Design and Construction
Neel Trimarans built the 65 as a fiberglass PVC-foam-core sandwich trimaran with a 39.5-foot beam and 63.2-foot waterline on a 65-foot overall hull, a proportions-heavy platform with enhanced material quality and optimized overall finishes. The structure is a genuine production effort: a complete mold set was produced, and the model was explicitly not a prototype but a semi-custom production design. With a displacement of 49,600 pounds and a capsize screening ratio of 4.3, the boat is a large, beamy performance cruiser rather than a lightweight racer, yet its fine-entry bows and good clearance between the floats speak to a hull form tuned for passage work rather than dock-side bulk alone.
Rig and Handling
Under sail the Neel 65 is moderately canvased, which keeps this big trimaran manageable when short-handed anchor. Multihulls World found the boat agile despite its size and significant windage forward, a combination that rewards the fine-entry hull and float spacing in close-quarters maneuvering. The fractional sloop rig carries 2,227 square feet of sail area against a 10.65-knot hull speed, and the 86.56-foot masthead works with a 150-horsepower diesel on direct drive for repositioning when the wind fades. A double helm station paired with a sail-trimming console places the crew centrally, a layout that supports the boat’s easy short-handed character without resorting to complex powered systems.
Accommodations
The 65’s interior is organized around the Cockloon, a Neel-Trimarans trademark that marries cockpit and saloon into one open social volume with sit-down dining capacity for up to 14 guests. A second lounge forward of the saloon adds a sea-view sofa, while the central saloon converts between benches or a tatami mattress with a high or coffee table. The sea-facing galley is integrated into the living space with unusually large worktops and extensive storage, and a larger master cabin sits on the main deck with new access to the central hull. A nav station separates the two saloons, and two suites plus a forward cabin each take unique viewpoints; a gallery overlooks the cruising grounds. The aft deck is superlative, extending the Cockloon lifestyle outward.
The Verdict
The Neel 65 is a purpose-built flagship trimaran that translates a semi-custom production program into a genuinely social 65-foot platform. Its Cockloon layout and 14-guest dining capacity redefine the trimaran saloon, while moderate canvas and a central helm console keep a 49,600-pound boat approachable short-handed. The fine-entry hull and float clearance deliver agility that belies the forward windage, and the full mold set signals a serious production commitment rather than a showboat prototype.
Pros
- Flagship of an award-winning performance-cruiser trimaran line
- Cockloon open-plan saloon seats up to 14 for dining
- Semi-custom production with full mold set, not a prototype
- Agile handling and easy short-handed operation for its size
- Main-deck master cabin and unique-viewpoint suites
Cons
- Significant forward windage noted by reviewers
- Large 39.5-foot beam demands careful marina and haulout planning
