Will this be the year of the trimaran? The recent delivery of a tri-hull project in China made quite a bit of noise throughout the yachting industry and other three-hulled projects are in the works.

Yacht designer Guido de Groot has been working with Mobimar in Finland to develop a yacht application for the trimaran that the shipyard is building for commercial use. Working closely with the shipyard, De Groot is developing an appealing 105-foot (32-meter) project with voluminous interior.

“In the last couple of years, trimarans have been getting more popular because they have a big advantage over catamarans,” he says. Trimarans don’t offer as much resistance as catamarans because the hulls are used differently. There is one aerodynamic hull housing the propulsion, while the other hulls are used for stability only, much like outriggers. These types of vessels already are being used for pilot boats or workboats because they are both very stable and easy to maneuver. “They are also more fuel-efficient,” De Groot adds.

The trimaran project currently under development at Mobimar will house the main engine with conventional shaftline and propulsion, plus a garage, in the main hull. The other two hulls will hold small waterjets for steering, a small diesel engine and the main fuel tanks. The waterjets will provide additional speed if required, yielding a cruising speed of 20 knots or more.

Another advantage of the trimaran hull configuration is amazing volume, although utilizing that space can be a bit challenging. “You have to be more creative,” De Groot says. Amenities planned for this novel yacht include a huge, full-beam master cabin. All guest accommodations will be on the main deck, along with the wheelhouse and crew spaces, plus a large outdoor entertainment area. The yacht will be built in aluminum, with upper decks possibly built in composite.

For more information, visit guidodegroot.com