Design and Construction
The WindRider’s defining construction feature is its rotomolded polyethylene hull. The original review noted that this method keeps the price down while producing a hull that needs little maintenance. All structural reinforcements are anodized aircraft aluminum rather than bonded-in glass or wood.
That construction suits the telescoping ama arrangement. The amas slide in and out without tools or disassembly, allowing the boat to narrow for trailering and widen for sailing. Its 11-foot sailing beam collapses to 8 feet 2 inches on the trailer, placing the WindRider somewhere between a beach cat and a pocket cruiser.
Large nets are bolt-roped to the hull. They can also carry optional stiff-backed seats, which the review described as ergonomically well designed and comfortable.
Rig and Sail Handling
The WindRider has a fractional sloop rig with a 96-square-foot, full-battened mainsail. An optional 43-square-foot jib sets on a Harken roller furler. A lightweight rotating mast dramatically improves the performance of the full-battened main, which has single-line jiffy reefing on the boom.
The sheets lead through two Harken cam cleats. There is either a single mainsheet, or a mainsheet and jib, both running through cam cleats for easy handling. The boom is high above everyone’s head, making jibes safer than on most small boats.
Unless the sailor requests a tiller, steering is by foot. The driver sits in a comfortable seat and pushes with the left foot to turn left or the right foot to turn right. All controls are within two feet of the driver.
Tacking is similarly straightforward: push with one foot and stop when the main fills on the opposite tack. For a quicker tack, briefly back the jib while the boat passes through the wind. The wide beam provides great stability, and the boat is nearly impossible to capsize unless the sailor works hard at it and refuses to release the sheets.
Performance Under Sail
Test sailors found a speed range well beyond that of typical 17-foot monohulls. In 10 knots of wind, they sailed upwind at 7 to 8 knots. On a beam reach, GPS speeds rose to 9 to 10 knots. In gusts of about 12 knots, they reached 10.5 knots without trouble.
Later, in about 15 knots of wind, they cruised at 12.5 knots in two-plus-foot chop, with the boat dry and no water inside. The WindRider also has considerable carrying capacity for a 17-footer: it will easily carry four adults and a couple of kids.
Cockpit Layout
The center hull has two cockpits: the primary driving position aft and a larger cockpit forward. The forward cockpit seats two, and its hard seat can be reversed to face the driver.
This arrangement keeps the helmsman seated aft while passengers ride forward. It suits the foot-steering station and keeps weight where the trimaran balances.
Trailering and Ownership
The WindRider slides on rails when launching from or loading onto its trailer. These rails center the boat, allowing all 400 pounds to rest on four aluminum pads.
The shrouds and nets remain permanently connected. As a result, one person can launch or retrieve the boat in a very manageable 10 minutes, while a couple can do it more quickly. That permanently connected rig is a large part of what makes the boat so quick to prepare for sailing.
The Verdict
The WindRider 17 is a clever, fast, and forgiving little trimaran that removes much of the usual effort from daysailing and trailering. Its polyethylene hull and aluminum structure require little maintenance. Foot steering and nearby controls make it approachable for novices, while its speed gives experienced sailors something to enjoy.
The compromises are those of a minimalist dayboat: there’s no cabin or engine, and the cockpit is open to the elements.
Pros
- Rotomolded polyethylene hull and aluminum structure keep maintenance to a minimum
- Telescoping amas and a permanently connected rig allow solo launching in about 10 minutes
- Foot steering and nearby controls make handling remarkably easy
- Tested speeds of 9 to 12.5 knots in moderate winds are exceptional for a 17-footer
- Wide beam and releasing the sheets make capsize very unlikely
Cons
- No enclosed accommodation; strictly a daysailer
- Avoiding capsize when overpowered depends on releasing the sheets
- High-speed planing behavior demands respect in gusty conditions
