Design and Construction
What distinguishes the 16.5 from many pocket trimarans is the telescopic float system that lets the boat be transported without dismantling. With the floats retracted the hull meets all road-gauge width rules, and the folded beam measures 2.5 meters against an unfolded 3.8 meters, giving a platform area of 8 square meters when open. The central hull runs 4.94 meters with 4.40-meter floats, and the builder describes a more modern, sportier shape with harmonious curves and a narrow water entry. Review coverage notes the folding arrangement is the same family trait that makes Astus boats simple to pack up and trailer, while the planing central hull and floats draw on VPLP's recent maxi-trimaran work rather than a conventional pocket-cruiser lineage.
Rig and Handling
The boat is offered in two versions: a sports model carrying a powerful sail plan for private owners and a more forgiving rig intended for sailing schools. The recreation version shows a 7.06-meter mast with a 10-square-meter mainsail, 5-square-meter jib, and 15-square-meter gennaker, while the sport version steps up to an 11.5-square-meter main, 5.5-square-meter jib, and 20-square-meter gennaker. A sabre board is fitted to aid ease of use, and the central hull with its narrow entry and planing form keeps the boat light at 210kg per the builder's contact weight. Writing in the editorial review, the publication found her a responsive and lively sailer that is fun and thrilling to steer, and an outboard of up to 2.5 horsepower can be mounted for coastal passages.
Accommodations and Use
This is not a cabin cruiser but a dinghy-style multihull with limited weight and a category D rating for five people. The principal shelter is a large storage locker rather than berths or a galley, and the boat is sold in club or sports trim. The shallow 0.2-meter draft with board up and 1.1-meter draft with board down, paired with the 2.5-meter folded width, positions the 16.5 as a daysailer that can be launched, rigged, and retrieved without a marina berth.
Ownership and Refits
Owners choosing the sports version gain the larger gennaker and mainsail, while club or school buyers get the tamer recreation rig. The maximum engine power of 2.5 horsepower limits auxiliary use to calm coastal hops, and the float volume of 500 liters per side supports the platform's stability when unfolded. Because the floats telescope rather than remove, routine ownership centers on the folding mechanism and trailer compliance rather than structural refit.
The Verdict
The Astus 16.5 is a clever pocket trimaran that trades cabin comfort for a trailered, foldable platform with real multihull performance. VPLP's input shows in the planing hull and lively steering, and the two-version strategy broadens its appeal from schools to private sport sailors.
Pros
- Telescoping floats allow trailering with no dismantling
- Lively, responsive handling with a sporty sail plan
- VPLP-derived hull form with modern, efficient shape
Cons
- No real accommodations beyond a storage locker
- Limited to 2.5 hp auxiliary and category D use
- Small size restricts function to daysailing and coastal trips
