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Trinka 12 Sailboats for Sale

Bruce Kirby·1990·~130 hulls·Johannsen Boat Works
Approximate drawing

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Hull Type
Monohull · daggerboard
Rig
Cat Rig
LOA
12' · 3.66 m
Disp.
225 lbs · 102 kg
First year
1990

The Trinka 12 is a small sailing dinghy built by the American yard Johannsen Boat Works and designed by the Canadian maritime architect Bruce Kirby in the early nineties. Fewer than 200 of these boats were produced, placing the design among the more limitedproduction small craft of its era. With a length on the waterline of nearly 11.9 feet inside an overall length of 12 feet, a beam of 5.25 feet, and a displacement of just 225 pounds, the Trinka occupies a niche between a minimalist tender and a recreational daysailer.

Specs & Review

Market snapshot

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Global market

Recent Listings

1 for sale · showing 10 newest

View all Trinka 12 listings →Aggregated from multiple (unaffiliated) sources · refreshed hourly.

Trinka 12 Buyer's Guide

The Trinka 12 is a 12-foot fiberglass dinghy designed by Bruce Kirby and built by Johannsen Boat Works beginning in 1990, with fewer than 200 constructed. For a shopper browsing brokerage listings, it presents as a low-production cat-rigged daysailer and tender rather than a cruising boat, and its simplicity is the main story on the used market.

Layouts on the Used Market

Every Trinka 12 shares the same essential configuration: a cat-rigged single sail, a daggerboard keel, and a solid fiberglass hull on a 12-foot monohull platform. The beam of 5.25 feet and length-to-beam ratio of 2.29 make it broader than most similar dinghies, and documented comparisons show it is more spacious than 76 percent of peer designs. Buyers should expect an open cockpit suited to rowing or daysailing, not a boat with berths or enclosed space.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

With no regional or equipment brief available, details must be discussed generally. The Trinka's cat rig and daggerboard leave little to upgrade in the way of complex systems; used boats will vary in sail condition, oars, and rudimentary hardware. A buyer should focus on the mast, board, and sail integrity rather than expecting installed amenities like navigation electronics or power systems, which are not part of the design.

What to Inspect

The practical inspection points follow from the boat itself: confirm the solid fiberglass hull is sound, check the daggerboard trunk and board for wear, and verify the cat rig and sail area of 88 square feet are intact. The immersion rate of about 217 pounds per inch means loads accumulate gradually, so assess any added fittings or repairs for their effect on trim gradual immersion under load.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

No regional market data is supplied for the Trinka 12, so availability cannot be characterized by area. For the shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:

  • Verify hull number against the sub-200 production total
  • Inspect daggerboard trunk and fiberglass hull for repair
  • Confirm cat rig, sail, and oars are present and serviceable
  • Expect an open, roomy dinghy with no accommodations