Farrier Marine
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Christchurch-based New Zealand multihull boat manufacturer and design business associated with Ian Farrier's patented folding-trimaran system.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Farrier Marine is a New Zealand marine manufacturer and boat-design business based in Christchurch. It is associated with the work of Ian Farrier, the Australian-born multihull designer whose boats became known for practical trailerability, high sailing performance, and a distinctive folding system. The system allows the outer hulls, or floats, of a trimaran to fold inward alongside the main hull without conventional hinges in the beams or at the critical beam-to-float connections. This reduces the boat's width for road transport, storage, and marina berthing, while allowing the structure to be expanded for sailing. According to the company's historical account, the folding concept was patented in the 1970s and became the defining technical feature of many Farrier designs. Farrier's work developed from personal experience building and sailing multihulls. A prototype was launched in Australia in 1974, followed by the Trailertri 18 in 1976 and the production fiberglass Tramp in 1980. The Tramp received the Australian Boat of the Year award in 1981 and helped establish the commercial potential of Farrier's approach. During the 1980s, the F-27 became one of the most influential designs in the range. Corsair Marine in the United States supported production and development, while F-27 boats achieved notable racing results, including records in the Two Man Around Catalina Race and success in the Newport–Ensenada Race. The design was later recognized by organized multihull racing bodies and became associated with a substantial production run. Farrier and Corsair continued working under licensing and production arrangements into the early 1990s. The F-9A and its production derivative, the F-31, extended the design philosophy into a larger trailerable performance cruiser; the F-31 was named Australian Sailboat of the Year in 1992. Other designs followed, including the F-25, F-28, F-32, F-33, F-39, F-44, and F-22 families. Some were intended for professional production, while others were supplied as plans or kits for experienced amateur builders. This combination of factory-built boats, licensed production, and owner-built designs makes the Farrier name broader than a single conventional boat range. In 2001, Ian Farrier separated from Corsair Marine after a long production and licensing relationship. The separation allowed Farrier Marine to concentrate on its own design program and to pursue both more affordable designs and technically ambitious boats. Later projects included the F-22 trailerable trimaran, the F-32SR and F-85SR performance variants, larger trimarans such as the F-39 and F-44-derived designs, and catamarans including the F-41 and F-44SC. The company also developed the F-45 and F-45R concepts as larger catamaran designs with curved foils and performance-oriented options. Farrier Marine's positioning centers on efficient, seaworthy multihulls that can combine cruising accommodation or racing performance with transportability. The boats are aimed at sailors who want the speed and stability of a multihull without permanently committing to a wide marina berth or specialist transport arrangement. Depending on the model, construction may be undertaken by the company, a licensed builder, or an amateur following Farrier plans. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake slowed work on new projects, although the available account states that the shipyard itself avoided major casualties and sustained only limited associated damage. Publicly available material does not establish the company's current ownership, website, financial position, or operating status.
History
Ian Farrier developed his multihull concepts through hands-on construction and sailing in Australia. His central innovation was a folding trimaran arrangement that could alter a boat's beam quickly, allowing the floats to move inward for trailering or berthing and outward for sailing. He applied for a patent in 1973, and the Farrier Folding System was granted patent protection in 1975. Unlike many folding arrangements, the system was designed without conventional hinges in the beams or at the structurally important beam-to-float joints. A prototype was built and launched in 1974. The Trailertri 18 followed in 1976, with the Trailertri 680 and other early designs extending the concept. In 1980, the Tramp became the first production fiberglass Farrier design. Originally built in Australia, it was an open-cockpit day sailor of approximately 19 feet 6 inches and was also produced in the United States under the Eagle name. Its Australian Boat of the Year award in 1981 gave Farrier's designs early public recognition. Farrier entered a major production relationship with Corsair Marine in the United States during the 1980s. With Corsair support, he developed the F-27 Super Fox, which recorded a victory or course record in its first official Two Man Around Catalina Race and repeated the achievement in 1986. In 1989, the F-27 named CORSAIR won the multihull division of the Newport–Ensenada Race. The model's combination of speed, manageable size, folding capability, and production repeatability helped make it a landmark trailerable trimaran. The F-27 was later recognized by the American Sailboat Hall of Fame, and the historical account attributes roughly 450 boats to its production run. The F-27's racing and cruising profile also broadened recognition of Farrier's designs. In 1990, the Nippon Ocean Racing Club recognized the F-27 as an official class, while the F-27 AQUA TEC won the Australian Multihull Offshore Championships. F-27 boats were also the first multihulls invited to the National Offshore One Design Regatta. The F-9A, launched in the early 1990s, evolved into the F-31 production design. The F-31 was named Australian Sailboat of the Year in 1992, and subsequent designs included the F-24, F-25A, F-25C, and F-28. The F-28, an enhanced development using the F-27's principal hull and beam molds with revised rig and structural features, received Sailing World's 1998 Performance Multihull Sailboat of the Year award. Farrier left Corsair's management in 1991 to focus on design while continuing under a licensing arrangement. In 2001, he ended the relationship entirely. His stated rationale, as summarized in the available reference, included the time required to supply production guides and monitor construction, quality, and specification compliance. After the separation, Farrier Marine pursued a wider independent design program. This included the F-33, launched in Australia in 2003; the F-39, whose first example was launched in September 2007; the F-22, first launched in May 2008; the F-32SR design released in July 2009; and the F-85SR design released in November 2010. The F-22 production program advanced from the first production float hull in December 2010 to release of the production version in 2011. The same year, the Christchurch earthquake slowed work on new projects. The reference describes damage at a moldmaker's factory and damage to a wall and floor, but no major casualties at the shipyard. Later development work included larger performance and cruising trimarans and a move into catamarans. The F-41 was identified as Farrier's first catamaran design and evolved toward the F-44 production boats. The F-44SC was described as a super-cruiser version with additional interior space and was built by Multihulls Direct under license. The F-45 and F-45R were later-stage development concepts, with the R variant intended for more performance through a larger sail plan and carbon-fiber construction. Farrier Marine's historical business model therefore included several connected activities: designing boats, supplying plans for amateur construction, supporting licensed production, and developing selected production models. Not every boat bearing an F-series designation was necessarily built directly by Farrier Marine; some were produced by partner yards or built by owners. Publicly available reference material does not provide reliable current information about ownership, management after Ian Farrier's death in 2017, production volumes, or whether all listed models remain available.
- 2011
F-22 production version released
[1]The production version of the F-22 was released after the first production hull components were completed.
- 2010
F-32SR and F-85SR designs released
[1]Farrier released the F-32SR in 2009 and the F-85SR in 2010; the first F-22 production float hull was also completed in December 2010.
- 2008
First F-22 launched
[1]The first F-22 was launched in May 2008.
- 2007
F-39 introduced
[1]The first F-39 was launched in September 2007.
- 2003
F-33 launched
[1]The F-33 was launched in Australia as a larger trailerable sport-cruiser design.
- 2001
Farrier separated from Corsair Marine
[1]Farrier ended the Corsair relationship and redirected attention to independent designs and projects.
- 1998
F-28 won Sailing World's performance multihull award
[1]The F-28 was named Sailing World's Performance Multihull Sailboat of the Year.
- 1992
F-31 named Australian Sailboat of the Year
[1]The F-31, developed from the F-9A, received Australian Sailboat of the Year recognition.
- 1991
Farrier left Corsair management
[1]Ian Farrier left Corsair Marine's management while initially continuing through a licensing arrangement.
- 1990
F-27 gained class and regatta recognition
[1]The Nippon Ocean Racing Club recognized the F-27 as an official class, and the F-27 AQUA TEC won the Australian Multihull Offshore Championships.
Products and positioning
Performance-oriented, trailerable and foldable multihulls combining sailing speed, cruising capability, and reduced-width storage or marina access.
Folding trimaran · 2008
F-22 and F-22R
The F-22 is a trailerable folding trimaran developed as a modern Farrier production design. It is intended to combine the speed and stability of a multihull with practical road transport and marina storage. The F-22R is the performance-oriented variant. The first F-22 was launched in 2008, with production development continuing through 2011.
Folding trimaran · 1985
F-27
The F-27 was a highly influential trailerable performance trimaran developed with Corsair Marine support. It achieved notable offshore racing results, gained class recognition, and was later associated with the American Sailboat Hall of Fame. Its folding system and manageable size made it suitable for both racing and cruising, and the historical account attributes approximately 450 boats to its production.
Production trimaran · 1991
F-31
The F-31 was the production development of the F-9A design series. It expanded Farrier's trailerable performance-cruiser concept and was recognized as Australian Sailboat of the Year in 1992. Later F-31 plans and related production arrangements were connected with Corsair Marine.
Amateur-build and performance trimaran · 2007
F-32 and F-32SR
The F-32 was presented as a plans-based version related to the F-33 production design, intended for amateur builders and positioned as a successor to the F-9 design series. The F-32SR is a sportier version released in 2009. These boats illustrate Farrier Marine's continued use of owner-built and technically focused designs alongside factory production.
Trailerable sport-cruiser trimaran · 2003
F-33
The F-33 was designed as a large trailerable sport cruiser that could remain manageable for single-handed sailing. The first example was launched in Australia in 2003. A related plans version was identified as the F-32, allowing the basic concept to be adapted for amateur construction.
Ocean-cruising trimaran · 2007
F-39
The F-39 was developed as a larger ocean-going trimaran based on the F-36 concept. It retained folding capability for marina docking but was described as suitable only for experienced builders. The first F-39 was launched in September 2007.
Cruising catamaran
F-44SC
The F-44SC was described as a super-cruiser development of the F-41/F-44 catamaran family, with increased interior room. It was built by Multihulls Direct under license, demonstrating Farrier Marine's use of licensed production for larger multihulls.
Performance catamaran
F-45 and F-45R
The F-45 was a larger catamaran development reported as being in late-stage development in 2016. It was described as a redesigned F-44SC with an improved body and curved foils. The F-45R was the racing variant, with a larger sail plan and carbon-fiber construction intended to increase performance.
Production trimaran · 1980
Tramp
The Tramp was an approximately 19-foot-6-inch open-cockpit day-sailing trimaran and the first production fiberglass Farrier design. It was originally built by Haines Hunter in Australia and was also produced in the United States under the Eagle name. The model won Australian Boat of the Year in 1981.
Performance trimaran · 1997
F-28
The F-28 was an upgraded successor to the F-27, using the earlier model's principal float, beam, and main-hull molds while incorporating changes to the rig and structure. Sailing World named it Performance Multihull Sailboat of the Year in 1998.
Brand decisions
2011
Adjusted development activity after Christchurch earthquakeOtherBackground
The Christchurch earthquake affected the local manufacturing environment and caused damage at a moldmaker's facility as well as damage to a wall and floor.
Action taken
New-project work continued, but development slowed for a period.
Aftermath
The F-22 production version was released in 2011, although the available source does not quantify the operational or financial effect of the disruption.
2001
Ended relationship with Corsair MarineStrategyBackground
Farrier stated that supplying production guides and monitoring construction, quality, and compliance for Corsair required substantial time.
Action taken
Farrier separated fully from Corsair Marine and redirected resources toward independent designs, including lower-cost and more technically advanced projects.
Aftermath
Farrier Marine pursued a broader portfolio of plans-based, production, cruising, and performance multihulls.
1991
Shift from Corsair management to independent design workStrategyBackground
Ian Farrier left Corsair Marine's management to concentrate on new designs, while continuing temporarily under a licensing arrangement.
Action taken
Farrier Marine focused more directly on its own design program and expanded its range beyond the established Corsair-linked models.
Aftermath
The company developed the F-9A, F-31, F-25, F-32, F-33, F-39, F-22, and later catamaran projects.
Sources1 sources
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