Bluewater Boating: Is Wharram 38 A Good Choice?

The Wharram 38 is a self-build sailing catamaran inspired by Polynesian double-hulled boats. It features a deck pod that provides shelter for ocean cruising and includes a bunk for the off-watch crew. The Wharram 38 has an estimated building time of 40 hours per week for a full-time build and 15 hours per week for a part-time build. The boat includes two double cabins, two single cabins, a galley, a navigation station, and a toilet/shower. While some reviews praise the Wharram 38 for its safety and ability to handle big waves, others criticize its performance, particularly its ability to sail upwind, and its exposure to the elements. Overall, the Wharram 38 can be a good bluewater boat for those seeking a self-build project and a unique sailing experience, but it may require modifications and improvements for extended bluewater cruising.

The Wharram 38 is an excellent family cruising boat

The Wharram 38 is designed for ocean crossings and live-aboard space for a crew of up to six. The boat is an excellent low-cost option for a family, with simple but adequate accommodation. The Wharram 38 is not a high-cost, luxury boat, but rather an elegant, versatile, 'double canoe' sailing boat that provides basic comfort for 'Living on the Sea'.

The Wharram 38 is part of the TIKI range of self-build sailing catamarans, inspired by the double canoes of the Polynesians. The TIKI range offers car-trailerable coastal trekkers as well as long-term live-aboards. The larger TIKI designs of 30ft and over are capable of longer voyages and ocean crossings. They are designed to be less costly to build by using appropriate wood/epoxy technology and eliminating expensive metal fittings.

The Wharram 38 is a great choice for a family looking for a cruising boat that is both versatile and affordable. With its spacious and functional design, the Wharram 38 provides an excellent option for families who want to explore the world's oceans.

It has two double cabins, two single cabins, a galley, a navigation station and a toilet/shower

The Wharram Tiki 38 is an excellent family cruising boat. Its interior comprises two double cabins, two single cabins, a galley, a navigation station, and a toilet/shower. This makes it ideal for family cruising, with ample space for everyone to have their own privacy and comfort. The galley provides a dedicated space for meal preparation and dining, while the navigation station offers a functional area for planning and monitoring the journey. The toilet and shower facilities ensure that passengers can maintain their hygiene and comfort throughout the voyage.

The Tiki 38's flexispace concept emphasises not just the physical living area but also the "mind space" of those on board. This means that, in addition to the generous living quarters, the boat is designed to promote a sense of mental well-being and comfort for its passengers. The deckpod further enhances the liveaboard experience by providing sheltered steering and easy access to and from the water.

The Tiki 38's interior layout offers versatility and functionality. The two double cabins provide ample space for couples or larger groups, while the single cabins can accommodate individuals or be used for additional storage. The galley is equipped with the necessary amenities to prepare and serve meals, and the navigation station allows for efficient planning and monitoring of the voyage. The toilet and shower facilities ensure that passengers can maintain their personal hygiene and comfort during extended periods at sea.

The Wharram Tiki 38's interior configuration strikes a balance between privacy and communal spaces. The separate cabins provide passengers with their own private retreats, while the galley and navigation station serve as central gathering areas. The toilet and shower facilities offer additional privacy and convenience. Overall, the interior layout of the Tiki 38 enhances the liveaboard experience, making it a comfortable and well-appointed family cruising boat.

The Wharram Tiki 38's interior, with its two double cabins, two single cabins, galley, navigation station, and toilet/shower, exemplifies the boat's attention to detail and focus on functionality. The layout provides a comfortable and versatile living space for families or groups, ensuring that everyone has their own private area while also offering communal spaces for gathering and socialising. The galley and navigation station are well-equipped and functional, contributing to the overall liveaboard experience that the Tiki 38 offers.

It is not great at sailing to windward

The Wharram 38 is not great at sailing to windward. This is due to the absence of centreboards and the low-tech rig, which make it difficult for the boat to sail against the wind. The Wharram 38 is also affected by hobby horsing, which occurs when a wave hits the low-volume ends of the boat, causing the bow to rise and the stern to sink. This issue is common among boats with a low prismatic coefficient.

The Wharram 38's performance can be improved by adding centreboards or similar features to enhance windward performance. Some owners have also modified their rigs to improve windward performance. For example, the owner of a Wharram Pahi 42 improved windward performance by installing a conventional Bermudan cutter rig with a fully battened mainsail.

The Wharram 38's design is inspired by Polynesian double-hulled sailing craft. The hulls are connected by lashed baulks of timber, and the platform between them is slatted to prevent slamming and allow water drainage. The Wharram 38's hulls are V-shaped, with a narrow beam-to-length ratio, making them slim and fast. While the Wharram 38 is not the best at sailing to windward, it handles big waves with ease and is considered extremely seaworthy.

It is a big task to build a Wharram 38

Building a Wharram 38 is a big task. The boat is designed for blue-water sailing and has a spacious interior with two double cabins, two single cabins, a galley, a navigation station, and a toilet/shower. It also has good storage areas in the bow and stern. The deckpod provides good shelter when cruising and includes a bunk for the off-watch crew. Forward of the deckpod is 26 square metres of safe, usable deck space.

The Wharram 38 is a self-build boat, inspired by Polynesian double-canoes. The building plans are detailed and some builders have described them as a course in boat-building. The boat is built shell-first, instead of frame-first, and the plans supply a building sequence as a book of large 3D drawings of all the plywood parts and overall construction details, drawn to scale. The Wharram approach goes beyond simple boat design – the concept of ‘Flexispace’ puts emphasis on not just the physical living area, but also the ‘mind space’ of those on board.

The Wharram 38 uses epoxy/glass stitch & glue techniques. The building time estimate is 40 hours per week full-time or 15 hours per week part-time. The building site and tools available will affect construction time. A good covered shelter with power lines for hand-held power tools will enable faster building than an open site without power, using only hand tools.

The Wharram 38 is not a high-cost, luxury boat, but an elegant, versatile, ‘double-canoe’ sailing boat, providing basic comfort for ‘Living on the Sea’. Builders can keep costs down by recycling old wood, hunting around scrap-yards and going to boat jumbles. However, it is important not to compromise on the quality of epoxy and glass cloths.

Building a Wharram 38 is a big task, but the detailed plans, versatility of the design, and potential for cost-savings make it a rewarding project for those with the necessary skills and time.

Wharram 38s are not great at sailing upwind

The design's low prismatic coefficient is often cited as a reason for its lacklustre upwind ability. This means that the ends of the boat have low volume, so when a wave hits, the bow rises while the stern sinks, leading to a hobby horse effect. Additionally, the lack of centreboards or similar features further hinders its windward performance.

The Wharram 38's upwind performance is comparable to that of other catamarans, and some owners have made modifications to improve its capabilities. For example, the owner of a Wharram Pahi 42 mentions that they have improved their boat's upwind performance by installing a conventional Bermudan cutter rig with a fully battened mainsail. They also note that tacking requires careful timing, using the backed foresails to bring the boat around.

While the Wharram 38 may not excel in sailing upwind, it has other strengths that make it a popular choice for cruisers. Its seaworthiness and ease of handling in big waves are well-regarded, and the flexibility of its design allows owners to modify the boat to suit their needs.

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