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Just when monohull purists have become accustomed to catamarans, there’s a cosmic shift to three hulls. Trimarans certainly aren’t new, but their popularity is growing, especially with cruiser-friendly versions like the NEEL 43. The newest of the French builder’s family, the 43 combines the familiarity of a monohull with the stability of a cat, and it can outsail both.
The NEEL 43 is the work of designer Marc Lombard. The central hull supports the Z-Spar fractional rig balanced by the 5-foot fixed keel. From the side, the NEEL 43 looks like a catamaran with a sleek coachroof and a large aft cockpit.
The construction is a mix of approaches including a traditional foam/vinylester sandwich, carbon reinforcements in high-load areas, and a glass/flax cloth mix with a cork core in non-structural elements. That last part is a nod to the growing concept of greener boatbuilding, since flax and cork are actually recyclable.
The displacement is under 20,000 pounds, which is at least 2,000 pounds lighter than a comparable production catamaran. Between the lighter weight, the recyclable materials, and the single-engine propulsion, NEEL is at least trying to head in the direction of sustainability.
Another way the NEEL 43 offers more environmentally thoughtful sailing and cruising is the option to add an Integrel high-performance alternator that eliminates the need for a combustion-engine generator; a large bank of lithium-ion batteries for expanded energy storage; and a vast array of solar panels for passive regeneration. This new electrical system can keep owners autonomous at anchor for days at a time. It adds thousands to the price, but in the long term, it may be worth it for distance cruising.
Like a catamaran, the NEEL 43 does most of its living on the main deck and also has an elevated helm station on the bulkhead and twin trampolines at the bow. Walking forward is easy because the shrouds terminate into the coachroof and aren’t in the way, and the coachroof has a long, integrated channel that serves as a handhold.
The cockpit is the boat’s heart, since from here you can access either side deck, either transom, the helm, and the interior. It’s not clear why the designers chose to face the settee forward and toward the interior rather than aft toward the transom, but it works, and five can gather comfortably for meals. The tender is carried on a cradle on the swim platform of the central hull leaving two more mini platforms on the sides for additional water access.
Trimarans have never scored high on liveability, and that’s where the NEEL 43 took a new tack. The interior includes a generous salon with a central dinette to port and a compact galley in the forward starboard corner. The single head aft to starboard doubles as a wet locker. A nav station is forward to port; it cleverly shares a backrest with the dinette that is behind it…
LOA 43’0”
Beam 24’7”
Draft 5’0”
Displacement 19,850 lbs
Sail Area 1,096 sq ft
Power 50-hp Volvo Penta diesel
Designer Marc Lombard
Builder NEEL Trimarans/neel-trimarans.com
Price as tested $575,000
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