Design
Trika 540
Designed by Klaus Metz
A 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m) demountable plywood trimaran sold through Dudley Dix Yacht Design but designed by Klaus Metz of Metz Boats, the firm's German agent, who ships the plans. The slim main hull is only 0.7 m wide and can be paddled as a two-person kayak, then converted without tools into a sailing trimaran. Sailing beam is 3.28 m, the amas fold in to 1.3 m, and they stow inside the 32 kg main hull for car-topping. All-up sailing weight is about 70 kg.
Construction is stitch and glue plywood, which the page puts well within the ability of most amateur builders. With three small hulls to make, budget 200 to 350 hours as a rule of thumb. Real hours from logged builds are below.
What building a Trika 540 actually takes
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Builds of this boat
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Start the first log of this boatBoats like this one
Same type, closest in length.
| Design | Plans from | LOA | Logs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trika 540 by Klaus Metz | Chesapeake Light Craft | 17′ 9″ (5.41 m) | 0 |
| Rapid 5000 | Spirited Designs | 5.3 m (17′ 5″) | 0 |
| Strike 18 | Woods Designs | 5.5 m (18′ 1″) | 0 |
| Strike 18 | Bateau | 18′ 1″ (5.5 m) | 0 |
| W17 Trimaran by Mike Waters | Chesapeake Light Craft | 17′ 1″ (5.21 m) | 0 |
| Chat 18 | Bateau | 18′ 4″ (5.6 m) | 0 |