Minimum HP for 5.2 meter fibreglass tri-hul

[ahoj]

Hi,

What would be the utmost mnimum HP for 5.2 meter fibreglass tri-hull? Only considering normal speed without towing a skier behind.... 15- 25 knots.. would be enought to plane the boat?

Ahoj

[Angla]

I would hate to see it with less than 90 HP. I would think it would plane from about 10-15 knotts.

Angla

[jimbo1]

With out getting carried away someone mentioned that my new boat a 565 tri hull was underpowered with the 90 merc! However Mine is weighing no more than 800 kg fitted out with motor and has a WOT of over 40 knots, the 90hp which was my recomended max hp by the manufacturer. And I am speaking of a new boat!!!
The boat I was looking at before this was a 5.3 mtr tri hull which came standard with a 40 hp 2 str and could reach 28-30 knots with 2-3 adults aboard, this had a maximum rating of 70 hp also a new boat!
No point over doing it, as tri hulls have a tendency to sit on the water due to the way they are deseinged not push through the water like the average V hull. A tri hull of your size I beleive fitted out with say a 70 hp would probably rate the same as a V hull of equal size fitted with a 90hp. You need to check out the weight of the hull and check out what maximum capacity yout transom can be loaded with so as not to create any extra costs in damage and repair to transom.

[Blackened]

G'day
I was going to say 75 as a minimum. My reasoning was of the cathedral hull design and having ALOT of trapped air. Relatively flat almost punt like characteristics where teh load of the boat will sit up on the surfave rather than through it just that little bit more, as a deeper V would. Just get in touch with the manufacturer is thats possible. Maybe even hydrofield if u can track them down and they may be able to shed some light?
Dave