Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question not answered below, please let us know using the contact us option

• Why Does MEERMARK Offer Products Like the Pattino?

  Q: If MEERMARK is all about bringing more people into sailing, why are you offering rowing craft like the Pattino?

  
  

  Great question! The answer is simple: To grow sailing, we need to start where people already are or want to be—on the water.

  
  

  Meeting Water-Sports Enthusiasts Where They Are

  
  

  The pathway to growing sailing isn't through existing sailors—it's through reaching the 99% of people who aren't sailors yet. Fans of other water sports and those curious about getting on the water represent our greatest opportunity. These are people who already love being active on the water or are looking for their entry point into aquatic adventures.

  
  

  Breaking Down Barriers

  
  

  By offering fun, easy-to-use, and versatile multi-hull craft like the Pattino, we're opening a door that's often been closed by misconceptions. We get the chance to show people that sailing doesn't need to be:

  
  

  Complicated

  
  

  Difficult to learn

  
  

  Expensive or intimidating

  
  

  Where Every Sailing Story Begins

  
  

  Here's what we know: every sailor's journey starts somewhere, and at the heart of it all is something beautifully simple — the love of nature and being on the water.

  
  

  The Pattino and similar products aren't a departure from our mission. They're the bridge that connects water-sports lovers to the world of sailing, meeting them with approachable, enjoyable experiences that naturally lead to a lifetime passion for sailing. (And if the Pattino launches a passion for rowing instead? That’s a win too!)

• What colours are available?

  Standard hull colors are red, white, blue and yellow, custom hull colours are available for bulk orders

• Is there a cowling option to offer protecion in rough weather?

  Meermark trimarans offer an extremely dry ride and as such we do not offer any type of cowling. If the weather is bad enough to need one on your boat, it’s probably a good idea to wait it out for more favorable conditions.

• Are there any other models or options?

  In addition to our 2 seater 17 foot 'Vento' and our 13 foot single seater 'Vela', we also offer our 'Sail-Able' model and are introducting an Italian classic, the tPattino.

• How do Trimarans differ from cataramans and single hull boats

  For an in-depth explanation of the differences and why Trimarans are the best option why not view our blog post

• Why did you change the name of the M17?

  The name M17 seemed harmless enough, simply an abbreviation of “Meermark 17”. It wasn’t until our first container of boats arrived in the US and US Customs pulled aside our container for secondary inspection (at a cost of $1,500) that we were made aware of the fact that M17s are also guns! Not wanting to go through that with every future shipment, we decided on somewhat more tame names. VENTO (Italian for wind) for our 17 footer and VELA (Italian for sail) for our single seater 13 footer.

• What are Meermark trimarans constructed from?

  Polyethylene for its durability and indestructability, also being somewhat flexible, it gives on impact which prevents cracking, but it maintains its stiffness for many years.

• Who is the designer

  Renowned multihull designer Kurt Hughes.

• Where did the Meermark name come from?

  Nothing fancy here, just a combination of our names!

• Can I add nets in between the hulls?

  We offer trampolines as an option, designed to minimise interference with paddling.

• Can I sail in the Ocean?

  Meermark trimarans are designed for voyages on sheltered coastal waters, bays, and lakes if conditions are within its EC Category D certification. D: SHELTERED WATERS Designed for voyages on sheltered coastal waters, small bays, small lakes, rivers and canals when conditions up to, and including, wind force 4 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 0,3 m may be experienced, with occasional waves of 0,5 m maximum height, for example from passing vessels.

• Are your boats easily repairable if damaged?

  Polyethylene is very abrasion-resistant, but if you do scratch or gouge your Meermark trimaran, PE is repairable.

• Is there enough room under the bow to store a sleeping bag, food etc for short trips?

  Yes, with a 550lb carrying capacity, there is plenty of room and capacity for several dry bags of gear in addition to the crew. We would highly recommend keeping an eye on weight distribution and storing the larger and lighter items, such as the sleeping bag in the bow and carrying heavier items in the back seat area.

• Can the Meermark trimaran be taken apart for either trailering or car-topping?

  Yes, the whole boat can be assembled and ready to sail in 20-30 minutes. Trailering is easy and car topping on the proper vehicle is possible.

• How are the Meermark trimarans different or unique from other trimarans currently on the market?

  It’s Simple, Safe & Fun! Other trimarans are available, but none offer the combination of ease of use, performance and ability to excite both 1st time and seasoned sailors. Go to any boat show and you can see how many of today’s boat manufacturers try to improve on their competitors by adding “something more” to their boats to distance themselves from one another, thereby making boats that are ever more complicated. Our approach was the opposite. To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery; “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”.