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HomeCruiseHow to Install a New Trampoline on Your Multihull - Fix the...

How to Install a New Trampoline on Your Multihull – Fix the Bad Installs!

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Catamarans are becoming more and more popular and with good reason. However, as a sailmaker I am often appalled at just how badly installed the between-hulls trampolines are.

After many installations, I have learned the important points of safely installing a trampoline.

First, let’s take a look at materials. Dyneema® is great but it’s overkill, very expensive, and too often sloppily installed with ragged edges. In my experience, a polyester / polyamide / polypro knotted or knitted net properly installed will give the boat owner a firm platform to stand or lounge on.

as a sailmaker I am often appalled at just how badly installed the between-hulls trampolines are
As a sailmaker I am often appalled at just how badly installed the between-hulls trampolines are

Knitted nets, with their smoother finish are more comfortable than knotted nets, which are favored for heavier work such as found on charter boats, day charter boats and diving.

I prefer nets with rope edges rather than those that come with grommets already sewn in. Metal grommets can chafe or cut the rope used to secure the net to the boat, and since the grommets are usually punched at set increments, the net is not as flexible to install. When the net can be fastened anywhere around its edge, it is easy to match the hardware on the boat.

Multihull nets are manufactured 10% smaller than the space they fill, which implies that it will have to be stretched out in order for it to fit correctly.

Anyone who has installed a trampoline, knows that it is hand-tearing, blister-making, back-breaking work. This could explain why so many trampolines are attached to the boat with an uninterrupted line, woven in and out, which is quick, but will never achieve the tension required to get a firm and pleasant feel. It is also unsafe, as the single line will eventually chafe through, leaving gaping holes on the side of the net.

Sail Cloth and Sail Durability

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Photo #1
Photo #1

The best way to fasten the net to the boat is with independent lashings, one by one, which acts as a 3 to 1 purchase that will be tightened several times in the process (see photo #1).

The line I favor is 3/16in (6mm) covered polyester. Lashed three times around, once pulled and locked, it offers 18 x 3/16in (1 1/8in) of polyester tying the net to the boat per lashing. With a spacing of one every five inches, all the way around the net, that’s a lot of polyester which, when tightened, leaves no room for chafing.

The tools needed to install a net are gloves, pliers, fid, hot knife, a piece of scrap wood on which to cut the polyester, lots of water and the will to do it.

Yacht Rigging Part 3 – Jury-Rigging at Sea

First, get the corners where they should be, because they are the starting point of the lashings.

Next, and starting from the corners, make one lashing at a time, and then go back to tighten some more until the edge of the net is one inch away from the attachment point, that being a slide, pad eye or mushroom post.

Sailmaking

You also might want to wet the net as this helps with the stretching.

I always finish the lashings with two hitches all the way around and then a flat knot melted with the hot knife to make sure that it can’t come undone.

For more information, visit: atninc.com

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