Something often not mentioned about these performance tri's is light wind performance, when everyone else is stuck in the anchorage or marina due to light wind, they are out sailing.
As an owner of a 2016 Dragonfly 32 Supreme, it was great to see PS do a review on this amazing sailboat. I’ve been a dedicated multihull sailor since 1992 starting with a Prindle 19, then raced a Tornado, and still in a love affair (since 2001) with the A-Class catamaran. So in 2006 I bought and owned for 16 years a 24’ Corsair Sprint 750 trimaran which I both raced and daysailed/cruised. It was a dream to be able to afford buying our DF32 in 2022 and move up from the Corsair. Two comments this review made I feel I need to address. The first is that the swing wing system is very proven, very robust, and the boat does not “rack” at all under sail in big seas or chop. It is also pretty simple to inspect and maintain (FWIW, the Corsair/Farrier folding system is also very proven and robust, not a single issue with it on my Sprint 750 in the time I owned it). The second is that both Corsair and Dragonfly have excellent resale value. After 16 years of ownership, I sold my Sprint 750 for 70% of what I paid for it in 2006. Used Dragonfly trimarans do not remain on the market for long and from what I see of current listings sell for over 80% of what they cost new. As long as you maintain the boat properly, IMO they are one of the safest boats to own from a financial standpoint. While you do give up some space in these tri’s, it’s balanced by the fun, speed, and comfort. My wife did a passage trip in the North Sea from Sweden to England this past summer with 59 North on their Farr 65 Falken. She had an awesome time and Falken is a fantastic boat but she also came home with a new appreciation of how fast and comfortable our Dragonfly is. If you combine the storage capacity we have in our floats (300-400 lbs of gear max in each float) with the storage in the center hull, I think we might actually exceed the volume of gear we could carry in an equivalent size monohull but we do have to keep the boat’s payload limits in mind (max about 2,500 lbs). We can also can carry our fully inflated 11’ long Takacat dinghy secured to a trampoline and not have it hanging off the stern or taking up space on the foredeck. Just a final note. Both the DF32 and the DF40 can sail at speeds in the high teens to low 20’s but that is pushing the limits and should only be done with an experienced crew. You also have to respect and follow the reefing guidelines recommended by the builder/designer. But what these boats really offer to the cruising sailor is very easy and safe cruising for a couple at 8-12 knots of boatspeed. My wife and I recently did an overnight crossing of the upper Gulf of Mexico and had 8 hours of night sailing in 19-22 knots of wind. With the second reef in the mainsail set and full jib, we broad reached at 9-12 knots of boatspeed. It made the solo night watch shifts for both of us fun and very comfortable.
As an older sailor of cats like yourself I loved the fun sajng cats coming from mono hulls up to 37 feet. Unfortunately never got to experience tri's outlived your excellent points on both. Fair Winds Calm Seas⛵️⛵️
I understand that you now in the bigger boats, but would be curious to know what is your opinion on corsair 760 vs dragonfly 25 since you had experience with both brands first hand.
@@marcantoineroussel I had a 24’ Corsair Sprint 750 which had the minimal cabin and huge cockpit more for daysailing and racing. The Corsairs are a lighter build than a comparably sized Dragonfly like the 25 or the 28 but IME I never had any kind of structural issue with the boat in any aspect at all. The 750 was a faster boat than the 25 in say 4-12 knots of wind but the DF really started to shine when the breeze got over 13-14 knots. The Dragonfly feels stiffer and more solid. The mast raising system for the Corsair is WAY less complicated and much more user friendly than the DF. I could raise or lower my Sprint 750 mast by myself in 30 minutes or less. In my experience helping a friend with his DF25, it seemed like it was at least double the time and more steps. Another issue with the DF is that the supplied trailer is European wheels and axles so if in the US, you should spend the money to retrofit it to US wheels and axles.
I do like going fast, and have sailed at 25 knots crossing The Bass Strait on a Chris White 48 and while this was a peak speed we often sailed a 20 knots for hours, and it was the best sailing ever... Cheers Rustie.
owned a 25 and Ill have to tell you its built really well loved it and miss the boat ,, they are super expensive if you go up in size and hopefully I get to sail on a 40 soon
Point of clarification on pointing ability of multihulls versus monohulls: A good trimaran with decent daggerboards can point just as high as a monohull, however it will also go about the same speed as a monohull of similar length in doing so. By cracking off a few degrees it can get a 50% increase in speed which results in better VMG by pointing a bit lower.
As an owner of 3 Dragonfly trimarans over a 21-year period here's where some of your conclusions are off base. 1) Carbon rig is very durable and does not need special care compared with aluminum, except if modifying it. 2) Resale is much higher than more mainstream boats because of the niche market and supply/demand. Keep in mind that the cost of a new boat and availability (lead time) sets the bar for the used market. Of the 3 Dragonfly tris I owned 2 were sold for more $ than I paid, and on the 3rd I lost only 26% after 11 years of ownership. In my experience TCO (total cost of ownership) was MUCH less than most production boats would have been, due to the high resale price. All my boats were sold quickly. In the case of Dragonflies the exchange rate of the dollar to the Euro also is a factor. Also your point about selling a 10-year old boat is moot -- condition is the most important factor in ANY 10-year-old used boat.
Thanks to Practical Sailor for a great video of the Dragonfly 40 our flagship Trimaran - as many of the comments indicate the Dragonfly's actually have an amazing resell value. I have been involved with Dragonfly in the US since 1989 and can testify that the swing wing system never has had a failure except for worn lines that weren't replaced in time. Come and see the Dragonfly at Annapolis and Newport boat shows - happy new year Carsten
Getting warmer...Simplicity requires visionary engineering or a third world sailing community where survival is evolving along with sailing design inovations with all the best compromises. You are still the best reporter out there. The force is with you.
These boats hold their value very well. I’m not sure about the $1million end of things but there are 20 year old Trimarans still selling for near their original purchase price of 70-100k.
I love motorboats, watch some sailing channels for true salt dog tales and yarns and tips, I have to say this is the first sailing boat that would make me want to literally learn the ropes.
I own the last (hull 16), of Hinckley’s SW59’s. It’s an amazing boat. Rugged, capable, reasonably fast, and so comfortable. But my next boat may well be a lightly used D40 for all the reasons described in this video. There are few sailboats in the world that would coax me to part with my beloved Hinckley, but the super cool D40 is one of them.
I was lucky to buy a 1985 Trever Banks 40 foot trim Moran from a Swedish couple. It was originally built in Canada in 1985. They spent three years during Covid. It’s basically a brand new boat and I bought it for $100,000 and it flies Absolutely love it. Name of the boat is hot sauce or when in Mexico salsa Caliente.
This is the Bentley of sailboats. Corsair the Porsche. We only have a Corsair Sprint, a 24 little speedster and I could never go back to hauling around a chunk of lead. Tris rule.
I saw an older version of the 40 ft dragonfly (the 1200?) for sale on yachtworld for under 500k. I think the overall length was 38 ft. Looked like a great way to sail fast!
My wife's favorite comment about multihulls is "I'm not sailing on any boat that needs an escape hatch in the bottom" We know of two tri's that flipped on the Chicago Mac race. That said it was racing situation, and know of plenty of monohulls that lost their mast. Driving a Max speed on a McLaren isn't for the faint of heart.
I was with Roy Seaman and Tim Hunter on his 36 foot Nacra as we sailed to Los Angeles Harbor in the 80's for the speed trials ~WE WON ! We had a record too for that year. I got to take my girl along and what a run ! The Yacht host was kinda pathetic and hostile and we spartaned it out without any food or showers as the whole thing went impromptu and we just got on board and went without prep...no wallets, gear, special cloths... HAD MY WETSUIT THOUGH ! Nothing like it... the avalanche of water coming off the bow south of Pt Dume swept me off the boat one day and I narrowly missed the rudder as I flailed off the boat. No cabin Just sheets blocks and traveler. Basically a huge shore boat... I didn't get sea sick on this stable craft... A bigger boat would be awesome. COUNT ME IN !! Three men was too small a crew for that thing. Can you believe we had trouble getting more guys sometimes !?!
I'd like to see a 55 foot version so it becomes a true World Cruising Boat. The extra length would allow a little more width with the same length to width ratio to maintain perfromance, maybe 2 or 3 feet but more importantly, the extra 15 feet would give room in both cabins to have a walk around area in front of the beds. It might also enable a wardrobe in the master & a door through into the head or maybe an additional small head in the VIP. Weight could be saved with carbon fibre toilets and basins. The ability to fit a standard double matress would make fitting out the vessel easier & give people more sleeping choice. I'd also like to see a much higher freeboard on a 55 to make ocean sailing more comfortable, larger instrument plinths so large chart plotters could be fitted to make split screens with charts, radar & forward looking sonar more feasible, essential on long passages / entering shallow births or bays. Loving the new carbon worksurface, table top and trim options. I just like to see a different wood option eg light or limed oak for the more modern look along with different coloured cushion options. Whereas it might always be smaller than a cat even as a 55, some more luxury feel as per Oyster / Amel would add to the attractiveness of the boat. Maybe with a wider hull due to the longer length, the nav station could be length rather than sideways. Also, the cockpit a bit wider making the centreboard table less of a problem and enabling a rise up tv in one of the couch backs. Not sure of the alu trims on corners. Maybe rounded wood? This combined with the light wood and maybe some headlingings would enhance the feel. One way to save weight to offset this would be foamed cored laminates. I appreciate that real solid wood might exude quality, there aren't many reported issues with cored furniture and it offers both a weight and cost saving to offset the extra luxury touches. Whilst the cost of a 55 might be frightening, it could perhaps be alleviated by opening a yard in say Poland. Several brands seem to have high standards but low costs manufacturing there. Maybe training Poles to work to the Danish yards' standards would enable quality cheaper boats. Be nice to see an all carbon 55 fully kitted out for £1m. Hopefully as well, a 55 might even go a little faster as generally the longer the water line length, the faster a displacement boat travels. Just some suggestions as I'm sure what the market is really looking for is a 25-30 knot Oyster / Amel rather than a sparse trimaran or slow luxury monohul. Slow is good for some, but cumbersome for many, and fast with safety and luxury is the desire of many a sailor.
My introduction to cruising was through a beautifully home built Farrier F27, and while the experience at anchor was more akin to car camping than typical multi-hull luxury, she sure was an intoxicating boat to sail. Our primary learning curve was around repeatedly smashing out miles at speeds far exceeding our passage planning and arriving at tidal gates too early. I guess that’s not the worst problem to have, just something to recalibrate expectations around. Once you get used to double digit average speeds, exhilarating surfing even on a reach, sub 1’ draft for close in anchoring and that feather light tiller, it’s hard to step onto a typical cruising cat without just a twinge of disappointment. Maybe when the family is grown one of these will finally be in my price range…..
I miss sailing fast boats: spent lots of time on a conser 47 makes my Catalina 42 seem like a greased brick. My wife wants a Tayana 55 next and I think I may die of boredom.
The ultimate rich boy's toy! Very interesting boat Tim, crewing would rock. But 24kn, I'd rather do it in a skiff. Btw you'd have to get the 80hp lol. I'm more the MacGregor end of this market! 🇦🇺 ⚓
Wow! I don't think resale is as great a problem as most multihulls. This would fit nicely into my 46' monohull's slip. All the other multis are on the ends of the docks or on mooring balls in the next marina up the coast. When you said ocean crossing? My heart starting beating faster. This boat seems well worth its price. The real question about boat pricing is: Can you afford it? It doesn't matter than the Beneteau 50 in the next slip cost less and has more room -- just don't mention it to your partner after she's bumped her head in your Dragonfly.
Cabin space may be a little restricted but in nice wheather the deck space is superior on a trimaran vs any other boat type as is trading heel for speed 🙂
Back in the day, a lot of west coast surfers began sailing tris in the 70’s, and I’m one. Sailed a 24’ Piver Nugget around the So. Cal. area with several trips to the. Channel Islands (and never a motor). Then, sailed a fg production ‘24 Triumph on SF Bay for several years. That speed is addictive. When it gusts, you accelerate rather than heel. Also the shallow draft and beachability is hard to beat. I lost a mast singlehanding when a spreader went on blustery Summer day on the Bay, but the fault was mine. You reef for the gusts on a tri. Sailed properly they are safe passage boats. In the early 70’s a friend took his ‘24’ Nugget around the world (via the Panama Canal and Suez),He met his future wife on the trip and they finished the last leg together. He said the boat handled everything he encountered.
I think it is a great boat but I agree it is way out of my price range. I have a C&C 99. purchased it used in 2021 so it was 19 years old for under $50 K I am looking at a corsair 750 used for our place in FL. Thanks for sharing the video
Just too much money. Love the concept & the build is no doubt great. Quality, and exciting but very expensive but hey, if you like, & want. Then go for it guys. I bet they will build a d3sign for us old , cheap guys ( say a nice 48, cat, lots room , and great performance for comfort, yes speed, safety, and fun when you want some, but a super all round boat. I am older & that's what I would want & pay for. The market is bigger, more Alffluentstill has some internal spirit for a challenge. Come up with a great design, can go fast, give comfort , and y3s look great. ( Then You Got A Winner..) even if it's abit more money$$$$. All from the cockpit too. You will sell a lot of boats.
All the Dragonfly’s have centerboards and rudders that release in the event of an impact. Much better chance of avoiding any significant damage in such an instance.
You talk about giving up accommodation in favour of speed, but there's more to it: monohulls have more space, but trimarans have *better* space. Stuff doesn't have to be designed to work sort-of-acceptably through 60° of possible angles, so it can work much better through 20°. This is great for usability, and also can reduce fatigue--an important safety feature on long passages. When a trimaran heels, the leeward plumbing comes further up out of the water, easing constraints on layout and operation. There's no bilgewater sloshing around and growing new life forms--there's no bilge. So... are you giving up space?
Hi Tim. After it was forcibly brought to my attention just how much Catamarans hate me, after encountering the really violent Corkscrew Bucking Bronco Motion that almost all Catamarans suffer from, I took a very close look at a folding Trimaran very similar to this, and it rapidly became very clear that it was not something to get caught out on in bad weather, and annual Maintenance needed to be very thorough and meticulous, which itself was ok, but the inevitable expense of that was definitely not ok,and pushed it way beyond my pay grade. Also I do not in any way like Carbon Fiber used in Masts, due to long experience with Carbon Fiber Fishing rods, and getting the damned things out of your hands fast if there was any lightning around, because they really are Lightning Magnets. So pass, and back to what can Sailing drones offer as improvements to Cruising Monohull Designs,and that back to the Not insignificant reality that all Sailing Drones, clearly for very good Reason seem to be Monohulls ? Cruising Monohulls, just like those Drones, do not need to be Very Fast, they only need to be Fast Enough, and Monohulls can definitely be Fast enough for Decent Cruising Speeds, so adjust expectations and the resulting downward Pricing accordingly? I will take a Comfortable Cruising Catalina thanks very much. 🤔 Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Tim and All. 👍🌟🌟🌟❤️⛵️🎄
@@danielt63 Yeah, I'll give you that. I think for me it's less the sail rig and more the monohull. For me, having a monohull is a connection to the past. There's something about heeling too that makes sailing seem right.
@@mikenb3461 I felt the same way for many years, and I hated the Hobie 16, which at the time was the only multihull I had been exposed to. I also dislike the tris on the market that are 20 feet and under. They just look off to me. If I was interested in crossing oceans, I'd probably look at monohulls over something like a Dragonfly 40...
I have raced 5 times in various mono hulls to Hawaii in the Transpacific yacht race. . My last ride was an Andrew’s 68 sled. Super fun boat crew of 13 and very fast. One Mexican race we did 750 miles in 2 days averaging over 20 knots for 18 hrs., Talk about a rush. We hit 29 knots briefly on one surf. The DF400 would be a super fun boat to race on the West coast in these mostly down wind races to PV, Cabo and Honolulu. . It would be cheaper to race because you could use a much smaller crew. I could see racing to HI with 4-5 crew in style and as fast as most of the much bigger mono race boats. For an old guy like me the twin helms, dodger and electric winches would be plush.😊
Cruising, to me, is a relaxing and calming event, where there is no rush to do anything or het anywhere. A performance cruiser is like putting a blown hemi in the Winnebago. Why would you do such a thing?
If you want a fast trailerable weekend sailboat nothing beats a small dragonfly and corsairs, if you looking for anything else then it's not for you, this is not a boat to live aboard so i don't understand people complaining about space...
This is just awesome for fun sailing and maybe staying on board for a few weeks . Any longer and it's just not practice unless your racing with fellow racers from A to B . SLV proved that it's not practiced for living onboard .
Given that performance cruising cats like the HH44 OC are well north of $1M at half the speed, this seems like a bargain. Not that I can afford any of it.
@@terryroth9707 Agreed, but if the target market is a sailing couple, there's plenty of space. Of course it's nice to have more space, but this boat seems like a time machine.
If money were no object, I'd probably have this boat. If I were a millionaire, I'd probably consider having a dragonfly 28. Alas, I am neither. Fun to dream about though.
Great for those who can afford it. This is yet another example of a high stress design that, though clearly seaworthy, is likely to wear out fast I have to wonder if all this high performance is worth the cost.
Sorry I will stick to my old solid glass and slow boat! The word cruising means by definition to sail without destination. So what's your hurry. I may be slow but I will get there and I guarantee you, I will be less stressed than someone sailing at 20 knot's! Good luck and smooth sea!
You won’t rock and roll downwind in a multihull and if you sail it responsibly, you should never heel more than 10 degrees. You should charter one and see for yourself.
Carbon fibre mast makes this a hard pass from me. I've heard too many horror stories of catastrophic failure of carbon fibre. But other than that the boat is really intriguing.
One does not buy a Ferrari or Rambo for kids to school either do we? So You spent money for pure sailing fun. pro one, second is comfort...combine these and you get this or similar big fast tri's and cats like Gunboats etc etc. You will never cross oceans at more than 8-10 kt average 24h speeds on these. or break stuff (F27/C31 owner since 2003) UCC9pI8oT9Dsno48ljwSdo5A
Hi Tim. I have been giving boats like this, some extra thought, and it is hard to avoid facing up to the Real issues that they bring with them and relates to the thinking distance and the intensity of Concentration demanded of everyone on watch, on what is frankly an unavoidably fragile Sailboat, which no amount of carbon fibre can get around. On Land, there is a similar problem, as the vast majority of Drivers don’t think nearly far enough ahead on the road, and have far too low an awareness level, which is not helped by things like extremely poor Suspension and braking system design being covered up with things like power steering, power brakes, abs etc etc. As a former professional Driver, my best Training, was as a motorcyclist, which gave me a thinking distance of at least a mile further ahead on the road than most other drivers.As an aside, the worst thing ever put onto retail motorbikes is abs braking Systems as people have rapidly forgotten how to take corners properly, which is revealed by the heavy wear on the sides of the tyres , confirming they are going into corners far too fast and are braking hard to compensate, and placing a total reliance on abs to save their butts. On a Fast Trimaran like this, total reliance is being placed on 100% awareness level of Skipper and Crew at all Times, but the Ocean hides lots of things which can be hidden just out of sight below the water surface doesn’t it ? Personal perspective- at no point would I like to be Skipper or Crew on Any boat like this. I will take a cruising Sailboat that includes design lessons learned from autonomous Sailboat Drone designs and construction. Bottom line for me ? This Trimaran Totally Sucks, and even if I could afford one, no way in hell would I be buying one. What on Earth are these people thinking ? 🤔
There’s an old saying. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. There are a lot of people with real world experience with both offshore multihulls and carbon fiber composites that will strongly disagree with your opinions.
@ Failing to point out very Real Downsides has resulted in the inexcusable Continuation of Sailboat Racing Tragedies since the 1979 Fastnet Race Tragedy, So only saying nice things has continued to Cost Lives hasn’t it? With Fast Boats, power or Sail, extra factors com into play, and while you may be happy with the inexcusable and continuing loss of life that Has been the Result , I am not, and far from it in fact, and I find the refusal to face Reality by people such as yourself to be astotally unacceptable as the Members of Sailboat Racing Clubs , who pressured the Organisers of the 2015 Alabama Sailboat Race, who had cancelled the Race, due to a Severe Storm heading Straight for the area of the Race, and the selfish little spoiled Brats got the Go ahead for the Race to continue, resulting in lost Boats and people Dying.So Damned Right I am going to point out Downsides that exist in products that can have a negative effect on people’s Safety, and which has continued to affect Sailboats for far too long or anything else for that matter, such as idiots using Battery power for propulsion in a Marine environment, because they are utterly clueless morons when it o ex to Critically important matters of Energy Density, which first you have to use, even before you can put the result into a. Chronically inadequate bloody Battery. Anyone with more than two braincells to rub together, doesn’t need Nimmy Cornell and him failing, even with his unlimited budget, to realise that things simply don’t add up. 🤔
800k for a 40ft boat that offers 80% of what a 500k 40ft monohull offers? Speed isn't worth that much, especially since the journey is half the well,.. journey. I get that speed is attractive. but not at that price and not at the sacrifice of comfort. Not to mention this dragonfly cannot carry anywhere near as much as a similarly sized catamaran. You load this boat up with folding bikes, scuba gear, and the other stuff cruisers need and want and the performance of this boat will diminish to the point that it may actually be an unsafe boat. And no mention of dinghy. i guess the builders think that since it can beach nobody would "need" a dinghy. cool boat. I'd call it a weekend cruiser. A very expensive weekender.
Those folding amas are a problem, not as solid as Ferrier's folding system. I've seen a few of these tweaked out, but other than this she's a real beauty.
As a previous Corsair owner, I think the stainless steel Dragonfly parts that make up the Dragonfly swing wing system are more substantial than the aluminum pieces that make up the Corsair folding system and the boat feels rock solid underway. Not sure what you mean by you have seen a few tweaked out.
@@bobhodges3116 I agree with your point on aluminum vs. Stainless. I've had to replace all the aluminum fittings on my F9 RAx with carbon fittings that I had to build myself. What I mean is the folding geometry with Ian's system seems better. Recently in Honolulu, and another in Phucket, I saw Drangon flys all tweaked out, unable to fold properly. To be fair, I don't know how they came to be like that.
@@Straightup-we9uf If the shroud (for the side you are swinging in or out) is not eased completely, the bow sprit is not retracted, and/or that is a kink or twist in control line are the three items that can cause an issue with the system. You have to be sure of those items (and this is assuming you have maintained the system per the guidelines in the owners manual).
24 knots is not crusing and the entire point of sailing is the sailing . Unless your racing who wants to travel at 24 Knott's . The damage to your boat and your belongings would be shocking . It's a skinny monohull with to stabilisers . Great for racing shocking for living onboard . You can cruise at a good speed of say 12 knots to 15 Knott's and still live aboard the boat all year round
+99% of Dragonfly owners never sail their boats to the top end of the boat's performance capabilities. You are correct in that is VERY easy and safe to cruise in these boats at 8-12 knots which is typically nearly 2X faster than a comparable sized monohull cruiser without the heeling or rolling. We've done 10-12 knots broad reaching in open ocean conditions in 20-22 knots with a 2nd reef in the mainsail and full jib and it was super comfortable. These boats are not for everyone but if your priority is speed with safety and comfort, they are worth a look.
I'm not interested in world traveling. I've spent most of my sailing on beach cats so the idea of picking up a slow monohull cruiser is a recipe for boredom. I've crewed on an Island Packet, god what a dreadful experience. My lottery boat is a Dragonfly 25 or Corsair 760. I don't see the need to go any bigger.
To what sea state do you trust the Corsair? Interesting financial perspective. Buy that boat and save $800K. 5% interest is $40K/yr. $100/day cruising budget. Spend most nights with basic land accommodations, camp out in occasional remote locations. 50-100 miles/day pretty doable.
@@artsmith103 The Corsair 760 is rated for seas up to 7 feet, but I've taken 14' (4.3m) catamarans out in that sea state with no problem (as long as the waves were rolling and not breaking), so I'd be willing to take it out in worse (not as a plan, but if the seas were building I wouldn't be too alarmed.) The boat would do fine on a Florida to Bahamas run. It could probably even handle a Florida to Cancún run (which would be 3-4 days at sea.) I don't think I would be willing to stay at sea any longer than that though. But like I said, it's a lottery boat. Even if money were no object this is what I'd choose. Without a sudden financial windfall, I'll be sticking to beach cats. ($10-20K for a *new* boat. Store on my property, so virtually no storage or maintenance costs.)
If you want a fast trailerable weekend sailboat nothing beats a small dragonfly and corsairs, if you looking for anything else then it's not for you, this is not a boat to live aboard so i don't understand people complaining about space...
Something often not mentioned about these performance tri's is light wind performance, when everyone else is stuck in the anchorage or marina due to light wind, they are out sailing.
As an owner of a 2016 Dragonfly 32 Supreme, it was great to see PS do a review on this amazing sailboat. I’ve been a dedicated multihull sailor since 1992 starting with a Prindle 19, then raced a Tornado, and still in a love affair (since 2001) with the A-Class catamaran. So in 2006 I bought and owned for 16 years a 24’ Corsair Sprint 750 trimaran which I both raced and daysailed/cruised. It was a dream to be able to afford buying our DF32 in 2022 and move up from the Corsair. Two comments this review made I feel I need to address. The first is that the swing wing system is very proven, very robust, and the boat does not “rack” at all under sail in big seas or chop. It is also pretty simple to inspect and maintain (FWIW, the Corsair/Farrier folding system is also very proven and robust, not a single issue with it on my Sprint 750 in the time I owned it). The second is that both Corsair and Dragonfly have excellent resale value. After 16 years of ownership, I sold my Sprint 750 for 70% of what I paid for it in 2006. Used Dragonfly trimarans do not remain on the market for long and from what I see of current listings sell for over 80% of what they cost new. As long as you maintain the boat properly, IMO they are one of the safest boats to own from a financial standpoint.
While you do give up some space in these tri’s, it’s balanced by the fun, speed, and comfort. My wife did a passage trip in the North Sea from Sweden to England this past summer with 59 North on their Farr 65 Falken. She had an awesome time and Falken is a fantastic boat but she also came home with a new appreciation of how fast and comfortable our Dragonfly is. If you combine the storage capacity we have in our floats (300-400 lbs of gear max in each float) with the storage in the center hull, I think we might actually exceed the volume of gear we could carry in an equivalent size monohull but we do have to keep the boat’s payload limits in mind (max about 2,500 lbs). We can also can carry our fully inflated 11’ long Takacat dinghy secured to a trampoline and not have it hanging off the stern or taking up space on the foredeck.
Just a final note. Both the DF32 and the DF40 can sail at speeds in the high teens to low 20’s but that is pushing the limits and should only be done with an experienced crew. You also have to respect and follow the reefing guidelines recommended by the builder/designer. But what these boats really offer to the cruising sailor is very easy and safe cruising for a couple at 8-12 knots of boatspeed. My wife and I recently did an overnight crossing of the upper Gulf of Mexico and had 8 hours of night sailing in 19-22 knots of wind. With the second reef in the mainsail set and full jib, we broad reached at 9-12 knots of boatspeed. It made the solo night watch shifts for both of us fun and very comfortable.
As an older sailor of cats like yourself I loved the fun sajng cats coming from mono hulls up to 37 feet. Unfortunately never got to experience tri's outlived your excellent points on both. Fair Winds Calm Seas⛵️⛵️
I understand that you now in the bigger boats, but would be curious to know what is your opinion on corsair 760 vs dragonfly 25 since you had experience with both brands first hand.
@@marcantoineroussel I had a 24’ Corsair Sprint 750 which had the minimal cabin and huge cockpit more for daysailing and racing. The Corsairs are a lighter build than a comparably sized Dragonfly like the 25 or the 28 but IME I never had any kind of structural issue with the boat in any aspect at all. The 750 was a faster boat than the 25 in say 4-12 knots of wind but the DF really started to shine when the breeze got over 13-14 knots. The Dragonfly feels stiffer and more solid. The mast raising system for the Corsair is WAY less complicated and much more user friendly than the DF. I could raise or lower my Sprint 750 mast by myself in 30 minutes or less. In my experience helping a friend with his DF25, it seemed like it was at least double the time and more steps. Another issue with the DF is that the supplied trailer is European wheels and axles so if in the US, you should spend the money to retrofit it to US wheels and axles.
Wow, you TRIPLED the value of this review for us! Thanks so much 🙏
@@bobhodges3116 Thanks a lot, invaluable info!
I do like going fast, and have sailed at 25 knots crossing The Bass Strait on a Chris White 48 and while this was a peak speed we often sailed a 20 knots for hours, and it was the best sailing ever... Cheers Rustie.
PS this cat sailed at 12 knots upwind and often sailed higher than racing mono hulls.
@@rustie4242 Chris Wihte boats are fast, safe, efficient, relatively comfortable.
owned a 25 and Ill have to tell you its built really well loved it and miss the boat ,, they are super expensive if you go up in size and hopefully I get to sail on a 40 soon
Let us know how it goes😊
Point of clarification on pointing ability of multihulls versus monohulls: A good trimaran with decent daggerboards can point just as high as a monohull, however it will also go about the same speed as a monohull of similar length in doing so. By cracking off a few degrees it can get a 50% increase in speed which results in better VMG by pointing a bit lower.
As an owner of 3 Dragonfly trimarans over a 21-year period here's where some of your conclusions are off base. 1) Carbon rig is very durable and does not need special care compared with aluminum, except if modifying it. 2) Resale is much higher than more mainstream boats because of the niche market and supply/demand. Keep in mind that the cost of a new boat and availability (lead time) sets the bar for the used market. Of the 3 Dragonfly tris I owned 2 were sold for more $ than I paid, and on the 3rd I lost only 26% after 11 years of ownership. In my experience TCO (total cost of ownership) was MUCH less than most production boats would have been, due to the high resale price. All my boats were sold quickly. In the case of Dragonflies the exchange rate of the dollar to the Euro also is a factor. Also your point about selling a 10-year old boat is moot -- condition is the most important factor in ANY 10-year-old used boat.
Thanks to Practical Sailor for a great video of the Dragonfly 40 our flagship Trimaran - as many of the comments indicate the Dragonfly's actually have an amazing resell value. I have been involved with Dragonfly in the US since 1989 and can testify that the swing wing system never has had a failure except for worn lines that weren't replaced in time. Come and see the Dragonfly at Annapolis and Newport boat shows - happy new year Carsten
I've been drooling over this trimaran since it came out. But it is WAY out of my price range.
I have been building my trimaran. For the last 2 years.. nearing completion. Hull speed 23 knots. 20 feet x 18 . 10 mtr mast. Cannot wait. Next year.
Getting warmer...Simplicity requires visionary engineering or a third world sailing community where survival is evolving along with sailing design inovations with all the best compromises. You are still the best reporter out there. The force is with you.
These boats hold their value very well. I’m not sure about the $1million end of things but there are 20 year old Trimarans still selling for near their original purchase price of 70-100k.
Dragonflies are definately niche. Very niche.
They are also absolutely brilliant.
I love motorboats, watch some sailing channels for true salt dog tales and yarns and tips, I have to say this is the first sailing boat that would make me want to literally learn the ropes.
Best sailboat money can buy. 😅
I own the last (hull 16), of Hinckley’s SW59’s. It’s an amazing boat. Rugged, capable, reasonably fast, and so comfortable. But my next boat may well be a lightly used D40 for all the reasons described in this video. There are few sailboats in the world that would coax me to part with my beloved Hinckley, but the super cool D40 is one of them.
I was lucky to buy a 1985 Trever Banks 40 foot trim Moran from a Swedish couple. It was originally built in Canada in 1985. They spent three years during Covid. It’s basically a brand new boat and I bought it for $100,000 and it flies Absolutely love it. Name of the boat is hot sauce or when in Mexico salsa Caliente.
This is the Bentley of sailboats. Corsair the Porsche. We only have a Corsair Sprint, a 24 little speedster and I could never go back to hauling around a chunk of lead.
Tris rule.
I saw an older version of the 40 ft dragonfly (the 1200?) for sale on yachtworld for under 500k. I think the overall length was 38 ft. Looked like a great way to sail fast!
Wow. Imagine crossing the Atlantic in 10 days. Unbelievable
My wife's favorite comment about multihulls is "I'm not sailing on any boat that needs an escape hatch in the bottom" We know of two tri's that flipped on the Chicago Mac race. That said it was racing situation, and know of plenty of monohulls that lost their mast. Driving a Max speed on a McLaren isn't for the faint of heart.
Ah yes, the old debate: multihulls can capsize, and monohulls can sink. Choose wisely :)
800k? Guess I'll be stuck sailing my Hobie Tandem Island and I love it!
Awesome video!
I was with Roy Seaman and Tim Hunter on his 36 foot Nacra as we sailed to Los Angeles Harbor in the 80's for the speed trials ~WE WON ! We had a record too for that year. I got to take my girl along and what a run ! The Yacht host was kinda pathetic and hostile and we spartaned it out without any food or showers as the whole thing went impromptu and we just got on board and went without prep...no wallets, gear, special cloths... HAD MY WETSUIT THOUGH ! Nothing like it... the avalanche of water coming off the bow south of Pt Dume swept me off the boat one day and I narrowly missed the rudder as I flailed off the boat. No cabin Just sheets blocks and traveler. Basically a huge shore boat... I didn't get sea sick on this stable craft... A bigger boat would be awesome. COUNT ME IN !! Three men was too small a crew for that thing. Can you believe we had trouble getting more guys sometimes !?!
Looks perfect 😊❤
I'd like to see a 55 foot version so it becomes a true World Cruising Boat. The extra length would allow a little more width with the same length to width ratio to maintain perfromance, maybe 2 or 3 feet but more importantly, the extra 15 feet would give room in both cabins to have a walk around area in front of the beds. It might also enable a wardrobe in the master & a door through into the head or maybe an additional small head in the VIP. Weight could be saved with carbon fibre toilets and basins. The ability to fit a standard double matress would make fitting out the vessel easier & give people more sleeping choice. I'd also like to see a much higher freeboard on a 55 to make ocean sailing more comfortable, larger instrument plinths so large chart plotters could be fitted to make split screens with charts, radar & forward looking sonar more feasible, essential on long passages / entering shallow births or bays. Loving the new carbon worksurface, table top and trim options. I just like to see a different wood option eg light or limed oak for the more modern look along with different coloured cushion options. Whereas it might always be smaller than a cat even as a 55, some more luxury feel as per Oyster / Amel would add to the attractiveness of the boat. Maybe with a wider hull due to the longer length, the nav station could be length rather than sideways. Also, the cockpit a bit wider making the centreboard table less of a problem and enabling a rise up tv in one of the couch backs. Not sure of the alu trims on corners. Maybe rounded wood? This combined with the light wood and maybe some headlingings would enhance the feel. One way to save weight to offset this would be foamed cored laminates. I appreciate that real solid wood might exude quality, there aren't many reported issues with cored furniture and it offers both a weight and cost saving to offset the extra luxury touches. Whilst the cost of a 55 might be frightening, it could perhaps be alleviated by opening a yard in say Poland. Several brands seem to have high standards but low costs manufacturing there. Maybe training Poles to work to the Danish yards' standards would enable quality cheaper boats. Be nice to see an all carbon 55 fully kitted out for £1m. Hopefully as well, a 55 might even go a little faster as generally the longer the water line length, the faster a displacement boat travels. Just some suggestions as I'm sure what the market is really looking for is a 25-30 knot Oyster / Amel rather than a sparse trimaran or slow luxury monohul. Slow is good for some, but cumbersome for many, and fast with safety and luxury is the desire of many a sailor.
the dragonfly's seem to keep their value pretty well... see their second hand forum
My introduction to cruising was through a beautifully home built Farrier F27, and while the experience at anchor was more akin to car camping than typical multi-hull luxury, she sure was an intoxicating boat to sail.
Our primary learning curve was around repeatedly smashing out miles at speeds far exceeding our passage planning and arriving at tidal gates too early. I guess that’s not the worst problem to have, just something to recalibrate expectations around.
Once you get used to double digit average speeds, exhilarating surfing even on a reach, sub 1’ draft for close in anchoring and that feather light tiller, it’s hard to step onto a typical cruising cat without just a twinge of disappointment.
Maybe when the family is grown one of these will finally be in my price range…..
I miss sailing fast boats: spent lots of time on a conser 47 makes my Catalina 42 seem like a greased brick. My wife wants a Tayana 55 next and I think I may die of boredom.
I am eager to see their new 36'.
The ultimate rich boy's toy! Very interesting boat Tim, crewing would rock. But 24kn, I'd rather do it in a skiff. Btw you'd have to get the 80hp lol. I'm more the MacGregor end of this market! 🇦🇺 ⚓
You would be surprised how tough carbon spars are.I have known boats with carbons masts that are over 30 years old.
You can stop for night on every beach!
Groovy video.
Faster is better. The new Dragonfly 36 with main hull wave piercing looks amazing.
Wow! I don't think resale is as great a problem as most multihulls. This would fit nicely into my 46' monohull's slip. All the other multis are on the ends of the docks or on mooring balls in the next marina up the coast. When you said ocean crossing? My heart starting beating faster. This boat seems well worth its price. The real question about boat pricing is: Can you afford it? It doesn't matter than the Beneteau 50 in the next slip cost less and has more room -- just don't mention it to your partner after she's bumped her head in your Dragonfly.
Cabin space may be a little restricted but in nice wheather the deck space is superior on a trimaran vs any other boat type as is trading heel for speed 🙂
Will you .make a video on the Vendée globe race. All the machines are in race for about a month now
What is a try-a-maran?
Back in the day, a lot of west coast surfers began sailing tris in the 70’s, and I’m one. Sailed a 24’ Piver Nugget around the So. Cal. area with several trips to the. Channel Islands (and never a motor). Then, sailed a fg production ‘24 Triumph on SF Bay for several years. That speed is addictive. When it gusts, you accelerate rather than heel. Also the shallow draft and beachability is hard to beat. I lost a mast singlehanding when a spreader went on blustery Summer day on the Bay, but the fault was mine. You reef for the gusts on a tri. Sailed properly they are safe passage boats. In the early 70’s a friend took his ‘24’ Nugget around the world (via the Panama Canal and Suez),He met his future wife on the trip and they finished the last leg together. He said the boat handled everything he encountered.
I think it is a great boat but I agree it is way out of my price range. I have a C&C 99. purchased it used in 2021 so it was 19 years old for under $50 K I am looking at a corsair 750 used for our place in FL. Thanks for sharing the video
Just too much money. Love the concept & the build is no doubt great. Quality, and exciting but very expensive but hey, if you like, & want. Then go for it guys. I bet they will build a d3sign for us old , cheap guys ( say a nice 48, cat, lots room , and great performance for comfort, yes speed, safety, and fun when you want some, but a super all round boat. I am older & that's what I would want & pay for. The market is bigger, more Alffluentstill has some internal spirit for a challenge. Come up with a great design, can go fast, give comfort , and y3s look great. ( Then You Got A Winner..) even if it's abit more money$$$$. All from the cockpit too. You will sell a lot of boats.
The more I read about them the more I hope you do an episode on the Contessa 32
Particularly GiGi
They look like the hobby horse more than a monohull or catamaran? Is this correct?
Can you rent or charter one for a week or 2?
Mid-ocean whale/container strike at 20kts....?
What about Imoca sailing vender globe with top speed of about 30 knots, are the all getting lost?
All the Dragonfly’s have centerboards and rudders that release in the event of an impact. Much better chance of avoiding any significant damage in such an instance.
You talk about giving up accommodation in favour of speed, but there's more to it: monohulls have more space, but trimarans have *better* space. Stuff doesn't have to be designed to work sort-of-acceptably through 60° of possible angles, so it can work much better through 20°. This is great for usability, and also can reduce fatigue--an important safety feature on long passages. When a trimaran heels, the leeward plumbing comes further up out of the water, easing constraints on layout and operation. There's no bilgewater sloshing around and growing new life forms--there's no bilge. So... are you giving up space?
WOW!
I'd like to see Dragonfly going down the way of Rapido, producing a 60footer - 40 is really cramped inside.
They are all beautiful but I'd have to rob a small country to buy one
the soft top at the entrance should be available in a hard shell version.
man if i had a mil, is this what id get
The amas folding bearings need attention. Measure the play. The maximum tolerated deviation value is given by the manufaturer to each owner.
Dragonfly has prescribed inspection and maintenance procedures for the swing bearings in the owner’s manual.
Hi Tim. After it was forcibly brought to my attention just how much Catamarans hate me, after encountering the really violent Corkscrew Bucking Bronco Motion that almost all Catamarans suffer from, I took a very close look at a folding Trimaran very similar to this, and it rapidly became very clear that it was not something to get caught out on in bad weather, and annual Maintenance needed to be very thorough and meticulous, which itself was ok, but the inevitable expense of that was definitely not ok,and pushed it way beyond my pay grade. Also I do not in any way like Carbon Fiber used in Masts, due to long experience with Carbon Fiber Fishing rods, and getting the damned things out of your hands fast if there was any lightning around, because they really are Lightning Magnets. So pass, and back to what can Sailing drones offer as improvements to Cruising Monohull Designs,and that back to the Not insignificant reality that all Sailing Drones, clearly for very good Reason seem to be Monohulls ? Cruising Monohulls, just like those Drones, do not need to be Very Fast, they only need to be Fast Enough, and Monohulls can definitely be Fast enough for Decent Cruising Speeds, so adjust expectations and the resulting downward Pricing accordingly? I will take a Comfortable Cruising Catalina thanks very much. 🤔 Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Tim and All. 👍🌟🌟🌟❤️⛵️🎄
Pretty cool
Almost same price as a HH
I'll never fault anyone for their choice in a sailboat, but nothing beats the beauty and symmetry of a sloop rigged monohull.
Sorry, if you are going to talk beauty, then only a schooner rig will do.
@@danielt63 Yeah, I'll give you that. I think for me it's less the sail rig and more the monohull. For me, having a monohull is a connection to the past. There's something about heeling too that makes sailing seem right.
@@mikenb3461 I felt the same way for many years, and I hated the Hobie 16, which at the time was the only multihull I had been exposed to. I also dislike the tris on the market that are 20 feet and under. They just look off to me. If I was interested in crossing oceans, I'd probably look at monohulls over something like a Dragonfly 40...
I have raced 5 times in various mono hulls to Hawaii in the Transpacific yacht race. . My last ride was an Andrew’s 68 sled. Super fun boat crew of 13 and very fast. One Mexican race we did 750 miles in 2 days averaging over 20 knots for 18 hrs., Talk about a rush. We hit 29 knots briefly on one surf. The DF400 would be a super fun boat to race on the West coast in these mostly down wind races to PV, Cabo and Honolulu. . It would be cheaper to race because you could use a much smaller crew. I could see racing to HI with 4-5 crew in style and as fast as most of the much bigger mono race boats. For an old guy like me the twin helms, dodger and electric winches would be plush.😊
Cruising, to me, is a relaxing and calming event, where there is no rush to do anything or het anywhere. A performance cruiser is like putting a blown hemi in the Winnebago. Why would you do such a thing?
Good for you!
Troglodytes are a thing.
First comment !
If you want a fast trailerable weekend sailboat nothing beats a small dragonfly and corsairs, if you looking for anything else then it's not for you, this is not a boat to live aboard so i don't understand people complaining about space...
This is just awesome for fun sailing and maybe staying on board for a few weeks .
Any longer and it's just not practice unless your racing with fellow racers from A to B .
SLV proved that it's not practiced for living onboard .
J ai vécu et navigue 10ans sur un dragon fly 920 Touring ça été le rêve total j ai traversé l anti antique en 11 jours le seul problème c est le prix
Given that performance cruising cats like the HH44 OC are well north of $1M at half the speed, this seems like a bargain. Not that I can afford any of it.
But the cat has way more room. That's my only desire for the trimaran.
@@terryroth9707 Agreed, but if the target market is a sailing couple, there's plenty of space. Of course it's nice to have more space, but this boat seems like a time machine.
If money were no object, I'd probably have this boat. If I were a millionaire, I'd probably consider having a dragonfly 28. Alas, I am neither. Fun to dream about though.
Would not want to be in a honking South Wester off the wild coast in that.
Are you pronouncing it "tri-ah-maran"? Have I been saying it wrong?
He's Canadian, eh. Or at least Canadian adjacent. 😂
Rather have a 45' mono , with speedy dinghy. Calm and cruise 6-9knt , in port, quick work.
Great for those who can afford it.
This is yet another example of a high stress design that, though clearly seaworthy, is likely to wear out fast
I have to wonder if all this high performance is worth the cost.
It's a trimaran, not a "try-a-maran" lol
He meant try a trimaran
Don't get me started on fillet, basil, coriander, orange, mirror, basil, oregano...
The Pedants are thick on the ground today.. 😵💫
Sorry I will stick to my old solid glass and slow boat! The word cruising means by definition to sail without destination. So what's your hurry. I may be slow but I will get there and I guarantee you, I will be less stressed than someone sailing at 20 knot's! Good luck and smooth sea!
You won’t rock and roll downwind in a multihull and if you sail it responsibly, you should never heel more than 10 degrees. You should charter one and see for yourself.
Carbon fibre mast makes this a hard pass from me. I've heard too many horror stories of catastrophic failure of carbon fibre. But other than that the boat is really intriguing.
I think I would rather have a Neel for cruising.
One does not buy a Ferrari or Rambo for kids to school either do we? So You spent money for pure sailing fun. pro one, second is comfort...combine these and you get this or similar big fast tri's and cats like Gunboats etc etc. You will never cross oceans at more than 8-10 kt average 24h speeds on these. or break stuff (F27/C31 owner since 2003) UCC9pI8oT9Dsno48ljwSdo5A
Try a maran 😂
If you just want speed, a 30-footer would be way more economical.
Nah, can get a Moody DS 45 for that price
Hi Tim. I have been giving boats like this, some extra thought, and it is hard to avoid facing up to the Real issues that they bring with them and relates to the thinking distance and the intensity of Concentration demanded of everyone on watch, on what is frankly an unavoidably fragile Sailboat, which no amount of carbon fibre can get around. On Land, there is a similar problem, as the vast majority of Drivers don’t think nearly far enough ahead on the road, and have far too low an awareness level, which is not helped by things like extremely poor Suspension and braking system design being covered up with things like power steering, power brakes, abs etc etc. As a former professional Driver, my best Training, was as a motorcyclist, which gave me a thinking distance of at least a mile further ahead on the road than most other drivers.As an aside, the worst thing ever put onto retail motorbikes is abs braking Systems as people have rapidly forgotten how to take corners properly, which is revealed by the heavy wear on the sides of the tyres , confirming they are going into corners far too fast and are braking hard to compensate, and placing a total reliance on abs to save their butts. On a Fast Trimaran like this, total reliance is being placed on 100% awareness level of Skipper and Crew at all Times, but the Ocean hides lots of things which can be hidden just out of sight below the water surface doesn’t it ? Personal perspective- at no point would I like to be Skipper or Crew on Any boat like this. I will take a cruising Sailboat that includes design lessons learned from autonomous Sailboat Drone designs and construction. Bottom line for me ? This Trimaran Totally Sucks, and even if I could afford one, no way in hell would I be buying one. What on Earth are these people thinking ? 🤔
There’s an old saying. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. There are a lot of people with real world experience with both offshore multihulls and carbon fiber composites that will strongly disagree with your opinions.
@ Failing to point out very Real Downsides has resulted in the inexcusable Continuation of Sailboat Racing Tragedies since the 1979 Fastnet Race Tragedy, So only saying nice things has continued to Cost Lives hasn’t it? With Fast Boats, power or Sail, extra factors com into play, and while you may be happy with the inexcusable and continuing loss of life that Has been the Result , I am not, and far from it in fact, and I find the refusal to face Reality by people such as yourself to be astotally unacceptable as the Members of Sailboat Racing Clubs , who pressured the Organisers of the 2015 Alabama Sailboat Race, who had cancelled the Race, due to a Severe Storm heading Straight for the area of the Race, and the selfish little spoiled Brats got the Go ahead for the Race to continue, resulting in lost Boats and people Dying.So Damned Right I am going to point out Downsides that exist in products that can have a negative effect on people’s Safety, and which has continued to affect Sailboats for far too long or anything else for that matter, such as idiots using Battery power for propulsion in a Marine environment, because they are utterly clueless morons when it o ex to Critically important matters of Energy Density, which first you have to use, even before you can put the result into a. Chronically inadequate bloody Battery. Anyone with more than two braincells to rub together, doesn’t need Nimmy Cornell and him failing, even with his unlimited budget, to realise that things simply don’t add up. 🤔
@@brownnoise357 A van by the river is more your speed.
Fun? Yeah because dropping over $700k for a boat is fun.
800k for a 40ft boat that offers 80% of what a 500k 40ft monohull offers? Speed isn't worth that much, especially since the journey is half the well,.. journey. I get that speed is attractive. but not at that price and not at the sacrifice of comfort. Not to mention this dragonfly cannot carry anywhere near as much as a similarly sized catamaran. You load this boat up with folding bikes, scuba gear, and the other stuff cruisers need and want and the performance of this boat will diminish to the point that it may actually be an unsafe boat. And no mention of dinghy. i guess the builders think that since it can beach nobody would "need" a dinghy. cool boat. I'd call it a weekend cruiser. A very expensive weekender.
Those folding amas are a problem, not as solid as Ferrier's folding system. I've seen a few of these tweaked out, but other than this she's a real beauty.
As a previous Corsair owner, I think the stainless steel Dragonfly parts that make up the Dragonfly swing wing system are more substantial than the aluminum pieces that make up the Corsair folding system and the boat feels rock solid underway. Not sure what you mean by you have seen a few tweaked out.
@@bobhodges3116 I agree with your point on aluminum vs. Stainless. I've had to replace all the aluminum fittings on my F9 RAx with carbon fittings that I had to build myself. What I mean is the folding geometry with Ian's system seems better. Recently in Honolulu, and another in Phucket, I saw Drangon flys all tweaked out, unable to fold properly. To be fair, I don't know how they came to be like that.
@@Straightup-we9uf If the shroud (for the side you are swinging in or out) is not eased completely, the bow sprit is not retracted, and/or that is a kink or twist in control line are the three items that can cause an issue with the system. You have to be sure of those items (and this is assuming you have maintained the system per the guidelines in the owners manual).
24 knots is not crusing and the entire point of sailing is the sailing .
Unless your racing who wants to travel at 24 Knott's .
The damage to your boat and your belongings would be shocking .
It's a skinny monohull with to stabilisers .
Great for racing shocking for living onboard .
You can cruise at a good speed of say 12 knots to 15 Knott's and still live aboard the boat all year round
+99% of Dragonfly owners never sail their boats to the top end of the boat's performance capabilities. You are correct in that is VERY easy and safe to cruise in these boats at 8-12 knots which is typically nearly 2X faster than a comparable sized monohull cruiser without the heeling or rolling. We've done 10-12 knots broad reaching in open ocean conditions in 20-22 knots with a 2nd reef in the mainsail and full jib and it was super comfortable. These boats are not for everyone but if your priority is speed with safety and comfort, they are worth a look.
I don't care for catamarans because they can get stuck upside down.
Piece of junk . Wouldn’t survive a day in a rough sea.
Wrong ! The Dragonflies te awesome
Sorry to burst your bubble - ua-cam.com/video/GIw66L01_XU/v-deo.html
Just buy and restore a McGregor 65. It will point to weather better and has a better top speed for a lot less money.
I'm not interested in world traveling. I've spent most of my sailing on beach cats so the idea of picking up a slow monohull cruiser is a recipe for boredom. I've crewed on an Island Packet, god what a dreadful experience.
My lottery boat is a Dragonfly 25 or Corsair 760. I don't see the need to go any bigger.
To what sea state do you trust the Corsair? Interesting financial perspective. Buy that boat and save $800K. 5% interest is $40K/yr. $100/day cruising budget. Spend most nights with basic land accommodations, camp out in occasional remote locations. 50-100 miles/day pretty doable.
@@artsmith103 The Corsair 760 is rated for seas up to 7 feet, but I've taken 14' (4.3m) catamarans out in that sea state with no problem (as long as the waves were rolling and not breaking), so I'd be willing to take it out in worse (not as a plan, but if the seas were building I wouldn't be too alarmed.)
The boat would do fine on a Florida to Bahamas run. It could probably even handle a Florida to Cancún run (which would be 3-4 days at sea.) I don't think I would be willing to stay at sea any longer than that though.
But like I said, it's a lottery boat. Even if money were no object this is what I'd choose. Without a sudden financial windfall, I'll be sticking to beach cats. ($10-20K for a *new* boat. Store on my property, so virtually no storage or maintenance costs.)
@@danielt63 Sailing Soulianis bought a Farrier F9A (~$50K) and shared some info. Unfortunately not many episodes after buying the tri.
If you want a fast trailerable weekend sailboat nothing beats a small dragonfly and corsairs, if you looking for anything else then it's not for you, this is not a boat to live aboard so i don't understand people complaining about space...