One of the biggest advantages of small trimarans is their "trailerability." They can usually be put on a trailer and easily hauled to new sailing venues without much effort or exorbitant costs. This simply isn't an option for most mono-hulled sailboats because big keels don't allow for easy trailering.

Aside from the price of gas these days - which you're going to have to pay for in some way, shape, or form if going away anyhow - a trimaran sailboat with a cabin is an ideal camp/cruiser/family adventure craft. And this will be true if the cabin isn't even very large ... which it surely won't be within a small trimaran.

You can find cabin plans for smaller trimarans that are practical and roomy enough for a family of 4. I've also seen small tris at anchor in the middle of a beautiful setting with a huge tarp draped over the sail rigging. This offers cover from rain or sun on the boat for everybody outside. And if you take a tent along, then anyone who wishes can sleep in comfort on one of the boat's trampolines at night.

Imagine driving your small trimaran to some beautiful lake, river or ocean destination just a few hours away. With a little preparation, you could easily combine fast sailing, good eating and sightseeing all-in-one.

You could also go on a road trip to some exotic place. If your drive consisted of several days, you might not even have to stay at a motel along the way. Exceptional frugality will permit a family to snooze at night inside the trimaran's cabin when parked at rest stops.

For example, a real adventure might be driving to south Florida for an extreme vacation. Instead of just sailing in your home state, or one nearby, you could take a trailerable trimaran down to the Gulf of Mexico and sail through the Florida Keys ... or perhaps even the Bahamas.

After arriving at your Florida destination, a well-designed tri allows you to be sailing within about an hour because it'll be easy to set up ... including its outriggers (amas). Reputable designers have created either folding or sliding systems that allow amas to easily move from a trailerable position to full sailing position without much hassle at all.

This possible scenario is very appealing to many would-be sailors. Which is why small trimarans are attracting an ever increasing number of fans.

There is possibly one disadvantage to taking a small trimaran to the Florida Keys for a week or two of sailing fun. You'd have to be careful about cruising in crystal clear, aqua-blue waters for too long. I've heard this can make it difficult for participants to willingly end the vacation.