weta trimaran australia

Free Shipping in the US on Orders $75+

Item added to your cart

Comparing the windrider 17 to the weta trimaran, comparing the weta trimaran to the windrider 17 trimaran.

We frequently get asked how the WindRider 17 compares to Weta Trimaran, so we decided to make this page to explain how they are similar and dissimilar. We also want to give some of the positives of each boat

Similarities:

1. Both day sailors

2. Both small trimarans (very stable)

That is where the similarities between the two boats end. The WindRider 17 was designed to be a pleasure sailor for anyone to use, whereas the Weta was designed to be a racing sailboat that that was more stable than a small catamaran.

WindRider 17:

1.   Rotomolded.   This allows the WindRider 17 Trimaran to be used anywhere, anyhow without concern of damaging the hull.

2.   Capacity.   The WindRider 17 can carry up to 6 people, while Weta is limited to 3.

4.   Dryer boat.   The trampoline design and bow design ensure that the waves break beneath you, not on you. No need for a dry suit to sail this trimaran.

5.   Motor mount option.   While heretical to some, a motor can be a godsend when the winds die, when a storm is coming or when the current and wind and everything else are working against you.

6.   Versatility.   The WindRider 17 has more options, more cargo space, so choose the type of sailing you want to do. Then do it.

7.   Price.   The base price of the WindRider trimaran is less than that of the Weta.

Weta Trimaran:

1.   One class design.   Weta has a strong base of racing fleets across the world for those people interested in racing trimarans. If you are looking to race, and looking for a small trimaran, this is a great option.

2.   Carbon fiber.   The use of carbon fiber for the mast and akas helps lighten the boat.

3.   Very compact design.   When disassembled, the boat is only 14ft long and 5.5ft wide. This makes it great for people that have very little area for storage.

4.   Speed.   With 3 sails standard the Weta will be faster on the water than the WindRider.

If you are looking for a boat to race, then the Weta is the better option. However, if you just want more versatility at a lower price point, then the WindRider is your best option.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

2021 Weta 4.4 Trimaran

• Description

Seller's Description

2021 Weta Trimaran. Barely used, new price 19,500. Super stable, easy to sail and incredibly fast. Hit speeds of 20 knots (23 mph). Road King Trailer and beach dolly included. View Wetas in action on Youtube! Amazing design.

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)

This listing is presented by SailboatListings.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.

View on SailboatListings.com

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome to our store

Item added to your cart

Comparing the windrider 17 to the weta trimaran, comparing the weta trimaran to the windrider 17 trimaran.

We frequently get asked how the WindRider 17 compares to Weta Trimaran, so we decided to make this page to explain how they are similar and dissimilar. We also want to give some of the positives of each boat

Similarities:

1. Both day sailors

2. Both small trimarans (very stable)

That is where the similarities between the two boats end. The WindRider 17 was designed to be a pleasure sailor for anyone to use, whereas the Weta was designed to be a racing sailboat that that was more stable than a small catamaran.

WindRider 17:

1.   Rotomolded.   This allows the WindRider 17 Trimaran to be used anywhere, anyhow without concern of damaging the hull.

2.   Capacity.   The WindRider 17 can carry up to 6 people, while Weta is limited to 3.

4.   Dryer boat.   The trampoline design and bow design ensure that the waves break beneath you, not on you. No need for a dry suit to sail this trimaran.

5.   Motor mount option.   While heretical to some, a motor can be a godsend when the winds die, when a storm is coming or when the current and wind and everything else are working against you.

6.   Versatility.   The WindRider 17 has more options, more cargo space, so choose the type of sailing you want to do. Then do it.

7.   Price.   The base price of the WindRider trimaran is less than that of the Weta.

Weta Trimaran:

1.   One class design.   Weta has a strong base of racing fleets across the world for those people interested in racing trimarans. If you are looking to race, and looking for a small trimaran, this is a great option.

2.   Carbon fiber.   The use of carbon fiber for the mast and akas helps lighten the boat.

3.   Very compact design.   When disassembled, the boat is only 14ft long and 5.5ft wide. This makes it great for people that have very little area for storage.

4.   Speed.   With 3 sails standard the Weta will be faster on the water than the WindRider.

If you are looking for a boat to race, then the Weta is the better option. However, if you just want more versatility at a lower price point, then the WindRider is your best option.

Subscribe to our emails

Be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

• America’s Cup Updates
• Southampton Boat Show
• British Yachting Awards
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues

Your special offer

Weta 4.4 Review

‘Wetapunga’ is the Maori name for a New Zealand insect that looks like a cross between a cricket and a cockroach. Jeremy Evans goes sailing on a new trimaran with the same compact body and long legs…

Roger Kitchen and his son Chris built the first Weta prototype in 2003, having commissioned a multihull designer to sketch hull shapes to suit their brief. They wanted to create a new kind of boat for New Zealand which was easy to store, easy to rig, safe and stable, high performance and suitable for all members of a family to enjoy.

Three years and many design changes later, a production line was set up in China where the Weta is built in foam sandwich construction. Sails by Gaastra and the carbon mast, beams and spinnaker pole are also sourced in China, which helps explain the relatively low cost for a boat packed with carbon accessories. The first production Weta was sold in New Zealand in October 2006, followed by sales in China, France, Holland, Sweden, Thailand and the USA, boosting Weta production to 75 boats in its first year.

Design and rigging

Meade Gougeon, USA sailing legend and cofounder of the West System Epoxy, spotted a Weta 4.4 on a Florida beach last autumn and was so impressed that he now sails his own Weta, which is a handsome accolade from a former ‘Boat of the Year’ judge in America.

The Weta does indeed look different from anything else in the boat park. Imagine a cross between a New Zealand insect and a 60ft racing trimaran, scaled down to the size of a 14ft dinghy. It’s no wider than an average dinghy, sitting on its trailer or in the boat park with floats stowed alongside, but nor is it a hassle to double the width of the Weta in trimaran mode. The floats and carbon cross beams weigh 18kg and slide into sockets, where they are secured by tying a bowline and applying tension through a jamming cleat. This takes about a minute for each side and creates a surprisingly rigid platform — there was no obvious flex when powered up on the water.

The carbon mast slides together in two sections and weighs just 6kg, so no problem popping it up or taking it down singlehanded, using the standard method of attaching shrouds and pulling up/down on the forestay. The Gaastra laminate mainsail slides up the luff track easily, though it took us a few minutes to get the knack of locking the halyard at the top of the mast. This is standard multihull procedure, ensuring there is no halyard stretch when you pull on the downhaul to depower the sail. Pulling on the jib halyard provides tension to prevent luff sag, with the ends of the halyards neatly stowed alongside the mast. Complete rig to water time — or vice versa — should be inside 20 minutes with practice.

The Weta feels quite a bit more chunky to push or pull on its trolley than an average singlehanded dinghy. It also might be handy to have a ‘helper’ for trolley retrieval. The Weta won’t blow over, but it will blow sideways if you leave it unattended on the water for too long.

On the water

Our guest testers were Rollo Pyper and Jeremy Pudney. Rollo races an International 14 out of Itchenor SC, so clearly understands the concept of ‘high performance sailing’. Chris Kitchen had stepped in as Rollo’s crew at the International 14 world championship in New Zealand in 2005, and Rollo was keen to discover how the Kitchen family’s Weta concept had progressed from the 2005 prototype. Jeremy Pudney is a former International 14 stalwart who retired gracefully from dangling on 14s a few years ago and created his own Wind Raider custom trimaran — main hull by Phil Morrison, floats and rig from a Hurricane 5.9, big asymmetric off an International 14. He’s now sold that particular Wind Raider, with the intention of downsizing into something smaller, simpler and easier to handle, which can still provide a good enough blast to satisfy a former 14 sailor who has hit 70 years of age.

Rollo commented that the rig of the Weta looked ‘…a bit small’ but he’s clearly accustomed to the outsize rig of an International 14! The Weta rig appears nicely in proportion to the boat. It also delivered the right amount of power for our test session in Force 3-4 winds — like any multihull, the Weta is made for a breeze when the ‘grin factor’ soon kicks in. In less wind, the Weta may have felt a bit draggy, but it’s still a light boat with an easily driven, super-slim main hull, plus the daggerboard should help it point high enough to spar with most dinghies upwind.

When you launch, the Weta is an easy boat to climb on board because it’s so stable and you can get into the cockpit from the open transom or over the low side. The cockpit is roomy, with enough space for a couple of people. Speaking on behalf of older sailors, Jeremy Pudney would have liked more depth to avoid that back-straining ‘knees-up’ attitude, which you get on all shallow bottom boats when sitting on the side of the hull. Whether this is a concern will depend on personal flexibility levels, and becomes irrelevant when you move onto the trampoline from where most Weta sailing will be done.

You need a bit of a push to get on the tramp, but once out you’ve got a great view of the action and can enjoy what the Weta does best: acceleration! When a gust hits, this little boat really takes off. In an average wind speed of 10-15 knots, with one gust up to 20 knots, the Weta flew along but felt stable and easy to handle at all times. And it was quick. I gybed downwind from Itchenor to Hayling Island SC and then beat back again in double quick time.

Upwind, the Weta felt light, responsive and close-winded, although it always pays to sail free and go for speed with a multihull. Tacking on flat water was quick, precise and worry-free. In waves you may need to take more care to ensure the floats don’t stall the Weta mid-way through the turn. Offwind, you unroll the screecher which is a miniaturised version of the big headsail on an Extreme 40 cat or Orma 60 trimaran. I found the roll-out/roll-up worked really well, taking the normal precaution of sailing deep to blanket the screecher. The only way to sail is on the apparent wind. Yank in the mainsheet, cleat it off and forget it’s there, using the screecher to lead the boat downhill — steer upwind to build power, bear away to blast on the apparent wind, then steer upwind to rebuild power.

Unlike a cat there is no mainsheet traveller, and unlike a dinghy there is no kicker or gnav since there is no head-bashing boom. So you rely totally on the mainsheet for leech and foot tension offwind. If the wind is up, this should not be a problem as you can sheet in tight on the apparent wind, even when sailing deep downhill. But in marginal winds, keeping power in the mainsail will clearly be more of a challenge when sailing offwind.

Gybing was easy during our moderate wind test. The screecher flipped neatly round the forestay every time and the floats prevent any chance of the boat heeling right over, but you can run out of hands when it comes to re-sheeting the jib. That helps explain why Weta sailors leave the jib on shore when sailing in stronger winds. As mentioned, the Weta has impressive acceleration when a gust powers up, so just take care you don’t fall off the back of the tramp. If that happened, the Weta would surely leave you behind!

You need to get acclimatised to sitting out on the trampoline and finding a suitable brace position, which is comfortable for all weathers. The Weta is basically trim forgiving — just slide to the front of the rack for beating and back for reaching when the Screecher will tend to lift the bows. It’s clearly not designed for hiking off the side of the rack, which would be painful, with only floppy footstraps providing limited support on the tramp.

During our test session, the Weta never showed any inclination to bury its bows or capsize. What’s more, we didn’t opt for a capsize, knowing that the Weta would invert and probably shove its mast into the shallow muddy bottom of Chichester Harbour. With a fast flowing tide, that would be a potential recipe for a broken carbon mast. If the worst should happen, it’s some consolation that you are only likely to have to replace one half of your carbon mast!

But Wetas can capsize. The Wetamarine website shows some interesting YouTube high wind antics, featuring a Weta blasting in Force 5-6 winds. The main bow and leeward float submarines on several occasions, but the Weta nearly always recovers and carries on sailing. But when the Weta does capsize, it turns almost immediately upside-down. However, a neat technique that has been developed to get it back up again: that involves unscrewing a hatch in the stern of the nearest float and standing on the float so it floods and sinks, which will flip your Weta to the 90-degree capsize position. Then you can pull the Weta upright on the daggerboard in normal dinghy style.

Weta 4.4 review: Verdict

The first ever New Zealand Weta National Championship was held on Lake Taupo last December, and the first ever European Championship will be held at Muiderberg in the Netherlands from September 26-28. That kind of racing would be fun for both singlehanded and multi-handed Weta sailors, but you could also race against dinghies using a Portsmouth club or trial number, or against cats using the Weta’s SCHRS measurement rating.

The Weta looks good with a choice of green, red, yellow or grey hull colours and the all-Chinese construction appears first class, with carbon and foam sandwich ensuring the Weta is a stiff, lightweight performance boat that should provide many years of good service. The rig also looks great, with Gaastra laminate sails providing a seethrough view and flexible carbon mast ensuring the rig is both light and efficient.

Not everything can be perfect. The spinnaker pole does not retract and could be a worry manoeuvring among tightly packed boats. Jeremy Pudney felt the Weta would be easier to handle with two skiff-style tiller extensions, although my view was that you soon get accustomed to flicking the extension across the new side. Both Jeremy and Rollo had problems with the screecher-furling cleat unlocking at inopportune times, while I found the mainsheet cleat a bit of a fiddle since it tends to waggle around. Other improvements could include a mini-traveller for mainsail leech tension, a self-tacking jib to take the fumbling out of tacks and gybes and decent footstraps for better security on the tramps, all of which would add weight, complexity and cost to the boat.

The Weta has plenty going for it as a somewhat unusual, but totally modern ‘family boat.’ For summer blasting, it’s big enough to take young kids for a ride which will surely put a smile on their faces, and fast enough to ensure that adults or teenagers get guaranteed fun. Optimum conditions should be around 12-20 knots. If the wind is lighter, children will be able to handle the boat. If the wind is stronger, experienced sailors will sheet in and hang on for a memorable and possible topsy-turvey blast. Another potential market is sailors with lower body disabilities who have been looking at the Weta 4.4 with interest.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

RS21: Rupert Homes tests RS’ latest keelboat

Elan E6 on test: fast short-handed cruiser/racer

Video: Nacra 15 FCS boat test with Chris Rashley and Chloe Collenette

Yachts & Yachting is the leading performance sailing magazine, covering every aspect of the racing scene, from dinghies to keelboats. Our insightful features and stunning photography bring you the inside track on the world’s most exciting regattas together with advice and inspiration from the very best sailors, coaches and industry experts.

• News & Events
• Sailing Techniques
• Event Spotlight

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company, part of the Telegraph Media Group | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

• About About About Committee Members Class Measurers Class Rules V1.3 AWCA Inc. Constitution. Weta Dealers in Australia
• Registration
• Weta Resources

AWCA Weta National Championships 2023/24

Event information.

NOR -  https://lcsc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NOR-2023-Nationals-LCSC-230906.pdf

ENTER NOW  -   https://www.revolutionise.com.au/lcsc/events/204120/  

Contact Todd McVey for any further info 0411 220 601 [email protected] 

Recommend Accommodation   You are probably better calling them by phone and telling them you’re coming for the sailing Nationals as the websites are a bit clunky. 

https://apollonianhotel.com.au/

https://www.noosaholidayparks.com.au/boreen-point

https://www.cootharabamotel.com/

http://www.boreenpointrealestate.com/

• My Searches  
• Watch List (0)
• Sign In  

Sail Trimaran Boats For Sale in Australia

Found 33 listings.

Chamberlin Cirro Stratus

All new standing and running rigging, New furler, New b&g electronics, wind ...

• 34' 5" / 10.50m
• AU $80,000 Negotiable

Nacra 5.0 Trimaran

Custom 5m Trimaran Lightweight foam sandwich main hull & foam sandwich Nacra hulls for ...

• 16' 5" / 5.00m
• 2000 approx
• AU $7,499 Reduced

Dragonfly 25 Swing Wing Touring Exceptional Value - New Mast & Rigging & Trailer

The Dragonfly 24 is a true weekend cruiser and racer - built for fun and speed! The concept of ...

• 25' 1" / 7.65m
• AU $190,000 Ono

Norman Cross 42 MK2

Trimaran Norman Cross 42 »MINDELO« for sale by owners for 82'500 USD. Currently located ...

• 42' / 12.80m
• AU $122,000

New Erik Lerouge Pulsar 20

Designed by the renowned naval architect Erik Lerouge, this 20ft trimaran is crafted for the ...

• 19' 7" / 5.96m
• AU $45,000 Available to order

Crowther Buccaneer 43

All reasonable offers over $150,000 will be considered Fully rebuilt from bare hulls and ...

• 43' 0" / 13.11m
• AU $175,000 Buyers over

New Scarab 650 Project Boat.

Scarab 650 folding trimaran project boat. Partly constructed, most parts available to complete ...

• 21' 4" / 6.50m
• AU $12,500 Or nearest offer - New & In Stock

Corsair Sprint 750 Mkii

Bare Necessities is back on the market after a short spell to have small cosmetic scratches ...

• 24' 7" / 7.50m
• AU $55,000 Negotiable

Neel Trimarans 47

2020 Neel 47 Trimaran | Anyway This four cabin Neel 47 trimaran is fully set up for ...

• 47' 0" / 14.33m
• Euro €575,000

Crowther Buccaneer 43 Big Reduction Trimaran

Modified Crowther Bucaneer 42 (Modified By Lock Crowther and Chris Smith ) This beautiful ...

• 40' / 12.19m
• AU $115,000 Ono

Windrider 17

Windrider 17 (ft) Awesome little sailing trimaran, designed by Jim Brown, a notable and ...

• 17' / 5.18m
• 2005 approx

Haines Hunter Tramp Trimaran Haines Hunter Tramp - Fun Family Boat

For sale is our Haines Hunter Trimaran, a swift, secure fun little boat that will always put a ...

• 19' 6" / 5.94m
• AU $12,500 Negotiable

• Wētā in Action
• Where to Buy

Owners Locker

• News & Events

Wētā Owners

Hey Wētā Owners! We know you are spread all over the world. So this page is to help you get up to speed with what's going on in the Wētā Community.

Here we have information about the various Wētā Sailing Associations, Tips and Tricks and the Wētā Manuals. There is regular organized racing in New Zealand, UK, Sweden, France, USA and Australia, your dealer will know whats going on with the local racing scene, for more info get in touch with your dealer.

If you want to get in touch with Wētā owners near you, try the map, forums or the various Facebook groups. To discuss the finer points of Wētā sailing try the forums.

View Wētā World in fullscreen

Send us an email if you would like to add your boat to the map.

If there is something you would like to add to this page, drop us a line .

Here be everything you need to get your Wētā humming me hearty!

• Tips and Tricks

Stay Connected to Wētā

Get the latest news, product updates and much more.