Telstar 28 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The T2's folding mechanism is the heart of its identity. The outer hulls, or amas, swing on a rotary-pivot joint and are connected to the center hull by 2-foot 6-inch boxes at the bow and stern that rotate 180 degrees in a lateral plane rotary-pivot joint that converts 18 feet of sailing beam. A single line deploys them outward over a five-foot span in seconds, and when folded they tuck next to the main hull in a functional hydrodynamic alignment suited to powering. The main hull itself carries a semi-circular, teardrop shape, sits four inches shallower and six inches wider than the original Telstar, and runs aft to a five-degree deadrise at the keel. Early main hulls used a hand-layup process with ATC Core-Cell foam core, but the builder moved to closed-bag vacuum infusion, a change that eliminated a whopping 800 pounds and produced a composite structure with very low void content and high strength-to-weight ratio. Kevlar is laid in high-load areas of the outriggers and hull stress points, and the hull and deck are bonded with Methacrylate adhesives at a simple outward turning flange with a riveted gunwale guard.

Rig and Handling

Because all standing rigging attaches to the main hull, there is no need to adjust shrouds as the amas fold, and the deck-stepped double-spreader Selden section is paired with a patented mast-lowering system that reduces mast load to 80 pounds including the Furlex furling unit. The fully battened mainsail (250 square feet alone, 524 with the genoa) works through a multipart end-boom sheet on a pin-stop traveler aft of the rudderstock, while genoa sheets run to two self-tailing winches on the cabin house. Under sail the 3,000-pound displacement shows up in quick acceleration, and in 5 to 7 knots of true wind the boat hustles under working sail; with the centerboard down she climbs to weather as well as many monohull cruisers, and testers confirmed she pointed to within 30 degrees of apparent wind without stalling. The leeward ama's buoyancy delivers a righting force normally associated with a lead keel, and test sailors found her significantly faster and initially more stable than a monohull of comparable size. A 9.2-knot boatspeed was registered in 13 knots of wind, and the builder claims a 16-knot peg on flat water in similar conditions. The smooth, even tiller helm is well matched to the internal steering system that simultaneously directs rudder and outboard.

Accommodations

Below, the T2 favors a simple, utilitarian layout for weekending, with an interior 33 percent larger than the original and more than six feet of standing headroom. The main salon measures 7 feet 3 inches wide at the back of the settee and 8 feet 9 inches long on centerline; port and starboard settees seat a crew at a teak table that unfolds to seat six, while the port settee converts to a double berth and the starboard single handles one more, plus a 6-foot 2-inch by 3-foot berth under the cockpit sole. The galley sits to port at the companionway foot opposite a nav table, and the head forward contains a toilet, sink, and shower—a welcome addition at 28 feet. Fixed portlights and Bowmar hatches light the space, and 84 cubic feet of ama storage supplements the interior. The cockpit squeezed into the aft center hull seats four with 360-degree visibility, and stern-rail seats add two more; molded companionway steps and recessed deck handrails substitute for lifelines.

Known Issues and Ownership Notes

Practical Sailor's survey found no provision for an escape hatch, a notable omission on a folding trimaran with bonded hull-deck construction. The light displacement that aids acceleration also means pinching into chop or a powerboat wake will likely stop her dead, so seamanship rather than gear addresses that tendency. The deck-stepped rig demands a crane or spar hoist to step and unstep, though the patented lowering system eases the load. Engine options have ranged from 9.9- and 40-horsepower conventional outboards (the latter driving 13 or 14 knots, or 17 mph with a Tohatsu) to newer 8.9-hp Mercury or 50-hp Honda units, all lifted clear by an electric motor or lifting pod for sailing; a 210-pound outboard hung near the transom is a noted handling consideration. The Deluxe model adds laminated teak interior, full galley with propane stove, and enclosed head for cruising, but the base philosophy remains spartan by design.

The Verdict

The Telstar 28 is a purpose-built folding trimaran that trades accommodation luxury for trailering convenience and genuine sailing performance. Its amas fold by a single line into an 8.5-foot road profile while keeping length unchanged, and vacuum-infused construction shed 800 pounds to keep displacement at 3,000 pounds. For the owner who wants to tow a real sailboat behind a car and race club fleets on weekends, the T2 delivers; for the liveaboard, the spartan interior and missing escape hatch are real limits.

Pros

Folds to 8.5-foot beam for trailering without changing LOA
Light 3,000-pound displacement accelerates quickly and points to 30 degrees apparent
Single-line ama deployment and all-rigging-on-main-hull simplify setup
Internal steering links rudder and outboard; engine lifts clear for sailing

Cons