Design and Construction
The Windrider 16 is built from plastic polyethylene and breaks down into three main components plus mast, boom, sail, and cross beams, which lets the 250-pound hull be car-topped or trailered on a small rig anchor. The builder backs the structure with a lifetime material and workmanship warranty, and period testers described the boats as real tough. The fixed keel draws just 16 inches and the skeg-protected rudder makes the boat easily beachable, an arrangement that suits shallow shoreline launching without worry of fouling the steering.
Rig and Handling
The free-standing anodized aluminum mast weighs only 23 pounds, and the mainsail is roller furling and reefing for heavy weather sailing and storage, so one person can depower the rig without leaving the cockpit. The boat's 93 square feet of sail drive a hull that testers found paddles easily and efficiently like a kayak because of its light, kayak-like construction, and they also called the 235-pound version an excellent wave boat. The capsize screening ratio is 7.62 and the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 33.06, figures that place it among easily driven light multihulls.
Accommodations and Cockpit
There is no enclosed cabin — this is an open trimaran — but the cockpit carries a cowling with windshield and a spray skirt that allow a person to extend the season by keeping weather off the crew. A tester noted the camera behind the windshield stayed out of the weather, confirming the cowling's function in practical use. The 500-pound capacity supports two adults and gear within a footprint that still transports as a single car-toppable load.
Known Issues
The Windrider 16 has never been flipped, a record that speaks to the stability of the wide beam and modest rig rather than to any corrective action owners must take. The lifetime warranty covers material and workmanship from the builder.
Ownership and Refits
Ownership centers on the boat's modular nature. Because it breaks into three hull components plus rig and beams, storage and transport are simple compared with a bonded fiberglass trimaran, and the roller-furling mainsail stows within the boom for the off-season. The polyethylene hull needs no gelcoat maintenance, and the light mast can be stepped by hand.
The Verdict
The Windrider 16 is a singular small trimaran that borrows kayak behavior and multihull stability to make a 250-pound, car-toppable daysailer with a genuine heavy-weather reefing system and a no-flip record. It is not a cruiser and offers no berths, but as a beachable, easily driven singlehanded or double-handed lake and shore boat it is hard to match for simplicity.
Pros
- 250-pound polyethylene hull breaks into components and is car-toppable
- Free-standing 23-pound mast with roller-furling and reefing mainsail
- 16-inch fixed keel and skeg rudder make it easily beachable
- Has never been flipped in service; lifetime builder warranty
Cons
- Open cockpit only, no cabin or berths
- 500-pound capacity limits load and crew weight
