Its fine-entry center hull and very full, buoyant amas reflect grand-prix trimaran thinking on a smaller scale. Multihulls World called it “a real mini Orma 60,” which could easily be mistaken from a distance for a 60-foot Orma.
Design and Construction
The Multi 23 is engineered for speed and beachability rather than mass-market comfort. Its hulls use infused vinylester construction, with solid glass below the waterline, Corecell foam in the topside sections and deck, and carbon-reinforced crossbeams carrying the loads between the hulls.
The center hull has a fine entry and a flat run aft for a clean exit. Testers also noted slim forward sections associated with tight lines aft. Together, these features give the center hull a deliberate, race-bred shape. The floats have a volume equal to 200% of the boat’s displacement, providing a remarkable stability margin for a trimaran of this size.
Both the centerboard and rudders pivot, allowing the boat to land on a beach. The crossbeams’ curves and harmonious shape are not merely structural; they also look visually resolved.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Both rig options use a rotating aluminum wing mast. The standard sail plan carries 328 square feet, with a racing mainsail and jib. A self-tacking jib makes short-handed sailing simpler, while the cruiser version substitutes a reefable Dacron main and jib for the racing sails.
A tester’s own Multi 23 carried Leneman’s custom, larger-than-stock jib on a custom bowsprit, showing that the platform readily accepts owner-driven increases in sail area.
The boat’s performance intent is clear. One tester recorded 19.9 knots on a handheld GPS and believed the boat had gone faster. That speed comes in a package with a beam of 15 feet 6 inches and a dry weight of only 660 pounds.
Although the Multi 23 is trailerable, launching takes about an hour and retrieval another hour. That practical consideration places some limits on spontaneous outings.
Accommodations and Equipment
This is a daysailer and coastal-camping trimaran, not a cruiser with enclosed quarters. A 9-foot dry locker forward of the mast provides secure storage for gear that needs to remain dry. For crews who want to sleep under cover in the center hull, a dedicated cockpit tent is optional.
The standard auxiliary is an inboard-mounted electric motor, a quiet, compact option suited to a 660-pound hull. One owner reported that the importer uses an outboard on his own Multi 23 to achieve the 15 miles of motoring range required by local racing authorities. That’s a practical departure from the standard electric setup when racing rules demand more range.
Launching and Storage
The Multi 23’s low weight contributes to its speed, but its 15-foot 6-inch beam shapes how it must be stored. One owner keeps the boat in a lift dock wide enough to accommodate its 15-foot beam, a reminder that the trimaran’s broad footprint still governs storage logistics when it’s out of the water.
According to one importer, launching is simple: with some experience, two people can have the boat in the water in around two hours. A tester also noted the absence of antifouling, suggesting a boat often kept dry or used lightly in warm regions. Any used example should therefore be assessed for its history of bottom care.
Verdict
The Multi 23 is a genuine miniature of a grand-prix trimaran: trailerable, forgiving of a beach landing, and capable of eye-watering speed in competent hands. Its VPLP parentage and production by Torpen Marine in China make it an international small multihull with serious design credentials.
Its limitations are equally clear. Accommodation is minimal, the wide beam complicates storage, and launching and retrieval require enough time to discourage impulsive outings. The standard electric auxiliary may also fall short where racing authorities require a specific motoring range.
Pros
- Very low dry weight of 660 pounds
- Buoyant amas with float volume equal to 200% of displacement
- Pivoting centerboard and rudders allow beach landings
- Trailerable platform
- Rotating aluminum wing mast and self-tacking jib
- Reefable cruiser-rig option
- Carbon-reinforced crossbeams
- Infused vinylester construction with foam-cored topsides and deck
Cons
- Launching and retrieval take roughly an hour each, limiting spontaneity
- Minimal accommodation; essentially a daysailer with an optional cockpit tent
- The standard electric auxiliary may not meet racing-range rules without a switch to an outboard
- The wide trimaran footprint affects storage logistics
