Episode Details

Rapido Trimarans Founder Paul Koch reveals the truth about their fast trimarans. There are many myths and misunderstandings that Paul seeks to shatter. Listen to this 30-minute interview with one of sailing’s greatest innovators, shot in Vietnam.

Watch my interview with Paul Koch of Rapido

Background

Trimarans are boats with three hulls, whereas catamarans have two hulls, and monohulls have one hull.

I have a long-term dream of sailing around the world, so I’m looking for the best boat to make that happen.

I’ve crossed monohulls off the list, even though most sailboats are monohulls. Although they have some advantages, I dislike how they heel (tilt) more than multihulls and are the slowest boats.

Catamarans are attractive, but trimarans have advantages that cats lack. The interview goes into many of the advantages of a trimaran, so I won’t repeat.

Timeline

00:00 Foldable trimarans

01:00 Speed, tack, & angle advantages

02:15 Unsinkable

05:25 Sailing Future

08:00 High latitude sailing

09:50 Why make a boat in Vietnam?

12:30 Why are trimarans unpopular?

18:30 Rapido future

19:45 All-electric boats

21:45 Are trimarans hard to sail?

24:30 Who should not get a Rapido?

26:20 Plans for 2030

27:00 Paul’s sailing origins

29:00 Best tenders and dinghy

Why Rapido is on my shortlist of dream sailboats

I like the Rapido 40, 50, and 53XS.

The Rapido Trimaran 50 is my favorite because it features the folding amas and a protected helm (whereas the Rapido 40 has an exposed helm).

The Rapido 53XS is also tempting, but I’d like a shorter boat. Already, the 50 is plenty long.

In case you’re a boat nerd, here are some other boats I find intriguing...

List of contenders

* Neel 43 trimaran

* Fountaine Pajot Aura 41 Electric

* Vaan the R4 Aluminium Electric Catamaran

* Outremer’s 4 zero failed, so retrofit a 48-ft Outremer X

* HH44

* Seawind 1270 has 0.9 meter bridge deck clearance & is made in Vietnam, like Rapido.

* Leopard 46 hybrid

* Excess 13 performance

* Garcia Explocat 52

* Island Spirit has an electric drive motor and a genset

* Antares 44

These aren’t on the list because they’re too expensive, but they’re innovative, all-electric designs

* Zen50

* Whisper 50

* MODX 70

This is a long-term goal of mine, so don’t expect me to be sailing