hit my dream right on. “Long sleek amas, elegant arched beams, flat-top mainsail, rotating wingmast, curved mainsheet track, under-hull spade-rudder and fine plumb stems”… yikes, this boat had it all, but in a small folding and trailable package that could be home built and solo sailed, and its self-draining cockpit gave me much confidence.

Mike had originally designed this for his own retirement and had clearly thrown everything into its creation, but there’s nothing quite like seeing and sailing a new boat yourself. So after chatting at the WB Show with an enthusiastic Geoff Kerr who had tested the boat for his WB article, I met up with Mike on Lake Champlain for a test sail and left totally convinced I had found my perfect retirement boat.  

The build process was awesome and with Mike's email support when needed, I built this uniquely engineered and beautifully designed trimaran. I followed that with the construction of Mike's 8-meter rotating wingmast, which, in retrospect, was the single most rewarding phase of the entire  project. It is a true wonder to me, that I was able to construct a highly engineered, strong, stiff but lightweight carbon-fiber mast without even a mold, and in my basement too!.  It was the crowning achievement for me as I look back over the last three years and one that I am truly proud of.  

I received the sail order for my W17 that August and was able to get out for several day sails before needing to haul the boat and travel back to Massachusetts. As these were break-in experiences for me I did not push my limits. Trimarans are new to me and I had a lot to learn about them. I had a lot to learn from a high performance, light weight sailboat as well.  However, I immediately felt very secure in my new boat, whether reaching down Eggemoggin Reach or sailing out into Jericho and Penobscot bays. The narrow hull forms cut easily and efficiently into rising chop, with the occasional wave top or splash being knocked down by the bow spray nets. Already I am completely spoiled by the performance and comfort of the boat and she permits a much greater day sailing range than I was used to. Though I mainly sail with my wife who really enjoys the ride, it’s like I am single-handing when she is along, which is fine with me as I like ‘the work’ of sailing.  It’s a relief that my wife feels so comfortable aboard and she enjoys to stretch out on a tramp, clearly not missing the drama of a heeling monohull. 

I cannot speak directly to the performance with three or four aboard as yet, but I expect that by placing the "ballast" to the front of the cockpit or forward on the tramps that the boat would still perform admirably for a pleasurable afternoon sail. It would lack the thrill of immediate acceleration from a puff or the same efficiency from the now deeper hull forms, but it would still  be a sociable, safe, comfortable and dry afternoon on the water for all.  

In the fall, I had the opportunity to go out in some stronger winds, sailing on the narrow, southern end of Lake Champlain, NY in September. It gave me an excuse to try the storm mainsail and I was glad I had it as the passing front peaked. But the W17 was rock solid and it was wonderful to sail upwind at seven to eight knots (yes, you read that correctly!) under complete control and still stay remarkably dry as well. So yes, a totally different experience from monohull dinghies I have sailed, so perhaps one that other ‘retirement hunters’ might consider trying out. But be warned, not all small tris are as solid and sea-capable as this one.    

Good luck to anyone with a quest to find the right sailboat.  I just hope you will be as fortunate as I have been.  Please let me know if you have any questions about my W17 or the build project. Being as the designer had already grabbed the most obvious name for this remarkable boat (Magic), I took the closest thing and christened her Merlin. I have already seen that most who sail her quote her “smoothness and efficiency” and are really quite spellbound ;)

Boat information available at www.smalltridesign.com

Author’s email: vannatta.jim@gmail.com •SCA•