Design and Construction
The Trinidad's hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the shape itself is a sensible one for offshore work. With a centerboard draft of 4 feet 7 inches up and 8 feet 8 inches down — or 7 feet 5 inches on the full-keel version — she balances shoal-water access against windward bite. The rudder hangs from bearings set into a partial skeg, a configuration that surveyors have found in good condition on sound boats. Below the waterline she carries plenty of seacocks, and the uncluttered deck layout reflects a vessel built to be handled by a small crew in warm climates rather than a stripped racer.
Rig and Handling
Under sail the genoa is the driver on the Trinidad, and the boat carries moderately long genoa tracks to let that foresail do its work across a range of angles. A Harken roller furling unit sits on the forestay, and the sloop or cutter configuration gives straightforward short-handed control. The large uncluttered decks and spacious cockpit make her an ideal warm weather cruiser, a character confirmed by her Caribbean charter pedigree. The bimini stretches almost 10 feet wide by 8 feet long, sheltering the helm and companionway without crowding the working deck.
Accommodations
Below, the Trinidad is a commodious interior arranged around three private cabins — a layout that lets a family give each of three kids a cabin of their own, with plenty of room left over for a large, airy saloon. A friendly deck saloon-style pilothouse brings the navigator into the social space, and the boat carries three heads plus a decent-sized galley. The one weak note is storage: it is iffy, a real constraint for long-term liveaboard cruising despite the generous cabin count and saloon volume.
Known Issues
A tester reported a Trinidad in Fort Lauderdale that had broken athwartships after a terrible grounding, a failure visible once the boat was hauled. The rudder blade can become partially waterlogged, a condition worth checking on any survey. Neither issue undermines the fundamental solidity of hull and deck, but both speak to the importance of a careful haul-out inspection on a boat of this age and history.
Refits and Ownership
The seven-year production run and charter background mean many boats have seen hard use and subsequent refit. The solid hull and deck take well to continued service, and the partial-skeg rudder is a straightforward assembly to assess. Owners living with the iffy storage learn to supplement with modular systems rather than expect built-in capacity.
The Verdict
The Trinidad 48 is a solid bluewater cruiser with a sensible hull, a family-friendly three-cabin interior, and a deck layout built for warm-water cruising. She is not a storage champion, and her age demands attention to grounding damage and rudder condition, but the bones are honest.
Pros
- Solid hull and deck with sensible bluewater shape
- Three private cabins plus airy saloon and pilothouse
- Centerboard or full-keel draft options for cruising flexibility
- Genoa-driven rig with roller furling and long tracks
Cons
- Iffy below-deck storage
- Rudder blade can waterlog; athwartship damage possible after grounding
