Horstman 38 Trimaran (Tri-Star 38/39)

Description

The Horstman 38 (more precisely known as the TRI-STAR 38/39) is a flush-deck cruising trimaran designed by naval architect Ed Horstman (Edward B. Horstman) of Ed Horstman Multihull Designs in the United States, with plans available for amateur and professional builders since the design's introduction in the 1970s or earlier. Horstman, known for his practical, proven multihull designs emphasizing safety, comfort, and bluewater capability (with many TRI-STAR models completing ocean passages and circumnavigations), offers the TRI-STAR 38/39 as a home-build or custom project rather than a mass-production boat from a single factory builder—construction is typically owner-built or by small yards using cold-molded double-diagonal plywood or foam-fiberglass sandwich methods, with plans including full-size patterns and construction guidance from Horstman's book Trimaran and Catamaran Construction. Quantity built is low and scattered (likely dozens worldwide over decades, as with most Horstman designs, though exact numbers are not tracked centrally due to the plans-based nature), featuring a wide main hull (over 7 ft at the wing deck, up to 8 ft 6 in with the flared hull option for spacious accommodations), high bow for better wave handling, full-length amas with ample reserve buoyancy, shallow draft for versatility, strong performance under sail, ketch or sloop rig options in some builds, auxiliary diesel power, and cruiser-oriented layout suited to family or extended offshore voyaging with good load-carrying ability.