The truth about tri hulls

**keefallan** · 10-23-2020, 04:32 PM

When I was growing up, tri hulls were being phased out. I heard from people that they rode terrible(cause the water didnt have anywhere to go) and more. I rode in a tri hull when I was older(teenager), but it wasnt anything fancy, just a 14 foot plain jane tri hull runabout.

So today in another thread, someone had as a title in their post "TRI HULLS RULE!". It was in regards to a race with nothing but tri hulls.

So, can someone tell me about the pros and cons of the tri hull............how it rides(or rode in most cases), and why was it phased out of mainstream production in the 70's early 80's. I just want to understand a hull that I never really came to learn about.

Even the history of it?

**XstreamVking** · 10-23-2020, 04:49 PM

My family had a 18' Thunderbird tri-hull. 68-69? It would carry a lot of gear and people, was very stable and planed with a 115 hp rude easily. My dad loved it for camping in the glades since it had a very shallow draft.

**keefallan** · 10-23-2020, 04:52 PM

Was it a harsh ride in lumpy water?

**XstreamVking** · 10-23-2020, 04:53 PM

https://www.google.com/search?q=pics...n4Q9QF6BAgEEB0

I was a kid but it seemed to do very well as an 18' high sided boat. Ran dry with little pounding. We always seemed to be the leaders of our little flotilla of friends boats. Before this boat, dad built his own wood lapstrake boats in our garage. This was his 1st and last glass boat. He passed in 70 and the boat remained in the family for a while. Was a good boat.

**fichrman2** · 10-23-2020, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by keefallan

When I was growing up, tri hulls were being phased out. I heard from people that they rode terrible(cause the water didnt have anywhere to go) and more. I rode in a tri hull when I was older(teenager), but it wasnt anything fancy, just a 14 foot plain jane tri hull runabout.

So today in another thread, someone had as a title in their post "TRI HULLS RULE!". It was in regards to a race with nothing but tri hulls.

So, can someone tell me about the pros and cons of the tri hull............how it rides(or rode in most cases), and why was it phased out of mainstream production in the 70's early 80's. I just want to understand a hull that I never really came to learn about.

Even the history of it?

I cant tell you ther pros and cons- but if your referring to the NGK Tri-Hull class,
They are a hoot to watch race, Ole Scary Jerry Rinker esp !!!

**FUJIMO** · 10-23-2020, 05:29 PM

...in the 60's & 70's in florida, trihulls were a huge seller. they were everywhere. all different brands.

**nitro_rat** · 10-23-2020, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by fichrman2

I cant tell you ther pros and cons- but if your referring to the NGK Tri-Hull class,
They are a hoot to watch race, Ole Scary Jerry Rinker esp !!!

A friend of mine painted "SCARY" in front of Jerry's name on his boat at a race and the name stuck! Fitting too...

**delawarerick** · 10-23-2020, 05:55 PM

Had both a glastron and a galaxy trihull it would jiggle a breasty woman in a moderate chop.

**keefallan** · 10-23-2020, 06:10 PM

That's the race.......looks like mayhem!! ....and looks like great entertainment. I cant say I'd wanna be in it.....but watch yes!

Fujimo...I remember seeing them all the time. But family members told me they rode terrible in white caps.....their words "beat ya to death". So, I just believed 'em and never looked back. It also coincided with the fact that they werent being made anymore either.

Then I see a picture of that race today, and its making me ask...........DID I MISS SOMETHING ABOUT TRI HULLS? Thats why I had to start this thread. Is it a fast hull compared to v or a pad vee?

**TooStroked** · 10-23-2020, 06:18 PM

When I was a kid, we had a 15' MFG tri-hull with a tiller steer 18 HP Evinrude on it. If you went into a corner even a little too hard, it would go from leaning in, to leaning out - violently. I almost tossed the metal 6 gallon fuel tank out the side one time. Yes, and it rode like a piano.

**nitro_rat** · 10-23-2020, 06:19 PM

Those tri-hulls are all running souped up 140 OMC crossflows. They can break into the 70's. It's not really the best hull, the class started out allowing 16-18' Glastrons and their copies. The 17' proved to be the sweet model and now the hulls in competition are all purpose built. A stock hull is still allowed but won't hold up to the rigors of competition! The cage is necessary, I've seen boats go "over the top" in competition several times!

**XstreamVking** · 10-23-2020, 06:26 PM

Kind of ahead of their time were the wellcraft "air slot" tri hulls. Had a notched bottom design not so very different from the ones we see on boats today.

**keefallan** · 10-23-2020, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by TooStroked

When I was a kid, we had a 15' MFG tri-hull with a tiller steer 18 HP Evinrude on it. If you went into a corner even a little too hard, it would go from leaning in, to leaning out - violently. I almost tossed the metal 6 gallon fuel tank out the side one time. Yes, and it rode like a piano.

MFG....thats the Builder I remember seeing the most on the side of a tri hull. Usually in the 15foot range.