Jim Brown Is Creating a History of Multihulls in Video: ‘Mavericks & Multihulls’
The history of multihulls starts with Polynesian voyagers in the Pacific. In the 1950s, pioneering sailors started designing and building more modern multihull designs that have since transformed sailing. On the front lines were people like Arthur Piver from Mill Valley, West Coast sailor Jim Brown, Rudy Choy from Hawaii, and many more. (Rudy’s Aikane X5 smashed the Transpac speed record in ’89 when she arrived in Honolulu in just 6 days, 22 hours.) Jim Brown is currently in the process of chronicling the history of multihulls in a video called Mavericks & Multihulls.
Jim started building multihulls in coastal California in the 1950s. In 1974, he and his family cruised from Santa Cruz, California for a three-and-a-half-year odyssey through Mexico and Central America aboard Scrimshaw, their Searunner 31 trimaran. In today’s sailing world, multihulls have only become faster, and for cruising, much more popular. If you’re a BAMA member or multihull fan it’s amazing to see the progression from early plywood designs to modern foilers and global circumnavigators.
The West Coast has figured prominently in that history, with many boats designed and built here. Schooner Creek Boat Works continues to build multihulls for the Hawaiian charter trade, and Morelli & Melvin remain at the forefront of multihull design. The first multihull in the America’s Cup raced in San Diego in 1992. The multihull world continues to rapidly evolve toward higher speeds or greater comfort.
If you’ve got a piece of West Coast multihull history, let us know in the comments below and connect with the Mavericks & Multihull creators to contribute to the story.
Had a searunner 37 for 26 years now. Still amazed by it. Such a joy
Hawaii
I had a Searunner 31 back in the mid-1980’s into the 1990’s. She was a great boat. Lot’s of fun poking into the shallow parts of the Bay that are unreachable to me now with my 7′ draft.
I am the master of HIOLANI, held in the arms of heaven, ( a 36 ft Gilbert Iwamoto /CSK )for 50years. Lots and lots of stories. Currently kept in Barra de Navidad in her own hurricane bunker. Probably the best conditioned early cat still sailing. Currently looking for new masters to continue the adventure.
Jim brown started building multihulls in the mid 50’s, not 1974. The full length movie, which is almost complete, is about the pioneers of multihulls.
It’s a very moving documentary, which has strong West coast & SF ties.
Russell – thanks for the added information. Amazing to see how the multihull world has evolved since his pioneering days, bringing multihulls to the forefront of the sailing life.