Sew a Quick Catamaran Trampoline

This method wraps Sunbrella cloth around the old grommets so you don't have to do any grommeting. This catamaran is a Hobie 16.
I used a similar method to re-tramp my Hobie 18 with PVC/Polyester truck tarp.
If your tramp is totally gone, there's an easy method for that too.
Catamarans you get for cheap or free will need a new trampoline.
Trampolines get destroyed by UV from sitting out in the sun.
In case you're looking for a way to fix the kind of trampoline you bounce on, this same method would probably work fine for that.

I used Sunbrella UV-resistant cloth for the new tramp so it will last longer than the original one.
For comparison, here's how I re-tramped my Hobie 18 with PVC/Polyester truck tarp material.

Here's Damon, Audrey, and Star on the test voyage. The new trampoline works great!
The other photos below are top views of the boat before and after re-tramping.

Step 1 Take Pictures of your old Tramp

Take lots of pictures of how it was. You'll need them later when you're wondering how to put it all back on.
The frame of the catamaran is made from sections of aluminum mast extrusion. There's a slot in the edge of the extrusion. The sections of trampoline cloth have a piece of polypropylene rope sewed into the hem. That rope hem gets slid into the slot. That's how the cloth gets attached to the frame.

If your boat has no tramp at all and you're starting from scratch, don't worry.
These photos will give you an idea how the tramp used to be.
The grommets on the tramp are really massive. If you're making a tramp from scratch and don't want to mess with grommets, just sew a rope into all the edges of the cloth and lace around that.

Comments

[dchall8]

This is great! Where can the rest of us find that material? You said, "Trampolines get destroyed by UV from sitting out in the sun." I don't want to belabor this point but my blue, 1984 Hobie 16 tramp looks faded but nothing like your tramps. It's tight and in great condition. My theory is that sun tan lotions, tree sap, oils, and sun blocks are the culprit in the deterioration of trampolines. I should do an Instructable on how to tighten the tramp without getting bloody knuckles.

[TimAnderson]

The SUV poop in the air here in CA seems to weather most things really fast. A lot faster than I was used to in Minnesota and Massachusetts. You saw how gone these tramps were. Some things get almost etched away.

[stasterisk]

the SUV poop.. or the extra sunshine?

[mtlanderson]

Your boat instructables make me wish I were 50 years younger. What I can no longer do physically, I enjoy reading about. Thanks!

[LuminousObject]

This is cool. What kind of catamaran is that?

[TimAnderson]

Thanks! It's a hobie 16. You can get them for $0-$600 on craigslist, which is pretty amazing compared to the cost of sea kayaks. The cheap ones mostly need trampolines. I used to think a lattice of sticks was better, but it's too hard on your knees when you duck the boom, so now I prefer a tramp for a cat.
To see the lattice of sticks method, check out the instant kiteboat

[LuminousObject]

If our cats tramp ever needs replacing, I'll try this. And as for ducking the boom, I learned the hard way why it is called the boom. I really enjoy all of your boat instructables. Keep them coming!

[Yerboogieman]

On the new trampolines, you could probably put grommets on them so it doesn't tear one by accident.