Wharram catamarans - are they better than the rest?

Poignard

Poignard

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I have never fancied a catamaran but, if I did, I'd be tempted to go for a Wharram design because they look more seaworthy than most cats, although the accomodation looks a bit cramped. Are they the most seaworthy type?

[offstage: Sounds of buzzing from disturbed hornets' nest]
 
You do like to stir things up!
Or try to....
I wouldnt necessarily say that they are inherently more 'seaworthy' than other designs, although James W. would (and does).
He used to claim that no ocean going Wharram has flipped yet - I hope that this is still the case. There is a lot of sense and experience in James W's rationale, however I think that other catamaran designs have progressed a long way in the meantime since the Wharrams first came about.
For example, Richard Woods started off working for James W, sailed transatlantic with him on Tehini in the mid '70's, and then went on to design a range of catamarans himself which generally seem to have pretty good seaworthiness characteristics.
And there are many production multihulls with a good track record for ocean passages.
 
The early ones have trouble sailing out of sight on a very dark night compared to cats designed in the 15 years.

As for seaworthiness, people have sailed 16 footers from the states so what is seaworthy? if you have a good run you are untested.

Sea kindliness and general handling on the other hand can be established, the early Warrams would not point to wind very well, if at all with some skippers.

Our own Cat was sailed to Oz from the USA but that does not make her a blue water cat, far from it, I would like more clearance between the hulls than I have for starters.

Avagoodweekend......
 
I had one for seven years, it was certainly seaworthy enough, it was a Pahi 31. Like you say the accomodation is a lot less than you would expect on a 31 footer but there is a lot less windage than more modern designs.
The thing with Wharrams is that being home built they can come with some not to design modifications, not all for the better. There were more combinations of rig than there were designs as well and this may have contributed to the lack of windward ability in some cases.
 
they might look more seaworthy to you, but i'd buy a wood's one in preference to a wharrham.

why, a wood's with dagger boards will point much better, important for sailing away from trouble. pull the board up and it will never flip over.

the wood's underwater shape is better, less wetted area, so faster.
 
The Wharrams all come to bits. You can then be truly independent of cranes etc.

I also think that the ideas seem best suited for the Pacific where lots of enclosed accomodation is not as important as it is here on the North Sea. Otherwise I would have had one.
 
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I also think that the ideas seem best suited for the Pacific ..

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Funny you should say that. The only one I ever saw was on the visitors pontoon at the Folly Inn and I remember thinking how out-of-place and exotic it looked amongst the usual Solent weekender fleet; like a South Sea Islander walking down Piccadilly. I never saw her crew but I would not have been surprised to see them barefoot wearing battered straw hats!
 
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I also think that the ideas seem best suited for the Pacific ..

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Funny you should say that. I would not have been surprised to see them barefoot wearing battered straw hats!

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If you take JW seriously, its not just bare feet - bare everything else as well.... though perhaps not at the Folly! He went transat with two women - one in each hull, moving from one to the other. He reckoned it worked very well, but did not report on the ladies' views on the matter!

Having owned a Wharram - no they are definitely not 'better'. They are different, but both contemporary and more recent designs leave them standing - in both senses.

I disposed of mine quite quickly. The design might work quite well in Polynesian sunshine and blue seas - but most emphatically not in the cold grey waters of the English Channel!

It only held one record in my book: it was the shortest time I ever owned a boat before wanting to sell it on! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
On the other hand I know many people who will never part with theirs for love nor money, so definitely horses for courses. Personally would not suit me, though I wouldn't mind their performance.

Try asking your question here, some very knowledgeable people use this site

http://www.themultihull.com/forum/

You will have to register first though.
 
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