40' Marples Trimaran (2004) - RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI

A uniquely handsome cruising trimaran, Rikki-tikki-tavi is a very distinctive owner-built multihull. He is as attractive below as he is topsides. His fine woodwork and comfortable yet simple accommodations impart a sense of ease and satisfaction.

Customized by and for Rikki-tikki’s owner/builders, there are guest berths for two additional crew. The settee will seat six close friends. An expansive deck
and center cockpit provide space for all manner of water-related activities and the dally routines of sailing and living aboard. Truly a realization of all we envisioned he could be, the trimaran we call Rikki-tikki-tavi effortlessly balances comfort with speed and efficiency.

The Bones —Wood and Epoxy:
Rikki-tikki-tavi is a John Marples CC40 constructed with the Constant Camber method: Four layers of 1/8-inch 3-ply. 6-inch wide mahogany strips, laid diagonally over a sectional mold, epoxied and vacuum bagged to cure. Finished hull thickness is 1/2-inch. The deck and its structure are fir. Rigged as a cutter with a 50-foot mast stepped in the cockpit, Rikki’s centerboard and sails are easily handled from the shelter of the center cockpit.

The History:
Rikki is 41-feet 10-inches long from the tip of his curious nose to the end of his bottle-brushy tail. He is named after Rudyard Kipling’s valiant mongoose of
“Jungle Books” fame. He is a most singular trimaran, as true and dependable in character as was Kipling’s beloved mongoose.

He first touched his toes to water in the Sacramento River on May 10, 2004. Autumn of that year saw Clark and Nina following the river’s flow to San Francisco Bay where Rikki finally received his wings to fly. With a fellow sailor joining us as crew, we cruised out to sea, passing under San Francisco’s Golden Gate in May of 2005. We always knew we would be aiming for the Pacific Northwest. Taking our time up the West Coast, we crossed into British Columbia in August.

Eager to explore, we tucked into dozens of inlets and coves along BC’s North Coast, then ventured deep into Puget’s South Sound. Southeast Alaska beckoned in 2007 and 2010. We spent a summer circumnavigating Vancouver Island in 2008.

We learned early that cruising is not about the scenery but about the people encountered along the way. Our countless memories are enjoyed forever.
It has been our good fortune to delight in fourteen years exploring the PNW. Princess Louisa is our touchstone, our favorite place on Mother Earth.

Having a trimaran is a bit like having a dog. It is a conversation starter! So many interesting people, each
with interesting stories to tell. Unmet friends, unseen beauty, and untravelled journeys await! Though we’ve been landlocked since October 2019, our stalwart Rikki-tikki patiently waits. We look forward to rejoining him for many more adventures soon. We trust he
will continue to provide a magic carpet to adventure for many years to come.

Rikki-tikki-tavi’s motto, and that of all the mongoose family, is “Run and find out.”

Fair winds.
Clark and Nina Wagaman