Advice sought on Wharram cats and self-building (in general) *n0ob*

[boatowl]

Hi YBW forum-goers!

Thinking about embarking on a Wharram catamaran self build (~40ft) as a gift to myself on my 30th bday in January 2014. A number of circumstances have come together, presenting me with a self-build opportunity - something I'm keen to grab with both hands, as a home.

I have the following:

- land to build upon, permission, tools.
- voluntary help (trades experience, *some* boatbuilding experience).
- no sailing experience (troll disclaimer: RYA courses Spring '14, ocean-crossing friends, time on board).
- patience.

The more I examine the photographs, and read success stories, the more achievable and realistic is seems. Yes it would be a first build, but everybody has to start from where they are, and with what they've got.

What I'm not looking for:

- scoffing reminders about sailing experience, or mooring fees.
- references to train wreck projects (unless it's a tip on how to avoid a pitfall).
- suggestions to consider if 'living aboard is really for me'.

It would be really great to hear constructive comments from other self builders and liveaboards:

- with experience of Wharram builds (and/or - alternatives).
- who know any Wharram builders and might have some anecdotal advice on projects.

Having looked into boat ownership, and even project boats, it seems that self building is the route for me. I'm confident in my project management and craftsmanship abilities, and believe I'm approaching this as a positive life move. Working from home, moored, with occasional sailing (when learned).

I trust my own workmanship, learning abilities, and accept a challenge lies ahead. Hopefully it sounds realistic to YBW members also (among whom I notice a few catamaran owners and self builders in their own right).

That said, please reassureme that the YBW forum is a good place to start asking questions.

 

[rustybarge]

Dear Mr Owl,
I applaud your geuine enthusiasm, but it will fall on deaf ears in these forums. The forumites around here only own branded products from the bling merchants of one-upmanship, Mrs Buckets of The boating world, The Delboys of gold taps and underwater lighting and swim platforms, radar arches and bow thrusters.

Just guessing it's not where you're coming from!

I'm a Cat person like you, so I suggest you try this forum:http://www.multihulls4us.com/forums/index.php

Kindest regards,
Peter.

 

[saltylegs]

sort of fancied a Wharram but never had the balls so settled on a small mono called a Sweet pea (google it) but keep us posted lots of good info on this site.

best of luck

 

[Tranona]

Not wishing to sound too negative but you will find little recent experience of successful home building. Killed off by a mixture of bureaucracy, cost but most of all by the availability of large numbers of existing boats of all types available at a fraction of the cost of DIY.

However as suggested you might have more luck with the multihull forum and through Wharram himself.

 

[saltylegs]

as above buts here's one I made earlier (2009) not a great photo and old cut down sails but hee hoo.
http://www.fyneboatkits.co.uk/photo...mall-light-cabin-cruiser-plans-home-built.jpg

 

[DownWest]

A few thoughts (as a homebuilder with two on the go, don't ask...)
Is your build space close to home? If not, it will multiply the time. My boat shed is 10mtrs from the back door.
Re the RCD, if you do not sell it within five years of first use (as in launched) then you do not have to get it certified.
Later Wharrams have roomier hulls, but are slightly more complex to build with extra chines. I would definatly go this route as they perform better.

Build a small dinghy to get the feel, say around 8/10ft. It could be the tender for the Big Build, and, if with a rig, you can get some sailing practice.

Builders do it because they like building. As Tranona points out, if you want to sail, go buy a boat. Building a 40fter will cost several times buying one, esp a home built Wharram as they do not have high resale value.

There is still nothing like sailing a boat that you have built yourself.

There was a 33ft steel boat on 'the bay' last week. Had been round the world, well know designer, professional built. Equipped and ready to go, pretty too. It didn't reach it's reserve of £8K.


Little story:
Way back in the 70s, I was between cars and need some quick transport. Heard of a 2CV for sale, so off to N. Norfolk and found a musician, living in a caravan on a farm. He was building a 40ft Warram to go sailing with his wife and toddler. The farmer had let him use a barn and he had one hull built. First time he had built anything, let alone a boat and no sailing experience. He was having trouble reading the plans, so I ran through them with him for a couple of hours and wished him luck. I hope the plans are better now, as I was surprised how well he had done so far, on what I thought were a bit crude. Normally, one hull would be not far on a cat, except that Wharrams then were not much more than two hulls lashed together. I never heard anthing more, but hoped he succeeded. ( The car wouldn't start, but went fine after I rebushed the carb, best £10 I ever spent!)
DW

 

[rustybarge]

A few thoughts (as a homebuilder with two on the go, don't ask...)
Is your build space close to home? If not, it will multiply the time. My boat shed is 10mtrs from the back door.
Re the RCD, if you do not sell it within five years of first use (as in launched) then you do not have to get it certified.
Later Wharrams have roomier hulls, but are slightly more complex to build with extra chines. I would definatly go this route as they perform better.

Build a small dinghy to get the feel, say around 8/10ft. It could be the tender for the Big Build, and, if with a rig, you can get some sailing practice.

Builders do it because they like building. As Tranona points out, if you want to sail, go buy a boat. Building a 40fter will cost several times buying one, esp a home built Wharram as they do not have high resale value.

There is still nothing like sailing a boat that you have built yourself.

There was a 33ft steel boat on 'the bay' last week. Had been round the world, well know designer, professional built. Equipped and ready to go, pretty too. It didn't reach it's reserve of £8K.


Little story:
Way back in the 70s, I was between cars and need some quick transport. Heard of a 2CV for sale, so off to N. Norfolk and found a musician, living in a caravan on a farm. He was building a 40ft Warram to go sailing with his wife and toddler. The farmer had let him use a barn and he had one hull built. First time he had built anything, let alone a boat and no sailing experience. He was having trouble reading the plans, so I ran through them with him for a couple of hours and wished him luck. I hope the plans are better now, as I was surprised how well he had done so far, on what I thought were a bit crude. Normally, one hull would be not far on a cat, except that Wharrams then were not much more than two hulls lashed together. I never heard anthing more, but hoped he succeeded. ( The car wouldn't start, but went fine after I rebushed the carb, best £10 I ever spent!)
DW

I'll second everything you've said.
I live on a boat I built myself,,it gives you a special feeling that ordinary folk don't experience; it's the old adage, you only get back what you put in. In the age of instant gratification, it's so nice to do something different. Building a boat is really like craftwork, stitch the whole thing together and keep your fingers crossed that it floats......exciting or what!

But...
Be very careful what design you choose. It's more about what the designer omits say, rather than the slick dream being marketed. The most important feature: living space; you'll be at anchor most of the time. Also bear in mind plywood and epoxy are very very very expensive things.....and you can only build in the summer unless you have a heated shed.

As already said, you can buy a good second hand plywood boat for scrap value, contrary to what you read in the specialist forums.

 

[bigwow]

Go for it, you may be better building a foam sandwich cat, more expensive to build but result will have a higher resale value and be easier to sell.

 

[TQA]

There is an old adage "FOOLS BUILD BOATS FOR WISE MEN TO SAIL"

Work out what it would cost you to build and equip the Wharram. Now do a search on Yachtworld and see what you can buy for that money.

The time to go cruising is now. Don't lock yourself into 5 to 10 years of boat building. Buy something [ A used Wharram is fine ] and go now!

 

[rustybarge]

There is an old adage "FOOLS BUILD BOATS FOR WISE MEN TO SAIL"

Work out what it would cost you to build and equip the Wharram. Now do a search on Yachtworld and see what you can buy for that money.

The time to go cruising is now. Don't lock yourself into 5 to 10 years of boat building. Buy something [ A used Wharram is fine ] and go now!

shucks....and miss out on all the fun of building.

 

[bluerm166]

This atlantic crossing by a wharram is nicely put together and will wet your appetite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=COFTwFRJlHY&NR=1

 

[Marsupial]

My pearl of wisdom would be to find someone with a Wharram and see if they will let you live on it for week - then decide how to spend your time and money, you may want to continue you may not - its your show.

 

[fergie_mac66]

A good few years ago we knew a couple near Fardon harbour (on the trent) They built and fitted out a cat, took them 10 years .... They had never really been sailing before other than in dingys .

. Finish It. Launched it. Took it down to the sea via the Humber . A few weeks later they decided they hated hated sailing.

Make sure you like sailing , because of the rcd and the home build image might be difficult to sell when finished.

Make something smaller first as already said by Down west try Dylan Winters Duckpunt build in 1week. Then a 16 foot day boat .Go and look at the inside of a 40 foot empty hull thats ready for filling, and see how much work there is to fill it . As said by Marsupial get out on one for a week . Might save you a few years of fruitless work. IF you do the above and still want to build one good luck to you .

In any case good luck to you in your endeavors

 

[PetiteFleur]

Hmm - this post brings back memories. Back in the 60's I was in a group of 6 who built a 46' ORO Wharram cat with the intention of sailing around the world. We built the boat and launched nine months later on the East Coast. Two of us lived on board for 18 months and then the group broke up and the boat was sold. This was in the days when Wharram cats were very basic with no modern equipment or mod cons. It was miserable living on board over winter on a mooring.
Go to the Wharram website and then visit their base(Deganwy?) and have a good chat with them. You'll be able to talk to owners and get a better idea of your plans and feasability.
Good Luck anyway and keep us informed of progress.
Send me a private post if you need more info.

 

[Croak]

How big?

 

[oldbilbo]

I've known the Wharram boats and the 'cult' for some decades, having sailed on several of them - including the maiden voyage of the prototype 63' Pahi flagship 'Spirit of Gaia'. Here's a pic of the excellent Tiki 46 prototype 'Peace IV', just launched and being fitted-out at Bristol, which was then sailed by her builder/owners Annie and Neville Clement across the Atlantic. They have sailed her year in/year out up-and-down the Intracoastal Waterway and out to the Bahamas, many times.

She was built on a farm near Bath and, from time to time, I lent a hand, some time, and some materials. There are many sources of info re Wharram cats, and one of them is < http://wharramcatamaransforsale.blogspot.co.uk/2010_08_01_archive.html >

I'm very aware that many hundreds have failed to complete their Wharram build project - and many hundreds have done so successfully, and gone on to sail the seas. There are plenty of enthusiasts for that 'out-of-the-mainstream' form of liveaboard sailing, but I believe that ALL of them would encourage you to do some sailing on one or two - especially getting some extended time aboard. One thing is certain - you cannot take shortcuts in build time and quality, and expect to have a reliable, seaworthy boat. You need to 'do it right'.

Some will point to remarkable passages made in a Wharram - such as the RTW and the Jester Singlehanded Transatlantic ( and return ) done in the Tiki 21 'Cooking Fat'. I point you to the remarkable seamanship which always accompanies such achievements. You need both a well-built and well-maintained boat..... and a very capable and experienced crew.

Perhaps the most economic and certainly the most pragmatic way is to buy or to rent one for a while. There are plenty available.

You need to be hard-headed.....

 

[Liz_I]

Hi YBW forum-goers!

Thinking about embarking on a Wharram catamaran self build (~40ft) as a gift to myself on my 30th bday in January 2014. A number of circumstances have come together, presenting me with a self-build opportunity - something I'm keen to grab with both hands, as a home.

I have the following:

- land to build upon, permission, tools.
- voluntary help (trades experience, *some* boatbuilding experience).
- no sailing experience (troll disclaimer: RYA courses Spring '14, ocean-crossing friends, time on board).
- patience.

The more I examine the photographs, and read success stories, the more achievable and realistic is seems. Yes it would be a first build, but everybody has to start from where they are, and with what they've got.

What I'm not looking for:

- scoffing reminders about sailing experience, or mooring fees.
- references to train wreck projects (unless it's a tip on how to avoid a pitfall).
- suggestions to consider if 'living aboard is really for me'.

It would be really great to hear constructive comments from other self builders and liveaboards:

- with experience of Wharram builds (and/or - alternatives).
- who know any Wharram builders and might have some anecdotal advice on projects.

Having looked into boat ownership, and even project boats, it seems that self building is the route for me. I'm confident in my project management and craftsmanship abilities, and believe I'm approaching this as a positive life move. Working from home, moored, with occasional sailing (when learned).

I trust my own workmanship, learning abilities, and accept a challenge lies ahead. Hopefully it sounds realistic to YBW members also (among whom I notice a few catamaran owners and self builders in their own right).

That said, please reassureme that the YBW forum is a good place to start asking questions.

Okay boatowl.

Google, Largyalo . Built from scratch by our good German friends Petra & Berti. She is the largest Wharram built.
Look at the info available and if you want further information PM me with your details and I'll put you in touch with them.

 

[Blueboatman]

Great advice from Marsupial re borrowing one ( perhaps somewhere sunny too?)

My top tip as a serial improver of perfectly good boats..Buy or make a beautiful wee sailing dinghy first, so you can reward yourself from the workload on those beautiful year-round mornings with a wee quiet sail, and come back reinvigorated..

Best of luck. Some of the nicest individuals I have ever met seem to have sailed Wharrams, and they do 'go', longways, cross oceans, up creeks and deltas....

 

[driesdej]

Have you built and sailed yet.
I built my Pahi 42 in Cape Town (5 years) and sailed it back to Madagascar.
Im still happy
Good luck
driesdej@gmail.com

 

[lindsay]

Picking up on the others:

1. www.wharram.com. look around.

2. Telephone James Wharram or Hanneke Boon and talk to them. 01872864792. They will triple your obvious existing enthusiasm

3. Go and visit them at Devoran, Truro, Cornwall

4.Look at finished models if there are any around. Make sure you do not want to buy one already near completed, at least

Go for it. Wharram cats are another world of boats, cruising and people..