Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
F-27 Sport Cruiser
The F-27 Sport Cruiser is an American trailerable trimaran sailboat that was designed by New Zealander Ian Farrier in 1984–1985.
The boat was built by Corsair Marine in the United States between 1986 and February 1997, with 450 examples completed. The F-27 was replaced in production by the derivative F-28 design, later designated as the Corsair 28.
The F-27's concept started in 1973 in Australia when Farrier developed and patented the outrigger folding system that made the design possible. Ten years later Wal-Mart heir John T. Walton approached Farrier about designing a boat and setting up production in the United States. Farrier agreed to take on the project on the condition that he had control of all aspects of the enterprise from design to production. Walton agreed and so Farrier moved his family to the US in March 1984 and started work in the position of Vice President. A location was found in Chula Vista, near San Diego, California and Corsair Marine was established.
Corsair started with the construction of the fiberglass molds to complete the prototype F-27. The prototype was completed and launched in May 1985. It was named Superfox in honor of Farrier's previous boat, a Tramp 19 named Flying Fox. The prototype was successful and production molds were built. The factory was relocated to larger facilities in the same neighborhood, this time with 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) of floor space.
Over the first few years, new production techniques, such as vacuum bag moulding, were introduced that increased efficiency and allowed more boats to be produced. In 1987 the factory was expanded to 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2), by leasing the existing second half of the building and putting in an intervening door. In 1986 six boats were produced. This increased to 12 in 1987 and 33 in 1988. In 1989 the 100th boat was completed. A production peak was achieved in 1991, with 101 boats completed.
Farrier left the company in 1991, conflicting with Walton over "growing concerns about company directions", but having established production and wishing to move back to Australia to work on his F-31 Sport Cruiser design. He re-established connections with the company once Corsair had been sold to Paul Koch in 1994, but severed all ties in 2000. Farrier described the relationship between himself and Corsair as "disappointing", but added "however, this takes nothing away from the F-27 and our joint achievements".
The F-27 is a small recreational trimaran, built predominantly of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, fiberglass, Kevlar and foam. It has a fractional sloop rig, a transom-hung rudder and a daggerboard keel. It displaces 2,600 lb (1,179 kg).
All variants of the boat have a draft of 4.92 ft (1.50 m) with the centerboard extended and 1.17 ft (0.36 m) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.
Hub AI
F-27 Sport Cruiser AI simulator
(@F-27 Sport Cruiser_simulator)
F-27 Sport Cruiser
The F-27 Sport Cruiser is an American trailerable trimaran sailboat that was designed by New Zealander Ian Farrier in 1984–1985.
The boat was built by Corsair Marine in the United States between 1986 and February 1997, with 450 examples completed. The F-27 was replaced in production by the derivative F-28 design, later designated as the Corsair 28.
The F-27's concept started in 1973 in Australia when Farrier developed and patented the outrigger folding system that made the design possible. Ten years later Wal-Mart heir John T. Walton approached Farrier about designing a boat and setting up production in the United States. Farrier agreed to take on the project on the condition that he had control of all aspects of the enterprise from design to production. Walton agreed and so Farrier moved his family to the US in March 1984 and started work in the position of Vice President. A location was found in Chula Vista, near San Diego, California and Corsair Marine was established.
Corsair started with the construction of the fiberglass molds to complete the prototype F-27. The prototype was completed and launched in May 1985. It was named Superfox in honor of Farrier's previous boat, a Tramp 19 named Flying Fox. The prototype was successful and production molds were built. The factory was relocated to larger facilities in the same neighborhood, this time with 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) of floor space.
Over the first few years, new production techniques, such as vacuum bag moulding, were introduced that increased efficiency and allowed more boats to be produced. In 1987 the factory was expanded to 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2), by leasing the existing second half of the building and putting in an intervening door. In 1986 six boats were produced. This increased to 12 in 1987 and 33 in 1988. In 1989 the 100th boat was completed. A production peak was achieved in 1991, with 101 boats completed.
Farrier left the company in 1991, conflicting with Walton over "growing concerns about company directions", but having established production and wishing to move back to Australia to work on his F-31 Sport Cruiser design. He re-established connections with the company once Corsair had been sold to Paul Koch in 1994, but severed all ties in 2000. Farrier described the relationship between himself and Corsair as "disappointing", but added "however, this takes nothing away from the F-27 and our joint achievements".
The F-27 is a small recreational trimaran, built predominantly of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, fiberglass, Kevlar and foam. It has a fractional sloop rig, a transom-hung rudder and a daggerboard keel. It displaces 2,600 lb (1,179 kg).
All variants of the boat have a draft of 4.92 ft (1.50 m) with the centerboard extended and 1.17 ft (0.36 m) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.