TELSTAR TRIMARAN

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Does anyone have any info on Telstars (both the 26 and later 8 metre)? I am interested in buying one and want to find out more about them. Do you have one for sale? Have you owned one in the past? If so, post the details and I'll get back to you.
 

pugwash

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I can't get a private e-mail through to you but if you contact me direct I'll give you the name of a friend in Keyhaven who owned and sailed one for many years.
 

wjb

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telstar

have owned telstar mk2 for 4 years ,thinking of selling her, no time to go sailing
she 's in good overall condition many £'s spent ,good honda 9.8 0utboard 4 stroke,pictures of her on fliker-barmouth harbour contact me if interested
 

wjb

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have owned tri for4-5 years ,great fun when i am able to use her,time tide weather seem to stop me ,thinking of selling .she's a mk2 telstar good condition
good honda motor etc.
 

wjb

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am thinking of selling my telstar great fun but not enough time. she is in good order with lot's spent over the last few years
 

srm

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;53173 said:
Does anyone have any info on Telstars (both the 26 and later 8 metre)? I am interested in buying one and want to find out more about them. Do you have one for sale? Have you owned one in the past? If so, post the details and I'll get back to you.

Way back in the 1980's I was thinking of buying one - contacted the designer who advised against as they were all fairly old even then!! However, I think he started building them again sometime later in the USA.
 

alahol2

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We owned one for 3 years in the early 80's. I think it was a mark I if I remember rightly (Sail No 109). A shoal draft (18"?) boat that we could keep on a drying mooring and with 6ft headroom suited us exactly. We sailed all along the south coast and Normandy in that time. Nothing ever broke but they are fairly lightly built and built down to a price. The main things to check are the massive hinges and supporting brackets. Obviously the steelwork needs to be in good condition but also the surrounding GRP. The big ama decks are fairly lightly built and flex quite a bit so check for cracking.
They don't sail as fast as the current tri's but they can be fast, 8 knots not unusual and anything up to 12/13 occasionally. They are old now but if you can find a decent one they are great fun, handle like a big dinghy.
 

merlin3688

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Although an old thread brought back memories of many years ago when I first started working at Sailspar (Mid 70s) who made all the spars for the Telstar. Those were the days when we made more then one at a time! From memory all the spars were gold anodized, this seemed to be the fashion in the 70s and 80s.
Trying to get anything anodized a different colour now other then Silver is difficult although I think Sailspar may still be able to offer it. I think the Gold looked great for a while but when it faded it looked horrible!
 

maxi

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re SRM

The Telstar was Tony Smith's first boat design was/is a successful folding trimaran, it was followed by a larger high volume version that did not sell so well.

Tony did take the Telstar moulds to the USA but he has moved onwards and upwards and builds a range of well respected multihulls and owns a successful marina also. A long way removed from his tatty shed at Sandwich where I occasionally helped in constructing the early Telstars.

His is a classic story of an innovative entrepreneur who was unappreciated and most certainly not encouraged by UK government - who has taken his talents to the USA where he has become successful and now the US economy benefits. 'Dave' please note.
 

jneale

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I owned Trivia from 1978 to 1985. Mk2 Telstar. Cruised and raced extensively with friends and family South coast, Channel Isles and Med. Fast and stable. Trailed home folded up most winters, and towed easily with old 1.5 litre banger. Not good tacking into the solent chop as very light. Most cross channel crossings averaged 6 knots. Our best top speed was a sustained 16 knots in the little russel channel (Guernsey).
As with all Tris - you have to keep it light.

pm me for more info
 
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