weta trimaran weight

• E: [email protected]
• T: 252-489-3491

No products in the cart.

Home » Weta Trimaran

Weta Trimaran

“Life’s better with a Weta” they say!  The Weta is a fun, fast and easy Trimaran that appeals to sailors of all ages and abilities. 

10 reasons to love sailing your Weta!

• Incredible stability
• High performance – speed up to 20 knots
• Simple rig – no boom
• Versatility – sail solo or together
• Lightweight yet robust
• Compact storage
• No abs of steel required
• Rig and launch by yourself in 20 minutes
• Proven New Zealand design
• Capsize resistant and easy to recover

The fun bit – getting out and fast on the water – is easy, too, with the boat designed for ease of handling whether you’re a seasoned skipper or an enthusiastic novice. The three-sail design, boomless rig and minimum control lines mean you can make the most of the wind single-handedly, and even with the family on board, you can tack like a monohull but speed like a multihull, with absolute ease.

And when you’ve had all the fun you can take, everything packs down quickly and easily and stores on a surprisingly small footprint.

SAILING FOR EVERYONE Unlike other dinghies, the Weta is the boat everyone can use – in almost any conditions – all in one compact, easy package.

READY TO SAIL The Weta comes with everything you need to go sailing – three sails, custom aluminum beach trolley, sail bags, carbon rudder stock, carbon foils and custom foil bag.

COMPACT DESIGN The Weta packs down to the footprint of a Laser on a custom fit, lightweight beach trolley.

FAST AND EASY SETUP Lightweight and simple, rig and launch by yourself in 20 minutes.

ONE DESIGN CLASS Weta has an active strong base of racing fleets across the world.

CUSTOM HULL COLOURS Stand out from the crowd with a custom color options.

SAILS FOR EVERY WIND STRENGTH Redesigned by Norths in 2017, the bi-radial cut mainsails provide manageable high performance in all conditions. The Standard 8.3sqm Sail is great for beginners or strong winds. The Square Top (SQ) 9.3sqm Sail gives more speed in light winds and effortless power up to 20 knots.

UNCOMPLICATED DECK LAYOUT Screecher furler cleat on cockpit side, swaged stays, Liros ropes and optional hiking strap.

NO FITNESS FANATICS REQUIRED In most dinghies you quickly get tired when the wind gets up, but the Weta is comfortable to sail in nearly all conditions, whatever your ability or mobility.

SLEEK FLOATS With a vertical join, the clean look float has strong internal construction. Killwell carbon beams enable a precision fit with the main hull.

NORTH SAILS Proven quality, worldwide service.

PRECISION CENTRECASE Xtreme Sailing Products have 20+ years experience building quality sailboats, including the F18, 29er, 420 and Taser.

DRY HATCHES Quality Nairn hatches for a tight seal.

CUSTOM BLOCKS Captive carbon pads with Ronstan blocks for better trampoline alignment.

ROBUST RUDDER BAR & GUDGEONS Engineered for strength and durability.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Privacy Policy
• Returns/Exchanges

East Coast Sailboats, Inc: 104 Shores Avenue, Point Harbor, NC 27964

Tel: 252-489-3491

Weta Trimaran Class of North America

Class contact information.

Click below

Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Multihull

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 60

Join/Renew Your Class Membership – Click here

Photo Credit:Eric Rasmussen

Photo Credit: Nick Tomecek/Northwest Florida Daily News

Photo Credit: Eric Rasmussen

About Weta Trimaran Class of North America

Weta is a 14.5 foot trimaran used for day sailing with family and children as well as one-design racing. With its sleek design and lightweight tech materials, speeds of 20 knots can be reached. Due to the Weta’s ease of handling, it’s perfect for the enthusiastic novice or seasoned skipper. It brings the best of both worlds together since it handles like a Monohull with the speed of a Multihull.

Boats Produced: 1500+

Class boat builder(s):

Weta Marine, Auckland, NZ

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 500+

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

California Texas Northeast Mid-Atlantic North Gulf Coast Central Florida

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  One or Two

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  120-180(1up) 250-300(2up)

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   84 for one up and 86 for two up (Unofficial)

Boat Designed in  2006

Length (feet/inches): 14’5”

Beam: 11’6”

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 220

Draft: 3’0”

Mast Height: 21.5 feet. Deck mounted overall 23.3 feet above waterline

Back to One-Design Central

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Pay My Bill
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter
• Give a Gift

Cal 2-46: A Venerable Lapworth Design Brought Up to Date

Rhumb Lines: Show Highlights from Annapolis

Open Transom Pros and Cons

Mailport: Charley Morgan, Locker Safety, Fast Bottom Paint

Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection

Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling

The Tricked Out Tillerpilot

Resolving Common Steering Problems

Top-notch Wind Indicators

The Everlasting Multihull Trampoline

In Search of the Snag-free Clew

The Cruising Sailor’s Argument for High-tech Fibers

Breaking Point: What Can Go Wrong With Your Yanmar?

Rudder Mods for Low-speed Docking

Using Heat to Bend PVC Pipe

Mildew-resistant Caulks for Boats

Can We Trust Plastic Boat Parts?

Repairing Molded Plastics

Mailport: Marine plywood, fuel additives, through bolt options, winch handle holders

The Day Sailor’s First-Aid Kit

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

Rhumb Lines: Livin’ the Wharf Rat Life

Resurrecting Slippery Boat Shoes

Shoe Goo’s Gift to Sailors

PS Advisor: Tank Monitor and Camera Mount Hacks

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

Learning to Live with Plastic Boat Bits

The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Clear Plastic

Preventing Mildew in Marine Fabrics

Gearing Up for Winter Sailing

• Sailboat Reviews

Compact Weta Trimaran Screeches Past the Big Boys on Biscayne Bay

Mini-multihull with aerospace-like attention to detail fills niche of high-performance day sailor.

The new Weta trimaran is designed in New Zealand, built in China, and imported into the U.S. by Nor Banks Sailing of Duck, N.C.

Photo by Billy Black

When it comes to the pure love of sailing, its hard to beat a small, light efficient boat whose sole mission is to harness the wind rather than provide a home afloat. And now that Hobie and others are moving toward heavy, flexible, roto-molded plastic, and lower performance “beach boats,” its no surprise that a new mini-multihull has come along to fill the niche.

During the few days immediately following the Miami Boat Show in February, Biscayne Bay, Fla., becomes a multihull playground where shallow-draft cats and tris strut their stuff. In a David-and-Goliath replay, the 14-foot-6-inch long Weta trimaran streaked like an agile mouse amidst a herd of elephants. The big cruising cats certainly offer sumptuous accommodations, but they lumbered in the fickle 10- to 12-knot breeze that touched down and lifted off the bays green water. At the same time, the Weta 4.4 scooted off on double-digit reaches, accelerating with each puff, and ghosted through the lulls. If enjoying an active sailing experience on Miamis aquatic frontyard was the plan of the day, the Weta won hands-down.

Conceived in New Zealand by father-and-son team Roger and Chris Kitchen, and designed with collaborative help from a handful of experienced sailors, this elegantly simple and finely built boat is a glowing example of mission accomplished. The company principals, an ex-mathematics teacher and his highly skilled Laser-racing son, bridged both a generation and engineering gap, and came up with the performance boat both had envisioned. The big challenge, however, was in creating a cost-effective boat with the strength-to-weight ratio needed for performance sailing. And a good part of the Wetas challenge was to mate an efficient design concept with the careful use of high-tech and mainstream materials along with exacting composite boatbuilding techniques.

Construction

A carbon-fiber and E-glass tubular framework connects the outer amas to the hull and successfully spreads rig and hull loads. The mast and sprit are also made of carbon fiber, but the light, stiff hull structure, daggerboard, and rudder are built using less-costly E-glass and Divinycell foam. Wetas key to fabrication success stems from the builders aerospace-like attention to detail. Vacuum-bagging and strict resin control results in the elimination of resin puddling and sloppy glasswork in hard-to-get-at areas, and offers excellent weight control. The 220-pound boat is as lean and fat free as a long-distance runner, yet retains the strength and stiffness needed in a high-performance sailboat. These boats are built in China, and they represent a new trend in Asian boatbuilding, an industry once known only for thick, resin-rich laminates and carved teak trailboards.

The deck layout and hardware selection make absolute sense, and show the value of continual input from accomplished small-boat sailors. Not only is there sensible layout of the sheet leads, cleats, and control lines, but all the gear works from either inboard or outboard hiking locations. When you first climb aboard the trimaran, youll find that theres plenty of room for two seated on the comfortable side deck of the main hull, and theres even room for big feet and the mainsheet tail in the full-length cockpit well. Sitting out to windward on the canvas trampoline, the tiller extension and sheet leads make sail trimming and screacher control a snap. Its hard to make a small boat really roomy, but the Wetas wide canvas side deck extension and main hull create plenty of room for a couple and a cooler.

Photo by Ralph Naranjo

The success of this pocket-sized trimaran also stems from its sailplan, a triple threat of main, jib, and easy-handling, furling screacher. The boomless mainsail, made by windsurfer sailmaker Gaastra, incorporates five full tubular battens that control draft and allow the mainsheet to be attached to a well-reinforced clew rather than a conventional boom. Its sculpted foot allows a crew to easily duck under during tacks but still keeps sail area maximized. Gaastra transferred quite a bit of its “go fast” sail shaping into the sailplan, including light tubular batten technology and X-ply and monofilm sail material. The high-tech Gaastra sail package, like the Harken hardware and carbon sprit and mast are all standard, and the result is a package primed for performance.

The upwind sailplan is that of a classic multihull with a big main (75 square feet) and small jib (23 square feet) providing enough drive to make ghosting in light air more than a possibility. Thanks to this efficient sailplan, tight sheeting angle, and a foil-shaped daggerboard, the boat points quite well-more like a one-design dinghy than a multihull. Steer a little wider and the roller furled “screacher” can add a virtual turbo boost. This 60-square-foot gennaker deploys like any roller furler but is trimmed via a single sheet led through both port and starboard leads. As a result, there is much less line to cope with and no sheet tails to drag in the water. To date, the top recorded speed has been 16.5 knots.

The ride is both exhilarating and responsive, sort of like sit-down windsurfing, lots of speed but fewer gymnastics. The helm is fingertip light, and the boats responsiveness takes a little getting used to in order to avoid oversteering. The slight up angle of the amas keeps the windward ama out of the water most of the time, reducing drag. Spray flies, and the boats proximity to the waters surface delivers an enhanced sensation of speed. In a way, it makes sailing more of a contact sport, best suited for warm water and sunny skies. Extending the sailing season means a commitment to good drysuit or wetsuit technology.

Putting the boat away is expedited by the handy beach dolly that comes as a standard component of the new boat. It captures the main hull and locks it in place for quick de-rigging or beach storage. It also eliminates the tendency to scar the hulls by dragging them up and down the beach. Rigging, and its end-of-session reversal, takes less than 20 minutes. This includes assembling the amas and hull, stepping the mast and sprit, and setting the sails. The boats user-friendliness is a tribute to the designers. Whether or not you enjoy multihull sailing, its hard not to give high marks to a well-thought-out sailboat.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager

• Dinghy Database
• Dinghy Sailing For Beginners
• Introduction To Sailing Dinghies
• Sailing Dinghy Types
• Buying A Sailing Dinghy
• Sailing Dinghy Racing
• Dinghy Sailing Courses
• Dinghy Sailing Clothing
• Sail Materials
• Righting a Capsized Sailing Dinghy
• Trailer Sailer Database
• Advantages/Disadvantages
• Buying A Trailer Sailer
• Towing your boat
• Yacht Database
• Yacht Charter / Holidays
• Choosing a SUP
• Inflatable SUP Construction
• RC Yacht Classes
• Add Listing

Weta Trimaran

Designed in New Zealand, the Weta is a small, high-tech, very easily demountable trimaran. It is both a high performance racing multihull and a great  ‘General Purpose Dinghy’ for family days out.

The Weta is hand-crafted, the composite foam sandwich hulls with carbon spars and beams delivers both rigidity and lightweight performance. Its built for maximum enjoyment and minimum fuss, whether you’re sailing all out and solo, sailing with the family or teaching the kids to sail, the Weta is simple to sail and surprisingly quick. In fact it is one of the fastest single-handed racing boats in existence – apart from those fitted with a trapeze, foils or hiking racks and the stability of a trimaran means it can be sailed in high winds without effort.

The boat has been described as sailing “a skiff with stabilizers” rather than a typical multihull. The mainsail has no boom and the gennaker is mounted on a roller-furler for ease of operation – a recent addition is an optional self-tacking jib. Hard to capsize but easy to right just by flooding one of the floats which empties when you sail away, It’s been approved for both the World Masters Games and Paralympics.

The Weta packs down to the footprint of a Laser on a custom fit, lightweight beach trolley. Lightweight and simple, rig and launch solo in 20 minutes.

• Specification
• Related Links

LENGTH – 14’5″ / 4.4M BEAM – 11’6″ / 3.5M BEAM FOLDED AWAY – 5’7″ / 1.7M HULL MATERIAL – FIBREGLASS/FOAM WEIGHT – MAIN HULL – 159LB/ 72KG WEIGHT – FLOAT WITH BEAM FRAME – 40LB / 17KG SAIL – MAIN – 89SQ FT / 8.3SQ M SAIL – JIB – 34SQ FT / 3.2SQ M SAIL – SCREECHER – 86SQ FT / 8.0SQ M BEAM FRAME – CARBON MAST – CARBON TWO PIECE RUDDER STOCK – CARBON RUDDER FOIL – CARBON CENTREBOARD – CARBON HARDWARE – RONSTAN SAILS – NORTH SAILS DESIGN – WETA DESIGN TEAM & TC DESIGN

[amazon_link asins=’1906435588,1852239018,1408188007′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’autographstore’ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’eb29f01f-7225-11e7-bd86-53fd864ba8b6′]

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Email Newsletters
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• America’s Cup
• St. Petersburg
• Caribbean Championship
• Boating Safety

Weta Trimaran Best Dinghy

• By Dave Reed
• Updated: January 27, 2010

Weta BOTY 368

It happens every year with BOTY: one of the smaller boats in the lineup reminds the judges of the pure exhilaration of fast, small-boat sailing. This year, that boat was the Weta Trimaran, which gave the J/95 a serious run for the overall title. If there’s one boat that will get any sailor excited about multihull sailing, and small-boat sailing in general, it’s this New Zealand import. It’s quick, solidly built, incredibly stable and forgiving, and easier to rig than a Laser. When it comes to the fun meter, the Weta has it pegged.

On hand in Annapolis for the pre-sail briefing was the Weta’s creator, New Zealander Chris Kitchen, who enlightened the judges on the long, grueling development of his 14-foot trimaran, a project that he and his father started in their garage back in 2003. We’re thankful for their dogged persistence.

There are now more than 300 Wetas sailing, approximately 75 of which are in the United States. Once the judges got their hands on the yellow boat come test day, they quickly understood why: “It’s really well built, but the best thing about this boat was sailing it,” said Holby. “If I could have taken out any of the other boats again, this would have been the one.” To get his turn on the Weta, though, he had to pry it out of the hands of Allen, who was first to beach launch and quickly disappeared out of sight, tearing across the Chesapeake Bay under main, jib, and screecher.

Trimarans are unique sailing craft, which have characteristics that take getting used to: in high winds, pitchpoling and hobby-horsing can be problematic, but all the judges confirmed the Weta had no such tendencies in the short chop and 20-knot gusts.

“The thing goes like it’s on rails,” said Allen.

Because of the Weta’s prolonged development, the boat is highly refined in terms of its setup and sail-control systems. The judges got it off its trailer (mostly dissembled), rigged, and were sailing in less than 20 minutes. The floats (with carbon frames) slot into reinforced holes in the main hull, and simple tensioning lines lock them in (as does the rig when the shrouds are attached). Once they stepped the 9-pound carbon rig, lashed the screecher to the carbon sprit, raised the sails (with external halyards), dropped in the carbon kick-up rudder, and ran the sheets, they were off and blazing. An International 14-type tinkerer’s boat this is not; it’s a sail-it-out-of-the-box, one-design gem.

One example of its versatility is the ability to adjust the sailplan for the desired use. Too much breeze? Go the main alone. The judges sailed the boat with and without the jib, and neither configuration disappointed. In fact, nothing about the Weta disappointed, except, of course, having to hand it back.

Judges’ P.O.V. • The most fun boat of the week • Easy set up • Quality construction

Test conditions: 15 to 20 knots, steep chop Recommended use: One-design racing, day sailing Recommended race crew: 1 to 2 (440 lbs. capacity) Stats: LOA 14’5″ Beam 11’6″ DSPL 275 lbs. SA (u/d) 124/334 sq.ft. Price: $10,995 (includes custom trailer and dolly combination) Contact: www.wetamarine.com

View our photo gallery of the Weta underway here .

• More: Boat of the Year , BOTY , Multihull , Sailboats , sailing news , Trimaran , Weta
• More Sailboats

Pogo Launches its Latest Coastal Rocket

A deeper dive into the storm 18, 2024 boat of the year best recreational racer: z24, 2024 boat of the year best dinghy: rs toura, rib charter made easy, one charismatic crew, melges 24 team wins midwinter championship and overall title in st. pete, st. pete to shine again.

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Florida Travel + Life
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Sailing World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Sailing World. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

  Wētā North America​

Weta trimaran weta sailboat one design high performance sailing dingy, weta weight. any input on weta weight i see on the weta websight that 40lb per ama and hull 128 lbs. so total 208 lbs. is this real .

I believe the all up sailing weight is 250 lbs.

DOES THAT INCLUDE RUDDER, CENTERBOARD, MAST , SAIL., RIGGING,? THANKS

HOW MANY BOATS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WEIGHED. ANY IDEA? THANKS

John - I don't if boats had been weighed. This shows the designed weight for boat all up and some individual components. It says 265 lbs. fully rigged.

• America’s Cup Updates
• Events & Races
• Club of the Year
• British Yachting Awards
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues

Your special offer

Weta 4.4 Review

‘Wetapunga’ is the Maori name for a New Zealand insect that looks like a cross between a cricket and a cockroach. Jeremy Evans goes sailing on a new trimaran with the same compact body and long legs…

Roger Kitchen and his son Chris built the first Weta prototype in 2003, having commissioned a multihull designer to sketch hull shapes to suit their brief. They wanted to create a new kind of boat for New Zealand which was easy to store, easy to rig, safe and stable, high performance and suitable for all members of a family to enjoy.

Three years and many design changes later, a production line was set up in China where the Weta is built in foam sandwich construction. Sails by Gaastra and the carbon mast, beams and spinnaker pole are also sourced in China, which helps explain the relatively low cost for a boat packed with carbon accessories. The first production Weta was sold in New Zealand in October 2006, followed by sales in China, France, Holland, Sweden, Thailand and the USA, boosting Weta production to 75 boats in its first year.

Design and rigging

Meade Gougeon, USA sailing legend and cofounder of the West System Epoxy, spotted a Weta 4.4 on a Florida beach last autumn and was so impressed that he now sails his own Weta, which is a handsome accolade from a former ‘Boat of the Year’ judge in America.

The Weta does indeed look different from anything else in the boat park. Imagine a cross between a New Zealand insect and a 60ft racing trimaran, scaled down to the size of a 14ft dinghy. It’s no wider than an average dinghy, sitting on its trailer or in the boat park with floats stowed alongside, but nor is it a hassle to double the width of the Weta in trimaran mode. The floats and carbon cross beams weigh 18kg and slide into sockets, where they are secured by tying a bowline and applying tension through a jamming cleat. This takes about a minute for each side and creates a surprisingly rigid platform — there was no obvious flex when powered up on the water.

The carbon mast slides together in two sections and weighs just 6kg, so no problem popping it up or taking it down singlehanded, using the standard method of attaching shrouds and pulling up/down on the forestay. The Gaastra laminate mainsail slides up the luff track easily, though it took us a few minutes to get the knack of locking the halyard at the top of the mast. This is standard multihull procedure, ensuring there is no halyard stretch when you pull on the downhaul to depower the sail. Pulling on the jib halyard provides tension to prevent luff sag, with the ends of the halyards neatly stowed alongside the mast. Complete rig to water time — or vice versa — should be inside 20 minutes with practice.

The Weta feels quite a bit more chunky to push or pull on its trolley than an average singlehanded dinghy. It also might be handy to have a ‘helper’ for trolley retrieval. The Weta won’t blow over, but it will blow sideways if you leave it unattended on the water for too long.

On the water

Our guest testers were Rollo Pyper and Jeremy Pudney. Rollo races an International 14 out of Itchenor SC, so clearly understands the concept of ‘high performance sailing’. Chris Kitchen had stepped in as Rollo’s crew at the International 14 world championship in New Zealand in 2005, and Rollo was keen to discover how the Kitchen family’s Weta concept had progressed from the 2005 prototype. Jeremy Pudney is a former International 14 stalwart who retired gracefully from dangling on 14s a few years ago and created his own Wind Raider custom trimaran — main hull by Phil Morrison, floats and rig from a Hurricane 5.9, big asymmetric off an International 14. He’s now sold that particular Wind Raider, with the intention of downsizing into something smaller, simpler and easier to handle, which can still provide a good enough blast to satisfy a former 14 sailor who has hit 70 years of age.

Rollo commented that the rig of the Weta looked ‘…a bit small’ but he’s clearly accustomed to the outsize rig of an International 14! The Weta rig appears nicely in proportion to the boat. It also delivered the right amount of power for our test session in Force 3-4 winds — like any multihull, the Weta is made for a breeze when the ‘grin factor’ soon kicks in. In less wind, the Weta may have felt a bit draggy, but it’s still a light boat with an easily driven, super-slim main hull, plus the daggerboard should help it point high enough to spar with most dinghies upwind.

When you launch, the Weta is an easy boat to climb on board because it’s so stable and you can get into the cockpit from the open transom or over the low side. The cockpit is roomy, with enough space for a couple of people. Speaking on behalf of older sailors, Jeremy Pudney would have liked more depth to avoid that back-straining ‘knees-up’ attitude, which you get on all shallow bottom boats when sitting on the side of the hull. Whether this is a concern will depend on personal flexibility levels, and becomes irrelevant when you move onto the trampoline from where most Weta sailing will be done.

You need a bit of a push to get on the tramp, but once out you’ve got a great view of the action and can enjoy what the Weta does best: acceleration! When a gust hits, this little boat really takes off. In an average wind speed of 10-15 knots, with one gust up to 20 knots, the Weta flew along but felt stable and easy to handle at all times. And it was quick. I gybed downwind from Itchenor to Hayling Island SC and then beat back again in double quick time.

Upwind, the Weta felt light, responsive and close-winded, although it always pays to sail free and go for speed with a multihull. Tacking on flat water was quick, precise and worry-free. In waves you may need to take more care to ensure the floats don’t stall the Weta mid-way through the turn. Offwind, you unroll the screecher which is a miniaturised version of the big headsail on an Extreme 40 cat or Orma 60 trimaran. I found the roll-out/roll-up worked really well, taking the normal precaution of sailing deep to blanket the screecher. The only way to sail is on the apparent wind. Yank in the mainsheet, cleat it off and forget it’s there, using the screecher to lead the boat downhill — steer upwind to build power, bear away to blast on the apparent wind, then steer upwind to rebuild power.

Unlike a cat there is no mainsheet traveller, and unlike a dinghy there is no kicker or gnav since there is no head-bashing boom. So you rely totally on the mainsheet for leech and foot tension offwind. If the wind is up, this should not be a problem as you can sheet in tight on the apparent wind, even when sailing deep downhill. But in marginal winds, keeping power in the mainsail will clearly be more of a challenge when sailing offwind.

Gybing was easy during our moderate wind test. The screecher flipped neatly round the forestay every time and the floats prevent any chance of the boat heeling right over, but you can run out of hands when it comes to re-sheeting the jib. That helps explain why Weta sailors leave the jib on shore when sailing in stronger winds. As mentioned, the Weta has impressive acceleration when a gust powers up, so just take care you don’t fall off the back of the tramp. If that happened, the Weta would surely leave you behind!

You need to get acclimatised to sitting out on the trampoline and finding a suitable brace position, which is comfortable for all weathers. The Weta is basically trim forgiving — just slide to the front of the rack for beating and back for reaching when the Screecher will tend to lift the bows. It’s clearly not designed for hiking off the side of the rack, which would be painful, with only floppy footstraps providing limited support on the tramp.

During our test session, the Weta never showed any inclination to bury its bows or capsize. What’s more, we didn’t opt for a capsize, knowing that the Weta would invert and probably shove its mast into the shallow muddy bottom of Chichester Harbour. With a fast flowing tide, that would be a potential recipe for a broken carbon mast. If the worst should happen, it’s some consolation that you are only likely to have to replace one half of your carbon mast!

But Wetas can capsize. The Wetamarine website shows some interesting YouTube high wind antics, featuring a Weta blasting in Force 5-6 winds. The main bow and leeward float submarines on several occasions, but the Weta nearly always recovers and carries on sailing. But when the Weta does capsize, it turns almost immediately upside-down. However, a neat technique that has been developed to get it back up again: that involves unscrewing a hatch in the stern of the nearest float and standing on the float so it floods and sinks, which will flip your Weta to the 90-degree capsize position. Then you can pull the Weta upright on the daggerboard in normal dinghy style.

Weta 4.4 review: Verdict

The first ever New Zealand Weta National Championship was held on Lake Taupo last December, and the first ever European Championship will be held at Muiderberg in the Netherlands from September 26-28. That kind of racing would be fun for both singlehanded and multi-handed Weta sailors, but you could also race against dinghies using a Portsmouth club or trial number, or against cats using the Weta’s SCHRS measurement rating.

The Weta looks good with a choice of green, red, yellow or grey hull colours and the all-Chinese construction appears first class, with carbon and foam sandwich ensuring the Weta is a stiff, lightweight performance boat that should provide many years of good service. The rig also looks great, with Gaastra laminate sails providing a seethrough view and flexible carbon mast ensuring the rig is both light and efficient.

Not everything can be perfect. The spinnaker pole does not retract and could be a worry manoeuvring among tightly packed boats. Jeremy Pudney felt the Weta would be easier to handle with two skiff-style tiller extensions, although my view was that you soon get accustomed to flicking the extension across the new side. Both Jeremy and Rollo had problems with the screecher-furling cleat unlocking at inopportune times, while I found the mainsheet cleat a bit of a fiddle since it tends to waggle around. Other improvements could include a mini-traveller for mainsail leech tension, a self-tacking jib to take the fumbling out of tacks and gybes and decent footstraps for better security on the tramps, all of which would add weight, complexity and cost to the boat.

The Weta has plenty going for it as a somewhat unusual, but totally modern ‘family boat.’ For summer blasting, it’s big enough to take young kids for a ride which will surely put a smile on their faces, and fast enough to ensure that adults or teenagers get guaranteed fun. Optimum conditions should be around 12-20 knots. If the wind is lighter, children will be able to handle the boat. If the wind is stronger, experienced sailors will sheet in and hang on for a memorable and possible topsy-turvey blast. Another potential market is sailors with lower body disabilities who have been looking at the Weta 4.4 with interest.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

RS21: Rupert Homes tests RS’ latest keelboat

Elan E6 on test: fast short-handed cruiser/racer

Mojito 6.50 on test – Mini Transat dominator tweaked

Yachts & Yachting is the leading performance sailing magazine, covering every aspect of the racing scene, from dinghies to keelboats. Our insightful features and stunning photography bring you the inside track on the world’s most exciting regattas together with advice and inspiration from the very best sailors, coaches and industry experts.

• News & Events
• Sailing Techniques
• Event Spotlight
• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 The Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Outboard motors and brackets Home / Topic / Outboard motors and brackets

Home › Forums › General Weta Stuff › Outboard motors and brackets

Tagged:  outboard , temo

• Creator Topic

How do you fit and store an outboard on a Weta?

Some would say don’t bother as it will always get in the way and in anything above 5 knots of breeze you can move fairly quickly using the sails alone – although sometimes it may help to use the screecher as a “code 0” to keep momentum although you can’t point as high.

However, there may be situations and regulations that require you to have an outboard but if possible, try one of the options using paddles and oars first .

There are two main posts covering brackets and outboards

• Author Replies
• City: Sydney
• Country: Australia
• Weta Sail Number: 1300

TEMO-40 Electric Paddle Winner of the 2021 DAME award, the TEMO-450 electric scull is waterproof (IP67), telescopic (130 to 170 cm) propulsion unit that weighs only 500 kg and attaches to the gunwale with a rowlock accessory. It has a 400-watt motor with 200 watts output and battery life is 42 mins on full power or 80+ mins on 1/2 power. Sold with a cover for easy transport.

Video: Oliver Bricout

The Temo attaches to the Weta with a swivelling Oarlock (supplied) which bolts to the gunwale.

It’s too long to fit inside the hatch but it comes with a waterproof case and, according to Oliver, it’s easy to store in the cockpit inside the case while sailing.

Available in Europe, the USA and Australia. More information at https://www.temofrance.com/

• City: la rochelle
• Country: France

Hello, thank you for sharing this. I am interested in purchasing a TEMO motor and I would like to have more details on fixing the fastener: how to drill, what diameter, what screw or bolt, feedback on solidity, photos .. do you have more information? Is it possible to contact Olivier? Thanks a lot

Brackets These are options I have seen for brackets: 1. Using a bar (wood or metal) across the stern clamped from gunwale to gunwale with the outboard mounted on a block at the side.

2. Stern Bracket Using a metal bracket mounted on the stern which has been reinforced from the inside using a plate inserted by adding an inspection port on the cockpit side.

4. Bolt on bracket

Designed by José Carlos Sánchez for his solo cruising adaption.

I designed this one because it only needs to drill one hole on the Weta´s fiberglass. It can be installed in less than a minute, does not interfere with sailing and does not load the boat too far back. Wood is not a single block, it covers an internal steel frame.

It is worth considering to install an electric outboard if your local conditions allow it. It will reduce pollution and you will not suffer noise and gasoline smell.

All methods will work although the a bar is easier to fit/remove, can be stowed out of the way when sailing and doesn’t require any holes in the cockpit side. It also means that the outboard is out of the way in most sailing positions if the outboard is not removed while sailing.

The TEMO comes with the Rowlock fitting which contains screws and bolts for attachment.

https://www.temofrance.com/en_GB/shop/t450-temo-450-104

Rowlock https://www.temofrance.com/en_GB/shop/sem-1500-rowlock-fitting-9

On a Weta I’d recommend using the bolts and installing a curved metal plate under the gunwale to reinforce it.

I have tried to contact Oliver via the French Weta Class forum without success – there’s a thread here.

https://forum.wetaclassefrance.com/viewtopic.php?t=883

Outboards Probably the most important aspect of using an outboard on a Weta is the weight of the engine and where it can be distributed to have least impact on your sailing experience. Having extra weight on the stern is slow in light winds but of course you can counter that with your body weight.

Then there’s the issue of stowing the engine when it’s not in use. The below deck storage compartment has benefits in that the weight of the outboard is then in the centre of the boat and near the water line. However the compartment below deck is not very deep so careful measurement of the engine and compartment is recommended before purchase, if you plan to stow it below.

The standard 6″ hatch is too small for any outboard but Kayak hatches offer various shapes and sizes which can be latched shut securely. The hatch in front of the daggerboard must seal closed because the storage compartment below deck provides buoyancy in a capsize – the boat may not be righted if this is compromised.

If you are storing a petrol outboard below deck you may need to carry an additional fire extinguisher above deck, depending on your local marine regulations.

Lying the outboard in the cockpit is an option but it may get in the way when tacking and is liable to catch on ropes.

Engine options include:

1. Electric paddle

The electric paddle is different from a trolling motor in that it’s designed for propelling small boats rather than just moving quietly after fish. It has a brushless electric motor which outputs 30Wats of power, but unlike a trolling motor, it uses a “model aeroplane” type propeller which is much more efficient for continuous propulsion.

One Weta owner reports: “The EP can move the Weta on calm waters with little to no wind in the 2.8 to 3.0 knot range if you have the main and jib up. Bare pole only the speed drops a couple tenths. The apparent wind created by the propulsion of the EP helps generate the additional speed. Throttling back to the mid-range setting drops the speed by .3 kts so not much of penalty, considering the gain in range. I have yet to run the NIMH battery down to empty and would guess that the furthest I have run on a charge if 4 to 5 miles.”

The manufacturer claims the range is as follows

• Almost 2 hours at High speed (about 2.5-3.5 mph on many small boats)
• Up to 4 hours at Medium speed
• Up to 5 hours at Low speed
• Motor weighs 7.6 lbs.
• NiMH Battery pack weighs 8.1 lb.
• Smart Charger weighs 1.28 lbs.
• Motor envelope sizes Short shaft: 7” dia. x 38.5” long Long shaft: 7” dia. x 43.5” long Mini shaft: 7” dia. X 33.5” long
• Waterproof battery comes in a floating bag 9” x 7” x 6”.
• Smart Charger fits into a 6” x 8” ditty bag.

Minimum battery range:

• At High Setting, the battery will last almost 2 hours.
• At Medium Setting, the battery will last about 4 hours.
• At Low Setting (midway between off and Medium setting) the battery will last 5 hours.
• Recharge time: about 3 hours.

Speed control:

• High Setting = 100% output
• Medium Setting = 50% output
• Midway below Medium and Off (not marked) = 33% output

2. Electric outboard motor There’s a useful buyers guide to Electric outboard motors over 5Kw here and under 5Kw here

Torqeedo Ultralight 403

Sold as a trolling motor for Kayaks ( The 1103 a new more powerful version is now available ), the advantage for the Weta is that the drive is separate from the battery and connected by cables. This means you can separate the weight of the battery from the engine which is much better for weight distribution and stowing. Weta owner, Glenn Madere installed the mount following the manufacturer’s diagram for an off-center installation ( see p. 47 of the Manual ) as if his main hull were a kayak, adjusting the vertical “shaft” as far down as it will go. Between this adjustment and keeping crew weight aft and on the motor side, the prop has enough depth to perform well in up to, say, a foot of chop. The battery is said to be good for 1hr of use.

Torqeedo Travel 503/1003

503 $1699/ 1003 $1999

Revised for 2015 the Torqueedo Travel is sold as a replacement for 1.5 HP (503) and 3HP (1003) Engines but this is a misleading comparison, as a 3hp petrol motor will get many small, lightly loaded craft of the right hull form “on the plane”, and a Torqeedo 1003 won’t. The propeller supplied is not even designed for that sort of speed (it’s rated 9kmph at 790W, or about 6 knots flat out). Where the Torqeedo excels is pushing surprisingly heavy loads (when the 3hp petrol wouldn’t get you on the plane anyway) at up-to-displacement speeds. 4 or 5 knots in a typical 9ft inflatable dinghy, for example.

The acceleration up to those speeds is also impressive, as electric motors (unlike petrol ones) generate full torque from very low revs – there is never a “lag” after twisting the throttle. So the Torqeedo 1003 has lots of low to mid-range push, but not the whizzy top end of a petrol. Unlike “trolling motors” it will be genuinely useful as a main propulsion unit – just not for anything much over 6 knots (12kmph).

• On-board computer with GPS-based calculation of remaining range
• Removable battery and tiller
• Solar rechargeable – including during the voyage
• Stepless forward/reverse drive
• Completely waterproof (IP 67)
• Integrated battery with 320 Wh Li-Ion
• Max speed 9-10 km/h (depending on type of boat, wind and waves)
• Charging time: 7 hrs
• Remote throttle available

ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 $1930 approx (HQ in Hong Kong, Distributors worldwide) New Spirit 1.0 Evo is a portable 3HP electric outboard made for dinghies, fishing boats, and sailboats. It features a 1276Wh large integrated lithium battery for long range. The hydrogeneration function recharges the battery while sailing.

ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo web page

• kW : 1.0 • Voltage : 40.7 (nominal) • HP : 3
• Battery : Integrated • 1.02 kWh • LiPo (lithium-ion-polymer)
• Running Time : 1 hrs – 4 hrs
• Shaft Length (cm) : (XS): 52.5 • (S): 62.5 • (L): 75
• Weight (kg) : Motor : 11 • Battery : 8.8 (varies with shaft length and/or tiller)
• Steering : Tiller or Remote, Wireless
• Other : Hyrdrogeneration. Two year limited warranty. As of May 2019 wireless remote control is available
• Country of Manufacture : China
• Price : €1800 – €2136 • $2150 – $2400

ePropulsion Navy 3.0 Evo web page

• kW : 3.0 • Voltage : 46.8 (nominal) • HP : 6
• Battery : Non-Integrated • 3.04 kWh • Li-ion
• Shaft Length (cm) : (S): 64 • (L): 76.5
• Weight (kg) : Motor : 24 • Battery : 31.5 (varies with shaft length and/or tiller)
• Other : Hydrogeneration. Two year limited warranty, one year on battery. Wide variety of accessories available.
• Price : €2500-€2600 • $2900 – $3050

3. Petrol (4-stroke) motor

Super Chibi

$500 approx

The Thai-made Super Chibi uses a reliable 1HP Honda Engine (designed for garden tools) mated to a short drive-shaft and neat integrated petrol tank.

I have seen one used on a Laser (!) which had to sail to yacht racing regulations

4. Propane Outboard

Price $1000 appprox The US-made Lehr runs on propane and the cannisters can add to the overall weight.

5. Weed-wacker conversion

Some people realised you could get a crude but effective “outboard” by putting a propeller on the end of a string trimmer (aka “weed-whip”, “whipper-snipper”, “weed-whacker”, “weed eater”, “strimmer”).

There’s now a few conversion kits available that come as a complete unit or you can DIY with a donor unit

Conclusion From the options above, you can see that the petrol outboard has the best power to weight ratio and highest top speed – although there are all the issues of pollution, noise and transporting a flammable liquid.

The electric motors may not have the top speed of a petrol or propane motor so they won’t get you planing – but they produce thrust at very low speeds and can output a steady power for reasonably long periods. The electric motors can be disassembled allowing you to stow components below deck and some can separate the battery entirely from the drive unit using cables for better weight distribution.

The Aquaparx – Another miniature 1.2hp 4-stroke outboard – this time from the Netherlands.

More info here

In Option 2 for the outboard bracket, what is the metal used, what thickness is it, and what material is used for the block?

I’m not sure since that was a photo from the Yahoo Weta Forums – but I suspect it would be stainless steel as aluminium would need to be pretty thick to be able to take the weight of an engine and probably would have to be welded to accept the bends in the plate shown in the photo.

You might be interested in this universal bracket solution http://www.v-lock.com which looks as if it doesn’t require a backing plate as the load is spread over the surface it’s attached to.

You’d then be able to mount an angled motor bracket to it or a lifting version here.

You could also use stainless toggle bolts to anchor you fitting to the stern without having make a hole in the cockpit to add a backing plate.

The mounting boards tend to be either hardwood or polyurethane.

This bracket on eBay may be a good cheap alternative.

Hope this helps

There are some French outboard solutions using Electric and Petrol motors on the French Weta forums  here

Hello there!

I recently became a Weta family member (bought Weta 424) and read this topic with high interest! In Belgium we have strong currents at sea. I have allready build a motor mount for my Weta to be able to go out and return safely. Unfortunately I’m not sure how much hp I should choose to be able to return to the harbor quite fast ,even with strong currents, but also avoiding crossing the legal max. 20km/h limit. Anyone has an idea of the speed output of a 2,5hp and 3,5hp on a Weta? These are very interesting because of their low weight (17kg). All tips are welcome!

I don’t know which harbour you use, but according to this research data , the current at Zebrugge is around 4 Knots.

20 Kmh is equivalent to 10.7 knots but there are so many variables you can’t say exactly what speed you’d get. Not forgetting that you can use the sails to supplement the output of the outboard. If there is more than (say) 8 knots of breeze you’d probably go as fast with the sails and no outboard and of course a small boat like the Weta can hug the shore to get out of the current.

According to this test , the Torqueedo would give you a speed of around 6 knots as shown here .

A 2.5hp petrol engine would be faster and could allow the boat to plane – the little Super Chibe 1HP motor would give you around 3-4 knots – depending on wind/waves. A 2.5 engine should be good for about 5-6 knots. There’s a test on a small boat here which gives speeds for different outboards.

Use a GPS or a GPS App on a smartphone like iRegatta to check your speed.

Thanks Paul! I will go with a mercury 3,5hp! A good speed/weight ratio and a perfect add-on back-up in case of an emergency (especially with kids onboard) or in narrow area’s (harbor, rivers,…). The Weta fun just keeps on growing for me 🙂

• You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Log in / Register

• Wētā in Action
• Where to Buy
• Owners Locker
• News & Events

Wētā Owners

Sailing magazine – weta review.

June 07th, 2010

A quick but stable little trimaran that will thrill families and hardcore racers alike

The name weta refers to a family of large insects in the New Zealand Archipelago. Roughly translated, weta means "God of ugly things." Nothing could be farther from the truth about the insect's namesake, a sexy 14-foot trimaran called the Weta that has been turning heads like crazy.

Designed and built by Weta Marine of New Zealand, the Weta made its debut in 2007. Since then this new-kid-on-the-block of small multihull designs has been frequenting boat shows in France, England, Sweden, the Netherlands and China, drumming up a strong following at every stop.

Multihull sailing has come a long way since Woody Brown's first Hawaiian catamarans of the 1950s. Those early boats were based on ancient Polynesian outrigger designs, but their speed and grace in a variety of situations captured the imagination of a couple of young surfers named Hobie Alter and Phil Edwards. That partnership created the Hobie Cat and the rest is history.

That first 14-foot Hobie Cat has inspired generation after generation of new boat designers. While the basics of the catamaran have remained the same, a multitude of advancements and alterations have ensued, all in search of a better formula for speed, excitement, ease of transport and comfort. That simple quotient could not be more clearly defined or more successfully marketed than in the Weta. This light and responsive trimaran with collapsible amas just might be what the boating market needs.

Last spring, a demonstration of the Weta was held on a beach near the Mission Bay Yacht Club on an overcast but gusty day in San Diego. As a storm blew through, it crossed my mind that this was anything but the right day to try what I anticipated would be a flimsy, high-tech, wet boat. When I pulled up there were people lining the shore to get a glimpse of this unusual-looking craft. There were multihull racers, Laser sailors, big boat veterans and young fathers looking for something the entire family could enjoy.

The one-design racers confirmed the Weta to be responsive in a variety of conditions, while the big-boat sailors were impressed their body weight in 20 knots of wind did nothing to deter the boat's performance. Perhaps the best response, however, came from 9-year-old Andrew Fleming, who summed up the adventure succinctly: "If this were a report card, I'd give it an A-plus."

Andrew's father was no less impressed. "I've sailed one-designs for most of my life," said Bruce Fleming. "Then my kids came along and I gave up sailing. The Weta is exactly what I've been looking for-a boat that is small and responsive, and that I can singlehand, but also a boat my entire family can sail and enjoy."

Fleming's description was spot on. This is a boat that can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up in certain conditions, and yet it's a stable enough platform for the entire family to enjoy. The Weta can carry three adults with ease. Of course, the power-to-weight ratio is reduced under such a load, but in a breeze she still gets up and goes.

At the same time Weta was holding its trials, the San Diego NOOD Regatta cancelled racing when a vicious weather front blew across the course. For a time winds were gusting at 30 knots. This didn't deter Simon Garland and Jeff Westbrook, big-boat sailors eager to try the Weta. They figured they would easily handle the small boat. As they sailed around Mission Bay it didn't take long for them to trim aft in the cockpit and grow competent in setting the reaching jib, called the "screecher." Even though both men were six feet tall, with a combined weight of 400 pounds, the Weta managed to get a hull out of the water several times.

The boat is very forgiving and actually very difficult to capsize, but it can happen. Garland and Westbrook were surprised by a gust and lost the boat at one point, finding themselves in the water and struggling to right an unfamiliar boat. Unlike the Hobie, Prindle and other larger multihulls, the Weta has a no-nonsense process for righting the trimaran that a child could execute. Even a turtled Weta won't give most sailors too much trouble.

The system is simple: Stand on one of the outer pontoons and unscrew the inspection port at the back of the hull until it fills with water. The sinking pontoon will turn the boat over. As you sail away the water drains from the outer hull. Unfortunately, the backing plate doesn't float, and when you right a boat like this in a stiff breeze, you really don't want to have an inspection port lid in your hand. Fortunately the designers have addressed this problem by attaching a retaining line to the cover. Problem solved.

Garland and Westbrook were not deterred. "She's very touchy, very responsive," Westbrook said. "What we noticed was that she really took. We had a variety of wind conditions out there today and the boat was marvelous in every one of them. Our problem was that we were really pushing her when we were surprised by a pretty big gust. We were going to weather and had the mainsheet too tight. The leeward hull started to sink and over we went, very slowly.

"Sensitive? Yes, and especially in winds like we had today, but we really enjoyed sailing her. The little trimaran has the feel of a real boat. When you consider our combined weight, the wind, and how hard we pushed her today it's pretty amazing that we didn't break anything. That says a lot about a boat."

The day before the storm blew through I had the chance to sail the Weta in lighter air. I, too, found the boat to be extremely responsive; able to accelerate rapidly and sharp in the turns. Being able to lie out on the hiking aprons gives you a chance to really appreciate the shape of your sails, and the forward daggerboard makes all the difference in the world. While all multihulls seem to want to break the sound barrier off the wind, most are slow and cumbersome in tacks. The Weta turns on a dime. How refreshing that is to discover. The daggerboard can be pulled up for downwind sailing or beaching the boat, and the kick-up rudder allows for smooth beach assaults.

One problem I encountered was a wrapping of the small staysail when jibing. In the end I determined it was the rookie reviewer driving the boat, and not a gear malfunction. I was releasing the jib too late. A little practice and a forgiving breeze improved my timing rapidly.

The cockpit is smartly designed with lots of room and an open transom. The tiller is long, allowing the driver to work the front of the boat. As Garland and Westbrook discovered, in a good blow, and with excessive weight in the boat, you need to move aft to trim the load. The boomless main is extremely comfortable to use in all conditions. The fully battened jib carries a great shape. The roller furling screecher has a welcome demystifying effect on whoever is driving the boat. Surprisingly, it was very simple to use.

It's really hard to find fault with this compact little racer. It sails fast without a lot of drama or preparation in the cockpit. Yes, it could find a future as a popular one-design but I predict the real audience will be flat-water sailors (lakes and bays) and families. This is a powerful little boat, and yet, even in a good blow the sails are quiet and sail area can be reduced to make the boat more manageable.

The Weta only takes 20 minutes to rig and has just five lines controlling all three sails. The two-piece mast is easy to step, and an optional pivoting mast base allows the mast to be simply folded down instead of unstepped. The outer hulls fold inward on hinged amas, nesting and tucking to make a trailerable load no wider than a Laser-a plus on the road and in storing out of the water.

The Weta really is an incredibly fun boat in most any wind. It sails like a dinghy and is very well balanced. One person described it as a dinghy with training wheels. Not a flattering description, but visually it gets the point across. I had a chance to sail alongside Lasers and pocket cruisers. I gave them both good leads and then made my move. There is an ageless thrill that comes with having a faster boat. There was no contest in the light air of Mission Bay, and a couple of times I actually fell backwards as the boat accelerated.

The Weta hulls are a solid fiberglass laminate. A foam sandwich laminate is used on the main deck for added strength. All the boat's components are vacuum bagged (even the frames) and vinylester resin is used to enhance strength and rigidity. The mast, beams and tiller extension are carbon fiber. The deck gear is mostly Harken. As stated, the boat is smartly rigged although some sailors are modifying the cockpit with ratchet blocks, swivel cleats and stainless bridles.

The sails are by Gaastra, and the main and jib are made from transparent laminated Mylar cloth, which makes it easy to see leeward traffic. The screecher is made from a high-quality, non-stretch spinnaker cloth and comes in a variety of colors.

The Weta measures in at 14 feet, 5 inches in length, and 11 feet, 6 inches in the beam fully extended. On the trailer it's an entirely different story, as the boat tucks into 5 feet, 7 inches. The total dry weight of the boat is 211 pounds with a mast weight of 9 pounds. The Weta can carry 440 pounds and has been clocked at 18.6 mph. There is 123 square feet of area in the main and jib, and 86 more square feet in the screecher. This boat will add a fresh new dimension to sailing for a variety of sailors.

Weta Trimarans

We’d love to hear from you. Send us your stories and photos.

Wētā Australia – Life's Better with a Weta

Book a FREE test sail today!

Make Life Better – Get a Wētā

Unlike other dinghies, the Wētā is the boat everyone can use  – in any conditions – all in the one compact, easy package:

• Take it out for a blast on your own and enjoy the stable speed
• Appreciate the stability when taking out family and friends for fun
• Safe for kids or adults to learn to sail

The Wētā is the “all fun, no-drama” boat – the stability of a trimaran means its really hard to capsize but easy to right in minutes if you do – without any assistance.

And with the new Self-Tacking Jib and Twin Tiller Extensions providing “hands-free” tacks and gybes, it’s now even easier to sail.

“One thing that makes the Wētā so attractive as a small trimaran model is its versatility. This little tri offers outstanding performance for the single sailor, an exciting ride for a couple, and a nice safe ride for a family with little children … all rolled into one little sailboat.” Joe Farinaccio (aka SmallTriGuy)

The Wētā Advantages – a sailboat for all reasons

Compact Storage

Sails for every wind strength

Family Friendly

Solo Stable Speed

Self Tacking Jib for Easy Turns

One class design

Fast and easy setup

Speed when you need it

Sailability for All

High Quality

​ Twin Tiller Extension Kit

Australian Events

Ready to Go The Wētā comes with everything you need to go sailing – hull and floats, all deck fittings and rigging, custom aluminium launching trolley, three North sails (mainsail, jib, gennaker), continuous gennaker furler, colour-coded ropes and sail bags, carbon tiller and extension, carbon foils and custom foil bag. The complete package is $26,990 ready-to sail. 

Start sailing your life better  – click the button to start your order and choose your options.

There are over 1400 Wētās worldwide and over 300 in Australia. Many are listed on the Wētā World Map below – if you want to contact another owner or add your details, contact [email protected]