corsair f 31 trimaran sailboat

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CORSAIR F-31 - It’s more than a safe bet, they’re mythical!

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With 300 units built over more than 20 years, the F-31 is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable 30-foot (9 m) trimarans on the market. For a long time seen as overpriced, this foldable and transportable little rocket is now much more accessible.

This is a trimaran that hasn’t aged: her design is still in tune with the times, with an elegant coachroof and fine, racy hulls. This model is an adaptation of the F-9, intended for amateur construction. “Home-building” small trimarans has always been very popular in Australia – and it still is today. Like many models that have enjoyed a long career, the F-31 is available in a variety of versions. The best known are the C for Cruising, and the R for Racing. Between the two, a difference in sail area provides extra horsepower in light airs. When Ian Farrier and Corsair went their separate ways, this model continued her career under the name of the Corsair 31. The C model became the CR and the R version adopted the name RS. A carbon rig was offered, then later there was a one-design series (1D or One Design). Corsair also developed a central cockpit with an aft cabin: the CC model.

For speed enthusiasts

As soon as the sails are hoisted and trimmed, it’ll only take you a moment to figure out the character of the F-31: this is indeed an excellent boat, above all built for performance. For the appendages, there ...

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The F-31R: It’s Not All About Speed

• By John Burnham
• Updated: June 9, 2005

Thirteen years ago on San Diego harbor, my wife and I tried out the breakthrough F-27 trimaran, designed by Ian Farrier and built by Corsair Marine. Its well-engineered folding mechanism and other trailering systems seemed remarkable then, and the boat’s performance in light air was smooth and quick. Fast forward to the summer of 2000: my wife, three daughters, and I are sailing a 31-foot version of that original in an 18-knot westerly on Buzzards Bay. We’ve left behind a quiet afternoon spent three boatlengths off an island beach, and now our sunning platform is rocketing upwind at 12 knots. I’m sitting out on the ama holding a 10-foot carbon tiller extension and clearing every wavetop with a big grin on my face. Rachel and the two older girls are in the cockpit. I peek down the hatch at one point, with the boat blasting through the waves, and catch the unforgettable sight of my youngest, Sophie, perched on the weather settee with her feet lightly braced against the carpeted daggerboard trunk-reading a book. It’s hard not to dwell on the extraordinary performance of the F-31 we sailed during a five-day cruise. From the foam-cored, vacuum-bagged hulls to the hardware and rotating aluminum spar, the boat seemed well built and rigged for speed. But the truth is we had only one high-speed day and never sailed the boat to its potential. Nonetheless, we discovered other benefits to sailing a quick boat. We left Wareham, Mass., on our first afternoon in a 7-knot breeze and jibed dead downwind for 14 miles under screecher (an overlapping, roller-furling reacher set on a sprit), then unrolled the jib to tack through the channel at Woods Hole; this took less than three hours. On our final day, with an even lighter wind, we sailed the 25 miles from Cuttyhunk Island to Wareham in less than four hours. The challenge is to utilize the 31’s horsepower in higher winds. I felt the boat could handle as much power as I wanted to use, but with a family crew, I quickly recognized that a certain responsibility comes with power and speed, and there was a learning curve to work up. The standard Corsair approach of equipping the boat with roller-furling devices gave me a good start. Except for the asymmetric spinnaker, which we didn’t use, all of the F-31’s sails roller-furled-even the mainsail, which rolls around the boom. The easiest way to sail shorthanded was to leave the main rolled up, which we did one day tacking out of Vineyard Haven under jib alone in a northeasterly. Without the stabilizing effect of the mainsail, the rotating mast slopped around, so I’m not sure this strategy would’ve been good in rough seas. But we soon bore off to the west, first reaching and then running, and the ride became relaxed. I realized I could use extra horsepower, so I unrolled the screecher and rolled up the jib. As we turned dead downwind, I unrolled the jib again and sailed wing and wing, chuckling to myself. It was a lousy, rainy day, and we were proceeding under good control, but I was still having a good time. Another day, we sailed under a deeply reefed main alone. This was a better sailing configuration, but to complete a tack in 20 knots and waves required close reaching at 10 knots, then throwing the tiller hard over. Also, getting the roller-furling main up and down required that Rachel learn to steer into the eye of the wind under outboard power. My 12-year-old, Isabel, handled the boom crank on the front of the mast (it links to the boom through the gooseneck) while I hauled up the halyard, using the winch for the last 10 feet. This was a lot easier in a quiet lee than when rolling and bouncing in an open seaway. Another lesson came as a squall approached us as we sailed up Vineyard Sound. Giving Rachel the helm, I blew the mainsheet, went forward and alternately eased the halyard and rolled up the main, but due to the wind pressure on the full-battened sail, I could go no farther than a deep reef. After the modest squall had passed, I realized that rather than continuing to sail under the jib, I should’ve dropped the outboard, rolled up the jib, and powered into the wind to drop themain. I also would’ve been happier if I’d started the whole process earlier. In terms of cruising accommodations, the F-31 has plenty to offer, but it’s not like staying at the Marriott. Then again, you won’t find a business convention-or many other boats-in the shallow spots we snuck into. In fact, more than anything, the boat’s shoal-draft ability was the defining feature of our cruise. The F-31’s rudder kicks up, and it has a daggerboard, which typically goes up and down without winch power. If you’re in extremely shallow water, you can pull both up and steer with the outboard alone, which draws only 2 feet. We enjoyed two nights in a quiet Martha’s Vineyard harbor called Lake Tashmoo with a shallow entrance. We spent one morning anchored with our stern to the beach in Vineyard Haven and waded ashore for breakfast. The next day we motored up an extremely shallow channel into beautiful Menemsha Pond at the west end of the Vineyard. After sailing over to the beach on Nashawena Island, we anchored in 3 feet of water for an afternoon of swimming and sun. And on our last night, we swung on our anchor in a part of crowded Cuttyhunk harbor where no other boats lay. Unlike a cruising catamaran, you live in the main hull on a trimaran such as the F-31. The hull’s narrow, but flares above the waterline providing room for settee berths and a V-berth forward along with 6’2″ standing headroom in the main cabin. The F-31 model we sailed had an “aft cabin” like the original F-27-a wide double berth you drop directly onto through a hatch behind the cockpit. The head is forward, under the aft part of the V-berth. (Other models have enclosed heads.) Our boat had a two-burner stove and plastic cooler under the step for the main hatch. Navigation was done with a ChartKit, and our electronics were handheld-VHF, cell phone, and GPS. The latter, in a holder belowdecks to starboard of the main hatch, could be swung into view to show our course and speed. We found lots of extra storage space outboard of the main hull. We carried an inflatable dinghy, lashed to the forward main beam, with its outboard and fuel jug lashed atop it. The oars lashed to the netting along the main cabin, and in the amas we stowed the anchors, rodes, boom tent, and other gear. In summary, the F-31’s biggest challenge for my relatively unschooled family crew was mastering the teamwork to raise and lower the roller-furling main. By week’s end the teamwork was coming together, and other details were becoming automatic for me-how to handle the steering lines rigged to the outboard, when to raise and lower the daggerboard, always making sure the rudder tie-down was securely cleated, etc. As I said earlier, in a breeze it seemed important to be a little conservative for the sake of the crew because the boat has a quick motion. At the same time, I’ll remind those readers who don’t sail multihulls regularly that even when full-power sailing, the boat hardly heels. It’s amazing to go below after a rigorous sail and find the kids’ boom box and Beanie Babies still perched on a shelf that has no restraining fiddle. What’s it like aboard an F-31 when you don’t have to coddle the crew? I raced aboard the boat one day last fall, crewing for one of the best Corsair sailors, Bob Gleason, owner of The Multihull Source dealership in Wareham. Unfortunately, we never saw more than 8 knots of wind, but I learned that in a knot or two of breeze you can sail faster than the windspeed. Flying the asymmetric with a racing crew of four was fun, too, and it turns out that finding the right tradeoff downwind between sailing hot and sailing deep applies just as it does in keelboats. The difference is, if you get it right in a keelboat you gain a few boatlengths over the course of a couple miles. In the F-31R, you gain a couple hundred yards. Still, fun’s a relative thing, and for the crew of multihull sailors I joined, this was pretty dull compared to their blazing spinnaker reach to the finish the previous day. Recalling that day I was cruising back on Buzzards Bay, I couldn’t help but agree. After sailing upwind until nearly past our destination, I’d pulled on the tiller, eased the main a few inches and the boat leaped to near 15 knots. The sun was warm, the spray peeling off the leeward hull, and I thought, “I wonder how much better 18 would feel?” Corsair F-31R LOA 30′ 10″ Beam 22′ 5″/8′ 2″ Draft 5′ 6″/1′ 4″ DPSL 3,400 lbs. Outboard 9.9 hp Corsair Marine 619-585-3005 www.corsairmarine.com

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Corsair F31 center cockpit

Sailboat specifications.

• Last update: 1st April 2020

Corsair F31's main features

Corsair f31's main dimensions, corsair f31's rig and sails, corsair f31's performances, corsair f31's auxiliary engine, corsair f31's accommodations and layout, corsair f31's saloon, corsair f31's fore cabin, corsair f31's aft cabin.

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• Sailboat Guide

F-31 Sport Cruiser

F-31 Sport Cruiser is a 30 ′ 10 ″ / 9.4 m trimaran sailboat designed by Ian Farrier and built by Corsair Marine starting in 1992.

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/F-31

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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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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 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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