With its wine-glass transom, sweeping sheer and plumb bow, the Trinka 10, designed by Bruce Bingham, is a boat that’s as easy to look at as it is to sail. During our morning on Narragansett Bay, it proved itself to be fleet of foot, quite stable with two aboard and comfortably roomy for even large skippers.
The Trinka’s fiberglass hull is hand-laid. Teak trim provides an inner and outer rail around the gunwales, reinforces the transom and is used for the center seat. Forward and aft seats are glass and form watertight compartments to give the dinghy positive flotation.
Trinkas are built in Vero Beach, Florida, by Johannsen Boat Works. There’s a smaller 8-foot version, and the company also builds a 12-footer designed by Bruce Kirby.
The Trinka 10 can be built with a centerboard and trunk for sailing, or without if it’s to be used just for rowing. The two-piece unstayed mast and boom are aluminum; setup is quite easy. For towing, the Trinka 10 comes with a beefy bow eye and self-bailer at the stern.
CW editor at large Tim Murphy spent the majority of the morning in the Trinka and noted the boat sailed quite well to windward. It too had a block and cleat available to lock off the mainsheet.
Quick Specs:
LOA: 10′
Weight: 135 pounds
Price: $3,850 rowing; $5,350 sailing
Contact: www.trinka.com
