The Corsair 24, also called the Corsair F-24, is an American trailerable

sailboat A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture. Types Although sailboat terminology ...

that was designed by

Ian Farrier Farrier Marine is a catamaran and trimaran manufacturer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. The sailing boats produced by this shipyard are designed by Ian Farrier (1947-2017), and have a unique patented folding system without hinges in the beams ...

as a racer-

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several operational roles from search-and-destroy to ocean escort to sea ...

. The boat was produced in two versions, the

centerboard A centreboard or centerboard (US) is a retractable hull appendage which pivots out of a slot in the hull of a sailboat, known as a ''centreboard trunk'' (UK) or ''centerboard case'' (US). The retractability allows the centreboard to be raised t ...

-equipped Mark I and the

daggerboard A daggerboard is a retractable centreboard used by various sailing craft. While other types of centreboard may pivot to retract, a daggerboard slides in a casing. The shape of the daggerboard converts the forward motion into a windward lift, co ...

Mark II. The Corsair 24 is a development of the Farrier F-24.

Production

The design was built by Corsair Marine in the United States, starting in the early 1990s as the F-24. The name was changed to the Corsair 24 in 2000 when Farrier left the company and some minor changes made to the design. Production ran until 2003, with 200 Mark II boats completed, but it is now out of production.

Design

Corsair 24 Mark I trimaran sailboat Sylvester 1816

The Corsair 24 is a recreational

trimaran A trimaran (or double-outrigger) is a multihull boat that comprises a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls (or "floats") which are attached to the main hull with lateral beams. Most modern trimarans are sailing yachts designed for recrea ...

, built predominantly of

fiberglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) is a common type of fibre-reinforced plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened i ...

with a fractional sloop rig and folding

bowsprit The bowsprit of a sailing vessel is a spar (sailing), spar extending forward from the vessel's prow. The bowsprit is typically held down by a bobstay that counteracts the forces from the forestay, forestays. The bowsprit’s purpose is to create ...

. The hull and the folding outriggers have nearly-

plumb stem The stem is the most forward part of a boat or ship's bow and is an extension of the keel itself. It is often found on wooden boats or ships, but not exclusively. Description The stem is the curved edge stretching from the keel below, up to ...

s and

reverse transom In some boats and ships, a transom is the aft transverse surface of the hull that forms the stern of a vessel. Historically, they are a development from the canoe stern (or "double-ender") wherein which both bow and stern are pointed. Transom ...

s. The main hull mounts a transom-hung

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...

controlled by a

tiller A tiller or till is a lever used to steer a vehicle. The mechanism is primarily used in watercraft, where it is attached to an outboard motor, rudder post, rudder post or stock to provide leverage in the form of torque for the helmsman to turn ...

with an extension. It has foam flotation to make it unsinkable. The boat is normally fitted with a small

outboard motor An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. They are the most common motorised method ...

for docking and maneuvering. The design has sleeping accommodation for two adults and two children, with a small double

"V"-berth A sleeping berth is a bed or sleeping accommodation on vehicles. Space accommodations have contributed to certain common design elements of berths. Beds in boats or ships While beds on large ships are little different from those on shore, ...

in the bow cabin and

quarter berth A sleeping berth is a bed or sleeping accommodation on vehicles. Space accommodations have contributed to certain common design elements of berths. Beds in boats or ships While beds on large ships are little different from those on shore, ...

s in the main cabin. A cabin "pop-top" adds some headroom when open. A

galley A galley is a type of ship optimised for propulsion by oars. Galleys were historically used for naval warfare, warfare, Maritime transport, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding Europe. It developed in the Mediterranean world during ...

is optional, as is the portable

head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...

. The cabin was described by Darrell Nicholson in a ''Practical Sailor'' review as "cramped and limited". For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with an asymmetrical

spinnaker A spinnaker is a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind on courses between a Point of sail#Reaching, reach (wind at 90° to the course) to Point of sail#Running downwind, downwind (course in the same direction as the wind). Spinna ...

of . The design has a

hull speed Hull speed or displacement speed is the speed at which the wavelength of a vessel's bow wave is equal to the waterline length of the vessel. As boat speed increases from rest, the wavelength of the bow wave increases, and usually its crest-to- ...

of . The Mark I has a centerboard, a fixed mast and a displacement of . The improved Mark II model has a daggerboard, a rotating mast and a displacement of . The Mark II has a draft of with the daggerboard down and with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water, beaching or ground transportation on a trailer with the outriggers folded.

Operational history

A 2018 review by Drew Frye in ''Practical Sailor'' said of the Mark I, "whether you’re downsizing from a cruising cat, or upsizing from the family Hobie, the F-24 offers the sports car of youthful dreams, on a budget. Is it worth paying three times as much as you would for a 24-foot mono-hull with more room? Not if you’re looking for cabin space and need an enclosed head. On the other hand, if fun sailing is the goal, the dollar-to-grin ratio is very high. Market demand is dependable and you will get your money back. It’s not the best beginners boat." In a 2019 review for ''Practical Sailor'', Darrell Nicholson described the Mark II as, "flat out fast and well built, but compared to a monohull (and you've heard this before), expensive and cramped down below."

References

External links

* {{Trailer sailers and Trailer yachts worldwide Trimarans 1990s sailboat type designs Sailing yachts Trailer sailers Sailboat type designs by Ian Farrier Sailboat types built by Corsair Marine

Production

Design

Operational history

See also

References

External links