The boat is 27 feet 8 inches overall and spreads to an 18-foot beam under sail. For the road, its outer hulls fold in to reduce the beam to 8 feet 6 inches, making the boat fully trailerable. Smith presented the concept as one that owners could tuck into the backyard for winter or tow south for more sailing.
Design and Construction
The Telstar 28’s main hull was initially built by hand layup with ATC Core-Cell foam core, described as a top-of-the-line material. The builder later adopted closed-bag vacuum infusion, producing a composite with very low void content. The infused process removed 800 pounds from the design.
Methacrylate adhesives bond the hull and deck at a simple, outward-turning flange fitted with a riveted gunwale guard. Kevlar reinforces high-load areas in the outriggers and stress points in the hull.
The redesigned amas connect to the center hull through 2-foot 6-inch boxes at the bow and stern. These rotate 180 degrees in a lateral plane, moving outward across a five-foot span on a single line. The amas sit five inches deeper than those of a Corsair 28.
The main hull has a semicircular teardrop shape. It is four inches shallower and six inches wider than the original, with five degrees of deadrise at the keel. A kick-up rudder extends 3 feet 3 inches beneath the stern.
Folding System, Rig, and Sail Handling
All standing rigging attaches to the main hull, allowing the amas to fold without disturbing the shrouds. The deck-stepped, two-spreader Selden mast weighs 200 pounds. A patented lowering system reduces the mast load to 80 pounds, including the Furlex furler.
The sail plan includes a 250-square-foot, fully battened mainsail and a furling overlapping jib on a Furlex headfoil. Total sail area is 524 square feet with the genoa, or 590 square feet with a screacher set on an optional retractable bowsprit.
The end-boom mainsheet leads to a pin-stop traveler aft of the rudderstock. Two self-tailing winches on the cabinhouse handle the genoa sheets.
Performance Under Sail
Test sailors found the tiller smooth and even. With the centerboard down, the Telstar 28 points as well as many monohull cruisers, sailing within 30 degrees of the apparent wind without stalling.
Its light 3,000-pound displacement produces quick acceleration, although pinching into chop or a powerboat wake can stop the boat dead. In 5 to 7 knots of true wind, it moves briskly under working sail. During testing, it reached 9.2 knots in 13 knots of wind; the builder claims 16 knots on flat water in similar conditions.
Accommodations and Deck Space
The design favors sailing performance over luxury, with functional but spartan accommodations. Even so, the interior is 33 percent larger than that of the original Telstar and provides more than six feet of headroom.
The main saloon measures 7 feet 3 inches across at the settee backs and 8 feet 9 inches along the centerline. The port settee converts to a double berth, while the starboard settee provides a single. A berth beneath the cockpit sole measures 6 feet 2 inches by 3 feet and is suitable only for small children.
The galley is to port at the companionway, opposite a navigation table. A teak table unfolds to seat six. Forward, the head contains a toilet, sink, and shower. Fixed portlights and Bowmar hatches admit natural light.
The amas add 84 cubic feet of storage. Side decks inboard of each ama provide walkable lounging space. The cockpit seats four, with stern-rail seats accommodating two more.
Known Issues and Trade-offs
Sea trials documented no provision for an escape hatch. That is a serious consideration on a folding trimaran with limited egress routes. The lightweight, performance-oriented construction and camping-style interior reflect a deliberate trade-off: speed and easy trailering take priority over creature comforts. The result leaves the boat without the redundant exits found on many cruising monohulls.
The Verdict
The Telstar 28 is a genuine performance cruiser that folds to highway width without sacrificing its sailing beam or complicating the standing rigging. It accelerates like a dinghy, points with monohulls, and fits a practical interior into a 3,000-pound package. For use as a family coastal cruiser, the lack of an escape hatch is its one clear black mark.
Pros
- Folds from an 18-foot beam to 8.5 feet without requiring shroud adjustment
- Fully trailerable and suitable for backyard storage
- Light displacement and leeward-ama righting force provide quick acceleration and monohull-like windward ability
- Vacuum-infused composite construction, with Kevlar in high-load areas and a Methacrylate-bonded hull-to-deck joint
- Roomy for a 28-footer, with an interior 33 percent larger than the original Telstar, more than six feet of headroom, and 84 cubic feet of ama storage
Cons
- No provision for an escape hatch
- Deliberately spartan, camping-oriented accommodations
- Can stop dead under sail when pinched into chop or wakes
