TELSTAR 8M
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 26.25 ft |
| LWL | 24 ft |
| Beam | 16 ft |
| Draft | 4.75 ft/ 1.5 ft min |
| Displacement | 2,800 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 6.6 kn |
About the TELSTAR 8M
The TELSTAR was designed and built by Tony Smith in Britain from the early 70's through about 1980. The UK TELSTAR production was somewhere around 200 boats - first there was the TELSTAR 26 and around 1977 the TELSTAR 8m, which featured a fatter/roomier main hull. There was also a TELSTAR 35 and a version of the 8m which had outer hulls which pulled in close to the main hull while the boat was in the water, but few were built. Tony emigrated to the US and set up Performance Cruising in Maryland. There may have been 10 TELSTARS built in the US in late 1980 to mid-1981 (serial numbers 250 through 259 or 260). The factory burned down in mid-1981, and all molds were lost (Tony started building the GEMINI catamarans after the fire). Type Year Hull #s LOA Sail Area Weight Comments Prototype 1970 001 26' 298 ? Entered Crystal Trophy MK 1 1970-1975 002 - 080 26' 340 3500 Std boat. In production 3 years. MK 2 1976-1977 083 - 171 26' 300 2800 Floats lengthened? Marina Version 1978-1979 009 & 187 ? ? ? Folding amas. Mk 3 1978-1979 172 - ? 8m ? ? Enclosed c/b trunk. Wider center hull. 8 meter (Std) 1978-1980 172-216 8m ? ? Standard 8meter. Heavier than later versions. 8 meterE 1980 184 + 8m 285/320 ? Economy lightweight. Tall rig (34') 8 meter/Std 1981 250-260 8m ? ? Standard boat produced in USA. T 36 1978 T35 (1 - 8) 35' 470 11000 A new TELSTAR 26 is now available from: Performance Cruising Inc. 7364 Edgewood Road Annapolis,Maryland 21403 410.626.2720 www.geminicatamarans.com
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the TELSTAR 8M yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 26.25ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the TELSTAR 8Myet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a TELSTAR 8M? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your TELSTAR 8M?
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Used sails that fit the TELSTAR 8M
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…