With a 15-foot 8-inch waterline, a 12-foot 7-inch beam, and a 500-pound carrying capacity, the Windrider trades conventional ballast and keel depth for easy transport and an unusual claim to seaworthiness in its class.
Design and Construction
The Windrider 16 is built from polyethylene and separates into three main components, along with the mast, boom, sail, and crossbeams. That modular construction allows the 250-pound boat to be car-topped or carried on a small trailer.
The builder covers the structure with a lifetime material and workmanship warranty, and period testers described the boats as real tough. Unlike a fiberglass hull, the polyethylene structure requires no gelcoat maintenance.
A fixed keel gives the boat a draft of just 16 inches. Together with the skeg-protected rudder, it makes the Windrider easily beachable and well suited to launching from shallow shorelines without concern about fouling the steering.
Rig and Handling
The free-standing anodized aluminum mast weighs only 23 pounds and can be stepped by hand. The mainsail provides roller furling and reefing for heavy-weather sailing, allowing one person to depower the rig without leaving the cockpit. For off-season storage, the sail stows within the boom.
Its 93 square feet of sail drive a light, kayak-like hull that testers found easy and efficient to paddle. They also described the 235-pound version as an excellent wave boat.
The capsize screening ratio is 7.62, while the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 33.06. Those figures place it among easily driven light multihulls.
Cockpit and Capacity
This is an open trimaran, with no enclosed cabin. The cockpit does, however, have a cowling with a windshield and spray skirt. These help keep weather off the crew and can extend the sailing season. One tester noted that a camera placed behind the windshield remained out of the weather, confirming the cowling’s practical value.
The boat’s 500-pound capacity allows it to carry two adults and gear while remaining compact enough to transport as a single car-toppable load.
Stability
The Windrider 16 has never been flipped. That record speaks to the stability of its wide beam and modest rig, rather than to any corrective action owners must take.
Ownership and Transport
The Windrider’s modular construction shapes the ownership experience. Because the boat separates into three hull components, plus its rig and beams, storage and transport are straightforward compared with a bonded fiberglass trimaran. The light mast can be stepped by hand, the roller-furling mainsail stows within the boom, and the polyethylene hull avoids gelcoat upkeep.
The Verdict
The Windrider 16 is a distinctive small trimaran that combines kayak-like behavior with multihull stability. At 250 pounds, it is car-toppable, easily driven, and simple to handle, while its reefing system provides a practical way to reduce sail in heavy weather. Its no-flip record is also notable.
It isn’t a cruiser and offers no berths. As a beachable, singlehanded or double-handed boat for lakes and shore sailing, however, it’s hard to match for simplicity.
Pros
- 250-pound polyethylene boat separates into components and is car-toppable
- Free-standing 23-pound mast with a roller-furling and reefing mainsail
- 16-inch fixed keel and skeg-protected rudder make beaching easy
- Has never been flipped in service
- Lifetime builder warranty on materials and workmanship
Cons
- Open cockpit only, with no cabin or berths
- 500-pound capacity limits total crew weight and load
