Design and Construction
The Mk II retains the hulls and crossbeams of the earlier F-24 but adds a new rotating mast and single-spreader rig, a transom-hung rudder, and a retractable daggerboard in place of the original pivoting centerboard.
Farrier’s Folding System allows the akas to reduce the boat’s beam from 17 feet 11 inches to 8 feet 2 inches. That brings it within legal trailering limits and allows it to sit on its trailer when not in use.
The boat’s disciplined lightweight construction incorporates roughly 50 separate moldings, carbon fiber and Kevlar reinforcement, vacuum-bagging, double-biased fabrics, acrylic-modified epoxy resin, NPG gelcoat, and PVC foam coring. The finished boat weighs just 1,690 pounds.
The hull and deck are joined with universally bonded “top hat” joints, while the bulkheads are tabbed in seven places. Stainless steel bolts set into sockets reinforced by interior bulkheads form the aka pivots, and solid aluminum struts brace the beams from below. Foam flotation in the hull and beams means the boat will still float with every compartment flooded.
Rig, Hull Form, and Performance
The rotating mast proved self-evident in use, and pre-setting its rotation added another element of sail control. The fully battened mainsail was hoisted by hand. The daggerboard is simple and works well, while the screacher sets on a roller furler at the end of a retractable bowsprit.
Under sail, the design stays remarkably level, with heel rarely exceeding 15 degrees. The main hull has a very fine forward section, a U-shaped midsection, and a flat, wide stern. This form damps pitching and, with very little rocker, helps the boat lift onto a plane in most double-digit wind speeds. The amas are rounded-V floats designed for maximum lift as they submerge and minimal drag.
Owners have logged 12 knots in 15 knots of wind, along with a reported 17 knots under full main and gennaker in 21 knots. During one test, the speedometer cheerfully passed 10 knots while the boat remained almost dry.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the Corsair 24 Mk II is unapologetically minimal. Sitting headroom over knee-to-knee benches is the beginning and end of the interior space. The quarter berths are long enough for adults, while the forward double berth is suitable only for small children.
A pop-top works well for gaining a little extra room. There’s no separate head compartment, so a porta-potti is the usual solution. The fabric inner liner accepts Velcro readily, making it easy to attach cushions and panels.
This is a daysailer and weekender designed around speed and trailering, not cabin comfort.
Known Issues
A small batch of early boats suffered oil-canning in the beams because of improperly catalyzed PVC foam. The builder recalled the affected boats and retrofitted them.
Owners have also reported that the thin skin scratches easily, the rudder pintle is sloppy, and the rudder can cavitate at high speed. Farrier addressed the last issue with an optional rudder fence. None of these are structural threats to the folded flotation philosophy, but they’re worth knowing about on a boat with a performance envelope well beyond that of a typical pocket cruiser.
Ownership
Ownership revolves around simplicity and weight control. Most boats use the recommended 5-hp outboard, which delivers better than 6 knots.
With its folding system, lightweight moldings, and emphasis on trailering, a used Mk II suits an owner who keeps gear to a minimum and maintains the structure rather than loading the boat for coastal cruising.
The F-24 “Master Blaster” won the Australian Open Championship for trailerable multihulls in 1994, providing a glimpse of the competition pedigree behind the recreational boat.
The Verdict
The Corsair 24 Mk II is a pure expression of Farrier’s fast-folding trimaran concept: a 1,690-pound, trailerable three-bow that planes easily, heels little, and stays dry while outrunning most monohulls twice its length.
Its compromises are clear and intentional. Headroom, berths, and a head are afterthoughts. For sailors who value speed and transportability over cabin comfort, however, it remains a reference design.
Pros
- Folds to a beam of 8 feet 2 inches and trails legally
- Planes in most double-digit winds, with heel under 15 degrees
- Foam flotation keeps it afloat if flooded
- Light, strong molded structure, with a retrofit for the early beam problem
Cons
- Minimal belowdecks space and no proper head
- Thin skin scratches easily; owners have reported a sloppy rudder pintle and rudder cavitation
- Bare accommodations suited mainly to short trips
