warp 18 catamaran

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Boat test from the Multihulls World #46 (june/july 1999)

At St Philibert in the Morbihan, Patrice VIVIENT and his team have reinforced their KL range with a new 18 foot catamaran featuring some very attracrive characteristics: the WARP. Big brother of the KL 15,5, this newcomer is definitely oriented towards the pleasure-boat market and will give and enormous amount of enjoyment to a very wide public...

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• Hobie 18 Catamaran

Hobie 18 Catamaran Boats for sale

Hobie 18 Magnum Sailing Catamaran

Lake George, New York

Make Hobie Cat

Model 18 Mag

Category Catamarans

Length 18.0

Posted Over 1 Month

18' hobie magnum catamaran for sale. It come with wings (magnum) and is also rigged for trapeze wires, 2 each sides. the wings are really nice bit if its really blowing and you want to push her you can fly a hull while on the wire. It is also rigged with a righting system/rope that pulls up under the shear when not in use. This is so much more boat than a 16 but not in an intimidating way. I sailed her solo often thanks to the wings. Unlike a 16 she is also still fast and fun with 3 people on board. The hull is equipped with dagger boards each side. The year is 1983Trailer is galvanized and is included. Main sail is sun burst and the jib is all white. I can step the mast and rig her by myself but 2 makes it much easier. I will show you or help you rig her up if you're local.

2006 Hobie Tiger 18

Beach Haven, New Jersey

Model Tiger

Category Catamaran Sailboats

For sale is my 2006 Hobie Tiger 18 on a load rite trailer. Both the trailer and the boat are in great condition. She is set up with a self tacking jib and comes with one main sheet, two jibs and a spinnaker. The trailer can be converted to stack two cats on it (I do not have the racks for this). This is a great boat that I unfortunately do not have the time to use. Beach wheels are included. Clean title in hand. Local pickup only. I will not ship. I only accept cash or direct wire transfer for payment. Feel free to ask any questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability.

1979 Hobie Cat 18 CAT

Napa, California

Model 18 CAT

18 FT. HOBIE CAT WITH SOFT SPOTS ON HULL BUT NO LEAKS. RIGGED FOR ONE PERSON WITH TILLER STAYS. SAILS AND TRAMP ARE GOOD FOR 4 OR 5 MORE YEARS. LOTS OF SPARE PARTS. LARGE STEEL LOCK UP BOX FOR STORING . TRAILER HAS LARGE WIDE TIRES. VERY FAST WITH ONE SAILOR. WILL DELIVER IN STATE $ 1.00 per mile KEN'S CEL 707-342-0885 PAY WITH PAYPAL

1985 Hobie Cat 18

Goodland, Florida

Category Daysailer Sailboats

1985 Hobie Cat 18 The Hobie l8 catamaran is recognized around the world as one of the finest performance multihulls. Prestigious events like the Championship of Champions and the U.S. Multihull Championships, both sponsored by the United States Yacht Racing Union, have been contested on the 18. More complex the Hobie 18 catamaran is designed for racing, but also makes an excellent cruising boat for three or four people. Pop on Magnum wings, better performance and more room for cruising. Tuning options are almost limitless. Symmetrical hulls minimize wetted surface and easily carry heavier crews. The large main and genoa drive the boat hard through any water condition. Road trailer reconditionedCall Ali    989 390 9182Too SeeLocated in Harbor in Springs, MI

2001 Hobie Cat 18

2001 Hobie Cat 18 The Hobie l8 catamaran is recognized around the world as one of the finest performance multihulls. Prestigious events like the Championship of Champions and the U.S. Multihull Championships, both sponsored by the United States Yacht Racing Union, have been contested on the 18. More complex the Hobie 18 catamaran is designed for racing, but also makes an excellent cruising boat for three or four people. Pop on Magnum wings, better performance and more room for cruising. Tuning options are almost limitless. Symmetrical hulls minimize wetted surface and easily carry heavier crews. The large main and genoa drive the boat hard through any water condition. Road trailer reconditionedCall Ali    989 390 9182Too SeeLocated in Harbor in Springs, MI

Great condition Prindle 18 catamaran beachcat FAST!

Berryville, Arkansas

This boat is FAST and great fun. It's a Prindle 18 catamaran, hardly used condition that I bought in Ohio a few years ago. It is ready to sail, needs nothing. Its hulls, sails, and standing rigging look and work perfectly. The mast has a small dent (unknown) that does not affect anything (shown up close in photo). Sails are still crisp and colorful. Running rigging is all Harken. It has an extendable tiller and kick-up rudders that work as they should. New stainless double trapeze wires and 2 seats. Trampoline is in good condition for its age (usually covered) but is likely original. Comes with trailer (newer tires, bearing buddies, and lights) that has a sturdy mast cradle. It tows invisibly behind my 4 cylinder truck, but also easily behind my Camry. Comes with newer sun cover. Delivery is available at $.50/mile anywhere. other tags: Hobie, NACRA, daysailer

2015 Sailbird 18

Satellite Beach, Florida

Make Sailbird

2015 Sailbird 18 18 FT (21FT LOA) SAILBIRD RACING TRIMIRAN. COMPLETELY RECONSTRICTED USING HIGH TECH CLOSED CELL FOAM STRINGERS, BULKHEADS, FLOOR, & SWING KEEL. NO WOOD ANYWHERE! 11'6" BeamSAILS: FULLY BATTENED SQUARE TOP MAIN SAIL ON 26 FT MAST, 165% SCREECHER ON HARKEN ROLLER FURLER, ON STAINLESS BOW PULPIT, JIB ON HARKEN ROLLER FURLER. SAILS ARE BY MAC SAILS OF STUART. MAC SAILS ALSO RIGGED THE BOAT. THIS BABY FLYS. VIRTUALLY SAILS IN ALMOST NO WIND VERY EASY TO SAILPLENTY OF STORAGE AND ROOM, BUILT IN COOLER. VERY LIGHTWEIGHT AND STRONG.BOAT COMPLETELY REDONE EARLY 2016 WITH AWLGRIP PAINT TOPSIDES AND INTERLUX VC PERFORMANCE PAINT ON THE BOTTOM. MANY EXTRASNew Spinaker, New Minnkota trolling motor also available SHE CAN BE FOLDED UP FOR EASY TRANSPORT IF DESIREDBASICALLY WHAT A HOBIE CAT CATAMARAN WISHES IT WAS !SADLY I MUST SELL HER. MAKE OFFERBOAT IS ON A CUSTOM LIFT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST IF NEEDED.321-536-5511 CALLS ONLY '

16' Prindle Sailboat

Commerce Twp, Michigan

Up for sale is my 16' Prindle. The main sale is multi colored and in very good shape considering this is not a new boat, the jib is solid Yellow. The Boats pontoons are in very good shape with no soft spots. The Trailer is Aluminum and also in good shape and has bearing buddies installed. I have not sailed in years but have sailed extensively on both this prindle and other sailboats. The 16 Prindle handles the heavy wind far better than a hobie and very importantly can be self righted when/if you flip it by just one person. This point can not be overstated you dont want to be stranded in the middle of the lake because you are sailing an 18' It will take a weekend to clean up and to do the intisl setup. On a prindle each rudder is raised and lowered manually and independantly of the other by two different lines, for a total of four four foot lines. These lines are about three to four feet long each. These lines are available at lowes or home depot in the rope section and cost a total under $10.00. It is easy with just a coat hanger to re-line your rudders in about 20 minutes and is part of good maitenance to do on who evers prindle you adopt. Besides this just a good overall cleaning and waxing much like you would your car. The trailer has Michigan plates but the tabs are expired. I contacted secretary of state today and was told that boats under 20' in Michigan do not have title but just a bill of sale, please feel free to confirm this independantly with the Michigan Secretary of State office. All the other ropes and block along with the main and jib sails and the boom, Mast and cables, have been stored inside and are in excellent condition. I am no longer including the trampoline so you will have to buy a new one. This is good because new trampolines are so much better than the original trampolines that came with these boats. The reason is you tend to slide across these tramps very often as you move from port to starboard under the boom and vice versa and nothing is worse than the original trampoline for this or a modern trampoline with burs/small inperfections. You also want a trampoline that will be smooth to slide across without any obstacles in the mat ie Straps, Gromets, Rope and in my opinion rope pockets. See Aromic Tarp Website for 16' Prindle Mats. http://www.atomictarp.com/catamaran_trampolines?id=catamaran_trampolines&bas=&categories=4 The prindle is at my home on commerce lake in Commerce Township, MI. It is loaded on its aluminum trailer in my driveway. $650 firm 248-266-2045 or 248-894-6387 Emailing is the easiest way to reach me, I check my email often thru out the day and can respond to any questions quickly.

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New Sails for a Multihull

• By Jennifer Brett
• Updated: June 27, 2018

It was about midnight, and we were barreling along on a close reach through boisterous seas in a gusty 20-knot breeze. I was on watch aboard a Saba 50 catamaran, and while checking the sail trim, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the forces at play — particularly on the massive mainsail. It’s impressive.

With these forces, the sails aboard a modern cruising cat need to be up to snuff. If you’re in the market for new sails, what are the details that you should be looking for? I checked in with sailmakers who specialize in multihulls to find out what they would recommend for a midsize ­production cruising cat, such as a Leopard 44 or Lagoon 42.

Let’s start with the main. The mainsail is the driving sail aboard catamarans, and a backstayless rig, which you’ll find on most cats, allows for a large amount of roach. These massive sails have different requirements from their cousins aboard monohulls, which impacts what materials and techniques will be used to build the sail.

“Due to the higher sail loads, we would go up to a heavier weight of material than a similar-size monohull,” says Tim Yourieff, of Neil Pryde Sails. “Also, multihulls tend to have very swept-back spreaders and shrouds, which tend to chafe on the battens when the mainsail is eased when sailing downwind. It is very important to reinforce the batten pockets where they come in contact with the shrouds.”

Zach Mason, a multihull specialist for North Sails, adds, “I would recommend a high-roach full-batten mainsail for daysailing and cruising. Reefs should be appropriate for boat setup. If only two reefs can be easily set up, the second reef should be in the third-reef location, with the first reef splitting these.”

Looking to improve your speed, especially in light air? “For customers seeking more performance, we could build a square-top main,” says Mason. “But that requires additional hardware to lower and raise the gaff batten. It’s important to make sure that the existing hardware can be adapted or new hardware can be installed to make raising and lowering of the gaff batten easy. Overall though, square tops offer better sail shape and allow the top of the sail to twist off as a puff hits.” This unloads the sail, without someone having to immediately ease the mainsheet or traveler.

Which sailcloth you choose is highly dependent on your budget, cruising plans and how you sail. “Cross-cut Dacron still offers the best value in cost and longevity,” Yourieff says. “We recommend using a fairly balanced weave Dacron, with big yarns in both the warp and fill direction, especially if sailing in high-UV areas. The sails will last much longer.

“If the budget allows, then a performance upgrade would be to make triradial sails in either a cruise laminate or a warp-oriented Dacron, which is now also available. Triradial construction provides ­better shape-holding control as opposed to cross-cut ­construction because the fabric threads are more in line with the loads out of the corners of the sails. If sailing in high-humidity areas, we would recommend the warp-oriented Dacron over a cruise laminate because it is less likely to become mildewed. The upcharge for going to triradial over cross-cut is approximately 25 percent.”

If you have an eye on performance, and a larger sail budget, consider going with a more high-tech option. Mason recommends North’s line of 3Di sails, which are molded as one piece instead of stitched together. “With 3Di sails, we can align fibers in the sail in the exact load-bearing directions seen in square-top and high-roach sails. This is not achievable with paneled sails because there will still be high off-axis loads using paneled sailcloth.”

As with most things, the devil is in the details. For sailors coming from a mono-hull background, Mason points out some of the things to keep in mind when purchasing sails for a cruising ­multihull: “Due to the high righting moment, the sails should be overbuilt versus typical monohull sails. The base material might be 50 percent stronger than a monohull of the same size. Corner rings and webbings need to be upsized as well. Seaming in ­paneled sails needs heavier thread and more rows. Battens need to be stiffer and more durable. Do not skimp on battens, because the mainsails are heavy with a large roach that needs to be supported. Batten angles should be optimized for easy flaking, and square-top sails should have a detachable head carriage. Furthermore, we recommend chafe protection on batten pockets for shrouds and lazy jacks.”

For headsails, many cruising cats have self-tacking jibs, which are a good choice for boats with shorthanded crews, but at a cost of performance. These sails are typically tall and thin, and can develop too much twist at the top once the course sailed is past a close reach. Sometimes vertical battens are added to help this. As for a genoa, Mason recommends that “the sail be built as large as possible because most cruising boats are underpowered, but it should have a higher clew for good visibility.”

Both sailmakers suggested adding an off-wind sail, if the boat doesn’t have one already. Yourieff recommends a screacher set to fly on a low-stretch torque luff rope on a furler with a UV cover so it can be left hoisted and rolled while cruising. “This sail will add considerable performance to the boat in lighter winds and when sailing off the wind in heavier air.”

Mason adds that “nylon sails should not have UV covers because the material stretches at different rates, making for a poor-looking sail. If you require a UV cover to be left up and stored, the sail should be low-stretch or a laminate equivalent. If your boat does not have a bowsprit, we would recommend a free-flying G-2 gennaker that can be flown from centerline or from the windward hull to get lower angles.”

Whether your boat is a high-performance rocket or just retiring from charter duty, adding new sails will improve performance and make your cat or trimaran easier and more fun to sail.

Jennifer Brett is CW’s senior editor.

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Published on September 23rd, 2019 | by Editor

Formula 18 Class: Evolve or Die

Published on September 23rd, 2019 by Editor -->

The success of one design racing rests largely on critical mass. There may be a lot of boats of a type, but if they are not in close proximity, convenient one design racing can’t occur. And if it isn’t convenient, it won’t thrive.

But what if different boat types, with similar characteristics, could come together and race on equal terms? The Formula 18 Class had that objective when the parameters were developed in 1993 to offer popular, exciting, safe, and fair racing in 18-foot catamarans.

The class’ further objective was to keep development under control, keeping it a non-foiler, and maintaining a good balance between cost and performance. By being open to any manufacturer, the competition keeps costs to sailors to a minimum… right?

While right in general, any class organization that has some degree of “openness” becomes open to efforts that try to build a better mousetrap, err, 18-foot catamaran. And once that happens, the effort to offer a level playing field tilts toward those spending money for the better boat.

This all came to mind with the pending launch of the newly developed Nacra F18 Evolution, which according to Nacra Sailing, hopes to improve on their previous boat – the Nacra F18 Infusion – to be the best all-around performing F18, over the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.

Why do it otherwise, right? When there were no Nacras in the top 20 at the 2019 F18 Worlds , and the Exploder Scorpion dominated with 8 boats in the top 12, it’s time to evolve or die.

Here’s the background on this new boat:

The design program of the Nacra F18 Evolution started at the 2018 F18 World Championship in Sarasota, USA. Morrelli & Melvin Naval Architects Ferdinand van West (2 time F18 World Champion) and Pete Melvin (Olympic sailor) teamed up to sail the Nacra F18 Infusion.

With Nacra Sailing owner and technical director Peter Vink’s coaching, the duo finished their first event in 6th place. Inspired by this experience, they brought back a wealth of data from the event which they applied directly to the drawing board. This is how Nacra Sailing teamed up again with their long-time development partner Morrelli & Melvin to set its goals in this ambitious project. These parties have a long history together, having done many successful projects such as the Nacra F18 Infusion which was launched in 2006.

This relationship also includes the development of the Olympic Nacra 17 which has changed the face of sailing by becoming the first Olympic sailing class to introduce hydrofoiling.

The hydrodynamic characteristics of the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape are completely revised and benefit from the latest design tools used by America’s Cup teams, analyzing the performance of dozens of hull shape iterations in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

Since their involvement in the last three America’s Cups, Morrelli & Melvin have invested in using NUMECA’s FINE/Marine CFD software for design optimization. Utilizing high performance computing resources and advanced performance prediction simulators to add fidelity to race model analysis.

Most notable, the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape design, has an aggressively styled raked wave-piercing bow with a horizontal hull chine running back into the transom.

This elegant solution cleverly distributes the volume and contour curvatures desired for each dynamic condition and delivers a unique compromise for both sailing upwind and downwind at different speeds. The optimized foredeck in front of the main beam and embedded beams into the hull add extra sleekness to this design.

There was a careful focus on the platform configuration, which features an updated longitudinal beam position to optimize the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic balance between the sailplan and the appendages. This has been further enhanced by a new high aspect ratio rudder design, refining wetted area, and updates to the hydrofoil sectional shape to the latest developments.

Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sailplan which features the regatta proven deck sweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail.

The Nacra F18 Evolution will make its F18 Worlds debut at the 2020 Formula 18 World Championship in Formia, Italy, and is available for order with first deliveries starting in February 2020.

Tags: F18 , F18 Worlds , Formula 18 , Formula 18 World Championship , Nacra Sailing

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Chat 18 daysailing catamaran with small cuddy

The Chat 18 is a safe day sailing catamaran designed for sheltered waters and is very simple and easy to sail. Even so, it is still a fun and responsive boat.

Comprehensive building plans cost GBP140 

Please click on the button below if you wish to buy plans. Note: You can pay using Paypal or with your normal credit card. 

 Kits will be available shortly from my US and UK dealers. 

The builder commented "Thank you very much for the perfect plans! I can't imagine how you do it, everything comes very nice together, resulting in a boat that is, in my opinion, both good looking and very useful for daysailing. 

As you can tell by the pictures, she is quite high on the wate r. 

Later: "Two and a half months ago our Chat 18 went into water, after six months of building, from buying plans to launching. How's it gone since then?

It's going very well! if there is just a bit of wind (Bf 3), it sails like a tierelier (an un-translatable Dutch word that Wikipedia defines as "expresses that something is going fast and / or well").  No problem tacking at all.

The cockpit and benches are wonderfully spacious and that is really nice during sailing. We have never been so comfortable on a boat. It's also nice that we can easily put our bags and cooler in the cabin.

Was it worth it? A winter long evening in a cold and damp party tent to build a catamaran of 5.60 x 2.50 m? Measuring, drawing, sawing, sanding, filling, painting and filling again ... Yes, it was worth it. We have never been on our boat as much as this summer. Just be nice outside for a trip or relaxing. The nice weather also helps. We gladly pack the cooler and invite children or friends.

The chat 18 meets the original wish. it is a pleasant day sailor, which is very stable on the water for such a small sailboat. and that was a condition for hanny to have fun sailing. ".

Note this boat has a used beachcat rig rather than the gunter rig that was designed. Photos below show it being built and are taken from the blog, see below.

You can download a provisional studyplan HERE and see a great builders blog here

http://projectcatamaranchat18.blogspot.co.uk/

It is 8ft wide so is easy to trail with no assembly needed. Indeed it will be quicker than most small monohulls to get from trailer to water, typically 15 minutes. That's because raising the mast is quick and easy, there is no keel to lower or water ballast to fill. Furthermore, the boat is a rectangular platform, safe and easy to walk around on when onshore while most of the gear and the sails can be left in place when trailering. The trailer itself is just a regular flat bed trailer, no supports or rollers are needed. The small cuddy offers enough space for simple cooking, with icebox stowage, and privacy for a porta potti. The cockpit seats are 2m (6ft6in) long so the integral boom tent means it is quite feasible for two people to camp on board. The rig features a gunter mast so it can be easily home built in wood using the standard "birds mouth" construction. The gunter rig also keeps the spars short to simplify trailing and rigging. Of course a conventional one piece mast can also be used, maybe an old beach cat rig?

The two full length battens increase both mainsail area and efficiency and allow the leech to twist off in wind gusts, while the "soft" lower part is easier to "read" and reduces rig weight and cost compared to a full battened sail. The engine fits in a nacelle for easy access and to increase manouverability. A 2.5hp outboard (or maybe a yuloh) is suggested for sailing, but up to 20 hp is possible when using the Chat18 as a motor sailer with speeds around 10 knots The Chat 18 is fitted with low aspect ratio keels for simplicity of both building and sailing, however daggerboards are an option for very shallow water sailing. The rudders are offset to increase the width of the transom boarding steps. The high freeboard, plus the protection that the cuddy provides, helps keep crew and passengers dry. The hulls have extra buoyancy aft to support crew weight (many small catamarans trim by the stern with crew on board). The bridgedeck clearance is kept as high as possible and it is "Veed" for extra stiffness and to reduce wave slap.

Latest News August 2020  

Erik's home built Chat 18 catamaran has just celebrated its second birthday! Erik reports: " We are still sailing, and very much enjoying the boat! I've had a new mainsail made, which made a huge difference. See the picture of the sail, the boat is noticeably faster. Last season I also bought a custom made cockpit tent. A lot of room inside and also less water in the cockpit.

Chat is a very comfortable alternative to the more usual open boats that are sailing on the lakes. Much more space in the cockpit, it stays comfortably upright, making the crew less nervous in a gust (which my wife highly appreciates), and there is space for shelter in the small cabin."

Please contact me for more details on the plans and kits. The former are available now, the latter has been delayed by covid, but they should be available by early 2021 in the UK.

I decided that a Chat 18 would be a fun boat for my wife and I to sail in the Plymouth area. So we had one built over the winter and launched it in late April 2021. Delayed because of covid lockdowns.

Photos show me on the first real sail. In 12 knots of wind top speed was 9.5 knots and 5.5 knots upwind. Very easy to manouver, fingertip steering, even at speed, and tacks easily from reach to reach.

As you can see, I am also using a cut down beach cat rig rather than the gunter rig shown on the plans. 

I have made a number of videos of our own Chat, which you can see here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7PbPvOm8lyerft0XzheKfQpZdcVZk2N

The Chat 18 was, in part, designed to appeal to those who, quite literally, want to chat as they sail along. So a sort of party boat under sail. 

Now that I have my own Chat I realise it may have greater performance than some would wish. I know I have a beach cat rig which is more efficient than the gunter rig I drew, but even so some may find the standard rig more than they want

Accordingly I have now drawn a smaller rig for those who are new to sailing, or who are less active, or even those who just want to chat!

Basic Materials List (approx, no allowance for waste or errors) 6mm ply 20 sheets 9mm ply 4 sheets Timber 2in x 1in 50m 3in x 1in 2m 2in x 2in 5m 1.5in x 1in 50m (can be 3in x 1in ripped in half) keels 1850 x 300 x 4off (laminate as necessary) Beams 4in x 2in  x 2.5m 5 off Rudders 3m x 8in x 1in 2 1.5in x 2m glass tape 150m 100mm (4in) wide Sheathing (optional) 60sqm 200g/sqm (4oz) epoxy 40kgs (polyurethane glue optional on deck stringers etc) screws 1000 18mm (3/4in) x no6 200 25mm (1in) x no6  st steel cs paint, filler etc as required

Please also see my FAQs pages regarding timbers, plywood and what Planed All Round (PAR) means

Demystifying Modern Cruising Sail Design

Sail materials and designs have come a long way, but all the choices can get confusing. Quantum's Dave Flynn demystifies the better sail options on the market and how to choose the right one for your sailing style.

It’s time for our semi-annual review of sail construction and material options. While most of this is well documented, an overview is handy, given the bewildering variety of ways available to build a sail. In the good old days, the whole debate centered on the weight of sailcloth you were going to use. It is a lot more complicated now, and you have to sort through configurations that can as much as double the price of the base model. The good news is that the sails are also much better. You will be blown away (no pun intended) by how much better your boat sails with new sails, no matter what the flavor.

All cruising sailors list durability as a primary design criteria, so, no matter how you build it, this is a given. Each of the design approaches we will discuss will be durable. Ease of handling and performance are next on the list. Performance in terms of pure speed is usually played down. After all, we are carrying our house around with us; how fast can we expect to go? More important are issues of control. How can we minimize weather helm and heeling and create a balanced, easily-steered boat? How can we make a partially-furled headsail or a reefed mainsail be effective? How can we make our sail handling systems work better? Each of these criteria comes down to good design and engineering backed up by one critical factor: stretch. Minimizing stretch is the key to maintaining sail shape, reducing helm, and heeling, and making sails versatile and easy to use. It also makes sails nice to look at.

This is where how's and what's of sail building come into play. There are three basic options: classic, cross-cut construction using panels of pre-made woven materials running luff to leech; tri-radial construction, where panels are oriented out of the three corners in an attempt to mimic the primary load pattern in the sail (various material options, again using off-the-shelf fabric, are available); and membrane (Fusion, Stratis, 3DL/i, etc.), where sails are built as an integrated whole with a custom fiber network using a variety of fiber types. As you as you move up the progression of sail construction, stretch is reduced.

Tried and true, woven polyester (usually referred to by the Dupont trade name “Dacron”) is how the majority of cruising sails have been built over the last 50 years. It is still the standard on small to medium size boats. Though tough to tell apart, woven polyester comes in a wide variety of grades, and – you guessed it – stretch characteristics define quality. All of the major producers have various levels. What makes the best, lowest-stretch option is a combination of ingredients.

First, all polyester yarn is not created equally. Some yarns have higher tenacity (breaking strength) and higher modulus (ability to resist stretch). The best fabrics use high modulus fiber in both directions (warp and fill). The second element is yarn size. Smaller is better, since it allows the weave to tighten, with more fiber packed into a given space. It is primarily the tightness of the weave that allows the material to resist stretch when pulled at an angle to the fiber (the bias). In a cross-cut panel layout, there is a lot of bias loading, so, in many ways, this is key to shape holding. Shrinkage also plays a role. As the raw, woven goods are finished, they undergo heat and pressure to help pack the fiber. More shrinkage helps tighten the weave. Finally, the resin finish that is applied in the final stages helps fill in the gaps and keep the weave together. More resin makes the fabric crisp and firm, helping minimize stretch, though it does keep the fabric from having that “soft and easy-to-handle” feel. Less expensive tiers of woven polyester use larger fiber bundles of lower modus fiber, less fiber, and generally coarser weaves. A woven polyester sail out of the best materials rates about a five on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the best) in terms of shape holding. Performance deteriorates relatively rapidly as resignation is flogged out of sails and UV breaks down the yarn. If durability is measured in life as a triangle, you should expect 3,500-4,000 hours of use. This is highly dependent on the amount of sun and flogging a sail is subjected to.

Orienting the panels out of the three corners means that the primary strength of the material needs to be in the long (warp) direction, as opposed to the short (fill), which you would find in a cross-cut sail. For the most part, this suggests a composite material that doesn’t rely on a tight weave for bias control and can use big straight yarns in the warp.

If you want to use woven materials in a tri-radial sail, the problem is more difficult. In weaving a woven material, the warp fiber is stretched out on the loom and the fill fiber is rammed through. The fill remains straight while the warp gets bent around it. This over-and-under that the warp is forced into is called “crimp.” Crimp creates stretch, since the yarn has to straighten out before it can bear load. This is why material woven on a loom are inherently “fill” oriented.

To make a woven fabric with its strength in the long direction, you want to eliminate crimp and increase the size of the warp yarn, but this creates other problems. The larger fiber reduces the tightness of the weave, which leads to more bias stretch. For years sailcloth producers have struggled with this conundrum. Until recently the best result was a balanced material that could be used in smaller, lower load applications. The latest generation of radial woven materials uses large warp yarns, or mono filaments, and overpowers the fill yarns in the shrinkage process, pulling the warp straight and forcing the fill to go over and under. This provides sufficient warp strength for higher loads, but the bias characteristics suffer. The hope is the more efficient tri-radial panel layout will minimize bias stretch.

Another way to add strength in the warp direction is to augment the weave with a high modulus, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMP) fiber (Spectra and Dyneema) inserted at intervals. Hydra Net, developed by Dimension Polyant, is the best-known of these hybrid wovens, but several suppliers now have versions. These help the high-load stretch resistance, though they don’t do much at low loads. The other downside is cost, since the material is very expensive. They make for a very rugged sail, since the UHMP fibers also have very high tenacity, good abrasion resistance, and excellent UV properties. There are versions offered for cross-cut construction as well, but these cannot take advantage of the tri-radial panel layout.

Composites are the logical answer to tri-radial construction. A fiber network of large, straight yarns with a warp orientation bears the primary loads. Exterior skins of woven polyester (taffetas) protect the fiber and provide chafe and toughness. A polyester film, equally strong in all directions, provides bias strength. Fibers can be of any type and range, from standard polyester right up to carbon and UHMP. Compared to a standard woven material, a polyester composite might have 20-40 percent less stretch along the warp and nearly double the bias resistance. A carbon composite might provide five times the stretch resistance. It is no wonder that, as boats get bigger and loads go up, these high modulus options begin to make sense.

The knock-on composites always have potential for de-lamination and mold and mildew. Modern composites have come a long way, and de-lamination is now a rare event. Mold and mildew still can grow, particularly in a sail that is left furled up in a warm, wet environment. However, internal treatment of the adhesives and exterior coatings have also helped address the problem.

The bottom line is that tri-radial construction improves shape holding and shape life. On that same 1-10 scale, you could be starting at a 6-9 (depending on fiber type). Just as important, a 4-year-old composite sail can look virtually unchanged, something that cannot be said for cross-cut woven sails that deteriorate relatively rapidly. Shape life will be dramatically better. Cost will increase 25-30 percent for a tri-radial option, up to 40 percent for a polyester composite, and up to as much as 50 percent for a high modulus composite. Part of what makes them more expensive is that, in cutting the triangles and trapezoids that make up a tri-radial, there is 20-25 percent fabric waste.

The ultimate way to build a composite cruising sail is to not be limited to pre-made materials and the jig saw puzzle of a tri-radial panel layout. On bigger cruising boats, this is now the standard approach. Membrane construction allows sails to be designed as a one-piece whole.

A network of fiber or filaments of any type and quantity can be applied in any direction to address loadings in a smooth, continuous fashion. Taffetas, films, or other custom surfaces can be used. Strength can be introduced to address reef or partially furled loadings. Though polyester can be used, typically membranes utilize high modulus fibers like aramids, Technora, Vectran, Dyneema, or carbon. As a testament to durability, this is the standard construction for sails over 60’ and super yachts, where size and sail loadings demand higher strength, and where ambitious sailing plans mean lots of miles.

On our performance scale, membranes top the charts at a ten. They are inherently smoother than a paneled sail. Fewer seams also allow for less water egress, so mold and mildew issues are greatly reduced. Costs are higher – typically double the cost of a base woven sail – and the degree of customization has a big effect. Highly specialized design tools are required to properly engineer the structure and intelligently get the right amount of fiber in the right places. It also takes tremendous investment in production facilities to create and laminate. Given these economic constraints, high-end membrane construction is limited to a small number of sailmaking firms who have the experience, personnel, and resources.

Performance Matters

No matter which construction type or material you select, you will find that the latest cruising sails stay intact as a triangle, and, more importantly, perform better as a critical airfoil for far longer than sails from previous generations. Just keep in mind as you consider new sails that staying in one piece is a relatively low bar to set. The high bar is how well and how long they will perform as a critical airfoil. Don’t kid yourselves that sail shape does not matter because you’re just cruising. With a limited sail inventory and the requirement for a long lifespan, making a great cruising sail is actually a much more challenging design problem. _____ This article originally appeared in the April 2017   Blue Water Sailing  magazine.

The Discussion

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Polish multihull specialist Sunreef Yachts has unveiled “next level” designs of a new luxury catamaran range measuring 18-27 metres.

• Rafael Nadal's Sunreef 80 Power yacht Great White delivered

Living space abounds on the latest concept, with both the hull and bridge deck utilised to “unlock a new potential for onboard comfort,” according to the builder. Customisation is at the heart of the project, with owners able to alter the living areas and guest accommodation as they see fit.

• Sunreef's flagship power catamaran emerges from sheds ahead of launch

Available configurations include the option to place the master suite on the sundeck to make full use of the panoramic views. Owners could also add a large alfresco relaxation and fitness area.

Other features include a large beach club on the aft deck, alongside floor-to-ceiling windows in the saloon.

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Owners can also from two configurations of the stern lounge, opting for a space that makes use of the entire beam or for an enclosed space with sliding doors for more privacy.

The news comes after the builder revealed the 29 metre Sunreef 100 sailing catamaran model in May.

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Anchoring clearance, standing rigging clearance, running rigging clearance, deck hardware clearance, chandlery clearance, safety clearance, selection process for determining the right size for your main anchor chain and rope.

• What Size Anchor Chain do I need?
• What Size Anchor Rope is compatible with my chain?
• How much Anchor Chain do I need?
• How much Anchor Rope do I need?

Select your Anchor Chain and compatible Anchor Rope size

• Find the column below that best represents your Boat Length Overall.
• Compare your displacement with the tonnage listed.
• If the displacement is greater than displayed in your column in the table, or the yacht is a multihull, consider moving across to the next column to increase the diameter.
• Consider the worst-case scenario for your anticipated Anchoring - this will dictate whether you go for the minimum required or the ocean cruising approach
• Select your Anchor Chain size first. The guide indicates the compatible rope diameter.

N.B. This table is a guide with columns based on the following:

• Top Quality Grade 40 Anchor Chain
• Top Quality LIROS Rope
• LIROS recommendation
• Jimmy Green experience and customer feedback

Anchor Chain Size Rule of Thumb

There is an old rule of thumb that dates back many years, which states a requirement of 1/8" chain diameter for every 9 or 10 feet of boat length - with approximate metric conversions: e.g. 1/4" now available as 6mm DIN766 chain would be up to 20 or 23 feet Yacht LOA, 7mm DIN766 chain would be up to 23 or 27 feet Yacht LOA, 5/16" now available as 8mm DIN766 would be up to 27 or 31 feet Yacht LOA, 3/8" now available as 10mm DIN766 and 10mm ISO4565 would be up to 34 or 39 feet Yacht LOA.

5/16" US Specification (8.7mm) chain is also available from Jimmy Green Marine, and the rule of thumb would be up to 29 or 34 feet Yacht LOA.

This rule of thumb is pretty close to the Jimmy Green Anchor Chain Size Guide, but it is probably based on Grade 30 chain because Grade 40 is a relatively recent advance for yachting anchor chain. Although modern yachts are generally designed and built with lighter, technologically advanced materials, they are often kitted out with a lot more equipment to add the weight back on, and the current trend is towards heavier anchors with much higher holding power, which will inevitably lead to higher loads on the anchor rode.

Grade 40 Calibrated Anchor Chain is 25%+ stronger than Grade 30 Anchor Chain providing extra assurance when conditions worsen and your yacht is caught on a lee shore.

An Anchor Rode comprises all parts of your anchoring system - anchor chain, anchor rope, and all the connections - the breaking load of all the components should be roughly equal - investing in expensive rope and chain will be undermined by an under-specified anchor to chain connection.

Decision-making factors for sizing your anchor chain and anchor warp:.

• Displacement to Length ratio, i.e. is your yacht relatively light or heavy for her length?
• Monohull or Multihull - catamarans may be subject to more significant anchoring stresses and strains
• Anticipated anchoring conditions, e.g. depth, seabed holding characteristics, the length of fetch and degree of exposure to prevailing winds.
• Your overall assessment of the risks involved (worst-case scenario).
• Weight and design of your bower (main anchor), taking into account the specification of your secondary anchoring system.

An Anchoring System includes every part of the anchor rode from the anchor to the bitter end: anchor, chain, warp, and all the individual means of joining it all together, e.g. connectors; swivels; shackles; splicing.

All the individual parts need to be comparable in strength. The Anchor System is only as strong as the weakest link. The increased holding power of modern anchors means that all the joining elements are subjected to higher loads than ever before.

Grade 40 Calibrated Anchor Chain  Splicing Compatibility with Anchorplait Nylon Rope Diameter:

Compatibility rests on two main factors:

• Break Load Comparison
• Physical limitations of the Rope to Chain Splice, i.e. the largest rope that will splice into the chain links, sit comfortably and articulate satisfactorily

6mm Grade 40 Chain c 2300kg MBL  Compatible = 10mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 2400kg

7mm Grade 40 Chain c 3100kg MBL ~ Downsize = 10mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 2400kg or Compatible = 12mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 3300kg

8mm Grade 40 Chain c 4000-4400kg MBL ~ Downsize = 12mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 3300kg or Compatible = 14mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 4400kg or Largest Possible for satisfactory splicing = 16mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 5600kg

10mm Grade 40 Chain c 6400-7200kg MBL ~ Slight Downsize = 16mm Anchorplait Nylon LIROS MBL 5600kg or Compatible = 18mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 7000kg

12mm Grade 40 Chain c 9100-9700kg MBL ~ Slight Downsize = 20mm Anchorplait Nylon LIROS MBL 8400kg or Upsize = 24mm Anchorplait Nylon, LIROS MBL 11800kg

Grade 70 chain is generally an all-chain solution because the largest possible rope diameter physically spliceable to the chain won't have the same break load capability.

Yacht owners frequently ask the Jimmy Green Rigging Team to splice 16mm Anchorplait Nylon into 8mm Grade 70 DIN766 Calibrated Anchor Chain. We are happy to do so on request, but the finished splice in 16mm is on the limit of articulation, and the splice will need regular close inspection.

N.B. LIROS 3 Strand Nylon has the same break load characteristics and splicing limits as Anchorplait, so compatibility will be exactly as described above. Anchorplait is more expensive but has valuable additional benefits: Flexibility, balanced Octoplait construction, behaves and flakes like chain, by far the best anchor rope for self-stowing naturally in the chain locker and emerging free of tangles and kinks when re-deployed.

How much Anchor Chain and Rope do I need?

The generally accepted guide for the length of your anchor rode – An Anchor Rode encompasses Chain, Rope and all the shackles and connectors – is 8 metres of rode for every metre of depth you will be anchoring in. This is referred to as the scope, in this case, 8:1.

This works for the middle range of anchorage depths but starts to look a little out of kilter as you approach either end of the scale e.g.

• 8:1 in 3 meters of water equates to 24 metres total rode length, which is possibly not a satisfactory anchoring solution in anything but benign weather
• 8:1 in 5 metres of water equates to 40 metres total rode length, which may be adequate for Inshore and Coastal hopping
• 8:1 in 20 metres of water would be 160 metres of total anchor rode, which would seem a little over the top!

However, Scope 8:1 for 10 metres of depth = 80 metres total chain and warp and this makes a good benchmark starting point for your final decision. For extended Offshore and Ocean cruising, consider increasing the scope to 10:1 on all chain or even 12:1 on a chain/rope combination. This particularly applies to anchorages around some Pacific islands.

Budget and the extra weight in the bow (chain locker) form natural restraints on your final decision regarding the total length of chain and warp.

Your anchor rode is your primary safeguard when anchoring overnight in a foreign anchorage so aim for the longest and best affordable option, bearing in mind the detrimental effect on your yacht’s performance if you overload the bow with too much weight.

Select from

• All Chain: Calibrated Anchor Chain
• Rope / Chain Combination: Anchor Warps Spliced to Chain
• Rope with additional separate chain: Anchor Warps Calibrated Anchor Chain

Do I need an Anchor Chain, Anchor Rope or a combination of Both?

For those blessed with a good windlass, all chain is the popular choice, limited only by your budget, the size of the chain locker and the disadvantage of too much weight in the bow when underway. Fifty metres used to be the norm, but 80-120 metres is much more prevalent today.

Where weight is a limiting factor, a balanced chain/warp combination may be the optimum solution, e.g. 50 metres of chain spliced to 50 metres of rope. The balance can be adjusted proportionally but shouldn’t feature less than 30 metres of chain. The rope component should be as strong as the chain and as stretchy as possible to absorb the shock loads endured in big seas. The rope to chain splice will restrict the maximum anchor rope diameter; see the compatibility guide above.

For anchor retrieval with no power or mechanical advantage, a disproportionate warp/chain combination may be advisable for retrieving the anchor, chain and warp by hand - Consider an extended length of stretchy warp with a relatively short piece of chain to ground the anchor and negate the abrasive effects of the seabed, e.g. anything from 50 up to 100 metres spliced to 5 or 10 metres of chain. Consider increasing the chain length and reducing the rope length if you or your crew can physically manage the extra weight.

The overall length of your rode, whether all chain or a combination, should reflect the depth and type of anchorages you will encounter and the degree of risk associated with your anchoring intentions, i.e. your reliance on ground tackle as a primary yacht safety factor.

An anchor rode comprising all chain with no additional rope will require a snubbing strop or bridle.

This will help prevent the anchor chain from coming up short with a jolt which may have worrying results:

• Jerking the anchor from the set position in the seabed.
• Delivering a damaging shock load to the chain or the deck strongpoint fitting to which the chain is attached if the anchor doesn’t budge.

A combination Chain/Rope Anchor Rode is the optimal arrangement provided the scope of the chain is more than adequate for anticipated anchorage depths and weather conditions.

The extra length of the rope extension will not only increase the scope but also provide valuable shock absorbing capability if conditions seriously worsen.

A second (kedge) anchoring system is typically recommended in addition to the full specification primary (bower) system.

A kedge specification can vary widely according to cruising intentions - from a full specification second storm anchoring system to a traditional kedge, e.g. lunch hook or stern anchor. According to the seabed, different anchors have varying degrees of holding power, so the option of a geometrically different anchor may be advantageous if the primary system is not holding. Traditionally, a second anchor system has less chain, more rope and a lighter stowable anchor - making the whole system physically easier to store on board and deploy when required.

Jimmy Green Marine offer a comprehensive range of solutions from leading brands for all your anchor rode requirements.

The Jimmy Green Rigging Sales Team are always on hand to help you with your selection process.

Shop for Anchor Warps Spliced to Chain

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• Nacra F18 Evolution

The evolution of sailing

Record-breaking winning design. The next step in Formula 18 sailing. (r)Evolutionary on every level.

Using the most advanced technology in Formula 18 sailing, the Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built to win – a sophisticated design combined with 45 years of experience make it the best all-round performing Formula 18 multihull, across the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.

The literal evolution in Formula 18 sailing, it’s the next iteration of the boat that won it all, the Nacra F18 Infusion . Using the same unique construction process, this catamaran will take you to heights in performance you’ve only dreamed of.

Usage Competitive One Design racing

Crew 2  Sailors

EVOLUTION IS THE SECRET TO THE NEXT STEP

The main purpose of the new F18 Evolution design was to build upon the unique pedigree of the Nacra F18 Infusion MKII  as the previous best-in-class allrounder. Taking all the best parts from its predecessor, redesigning its flaws, improving where we could, we’ve created a worthy successor.  The main visual difference is of course a completely new hull shape, but the real improvement is 

in the details. Built to push through in even the toughest conditions on the water, the Nacra F18 Evolution is truly the next step in Formula 18 sailing. Built upon a great legacy, it’s only a matter of time before the F18 Evolution makes its unforgettable mark in Formula 18 sailing.

NEW HULL DESIGN An already winning design.  The Nacra F18 Evolution has the same overall specifications as the Infusion MKIII , but incorporates a new hull design with reverse raked stems. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The hulls feature transom-hung carbon fibre rudders controlled by a tiller and dual retractable carbon fibre daggerboards. The rudders are a kick-up design.

CONFIGURABLE SAIL PLAN Next generation sailing performance.  Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sail plan which features the regatta proven Pentex™ Decksweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail. A tough polyester spinnaker, available in 3 colours and 2 types of different strength cloth, completes the sail plan.

Nacra Sailing strives to always be on the forefront of development. We don’t get it right all the time, but the F18 range has been a benchmark in design- and construction processes for decades, and the front line of box rule racing.  The Nacra F18 Evolution  truly reveals our DNA, everything Nacra stands for. As an early adopter of the since perfected Infusion process, our development has taken a rapid flight that allowed us to be on the bleeding edge of Formula development limits. And we’re unabashedly proud of that.   Not only have we poured 45 years of knowledge in this boat, we coupled that with feedback from pretty much all F18 legends and engineers, some of whom have since evolved to America’s Cup teams. From fluid dynamics to optimizing hull strength, to working with optimal sail shape and weight rules, ‘Scuderia’ Nacra’s 9th (!) generation F18 is built on a rich history of strife, success, hardship and perseverance.

• Nacra Users & Owners Manual
• Trimsheet Nacra F18 Evolution
• Assembly Manual F18 Evolution

Specifications

International Formula 18 Class Association

See all Nacra models

Shop all your spare parts and accessories directly from our online store.

Shopping for your business?

Do you order for a sailing school or club, a resort, or do you want to become a Nacra Certified Dealer? Contact Nacra Sailing to apply.

© Nacra Sailing INT. 2024

• E: [email protected]
• T: 252-489-3491

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Nacra F18 Evolution

$ 28,000.00

Description

The Nacra F18 Evolution is a racing catamaran built with advanced technology, sophisticated design tools and 45 years of experience. The primary ambition of the new Formula 18 design was to build upon the Nacra F18 Infusion’s unique pedigree as the best all-around performing F18, over the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.

Most notable on this F18 Evolution: the hull shape design. It has an aggressively styled raked wave-piercing bow with a horizontal hull chine running back into the transom. This design delivers a unique compromise for both sailing upwind and downwind at different speeds. The optimized foredeck in front of the main beam and embedded beams into the hull add extra sleekness to this design. The updated longitudinal beam position optimizes the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic balance between the sail plan and appendages.

Winner of the F18 Europeans, F18 Worlds & The Worrell 1000 Race!

Standard Configuration

• Designer: Nacra/Morrelli & Melvin
• Glass foam sandwich FRP epoxy resin
• Carbon daggerboard
• Carbon kick up rudders
• 1:10 main sheet system
• 1:16 Cunningham
• 1:4 Jib Cunningham
• Harken hardware
• Tapered Spin Halyard
• Nylon spinnaker
• Pentex sails
• Jib Self Tacker
• Wing trampoline with out kickers
• Fixed Carbon tiller extension
• Shroud and forestay with adjustable turnbuckle
• Foot straps
• Deck sweeper sail
• Adjustable trapeze system

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Nacra Euro Trax N15, F16, N17 & F18

14′ -18′ Catamaran Trailer w/roller

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Tel: 252-489-3491

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Wharram World

A global family of sailors.

The Wharram World circles the globe. Wharram catamarans have been built and are sailing in all the World's oceans and can be found in far away ports and anchorages.

With over 10,000 sets of Plans sold since the 1960s this is not surprising. Many of the builders and sailors of Wharram catamarans are now writing blogs about their exploits and publishing films of their boats sailing. Many have done amazing things with their boats. Some are offering their boats for charter.

This information is gathered here to share with people new to the Wharram World. Learn about what others have done, get inspired and start your own life of adventure on the sea!

Boat Launch Spotlight

Stories from wharram sailors.

• Lapita Voyage
• Polynesian Catamaran Association

Wharram Community On The Web

• Short Story Competition

Your Wharram catamaran helps you to connect.. The best part of our Greek adventure has been the people; the meetings; the new friends.. just wonderful. And having a Wharram catamaran really does a lot when it comes to meeting new people. Locals, fishermen, tourists... all ages.... they all get attracted to the boat. They all see it as a traditional boat, and they have so many questions. We have also had lots of old seamen and fishermen on the boat giving advice and tips on local weather and harbours. Truly amazing. We have learned a lot from these very skilled and experienced seafarers. And also here our Wharram helps; they see it as a proper seagoing ship. - Jens-Einar Storheim

Melanesia Uri Aha, Queensland

I was prompted to email you and let you know what a wonderful craft my Melanesia 16 has proven to be. Some of my adventures have been a little on the edge of a small canoe's capability but she hasn't let me down.

Building Kiski, a school project to build a Melanesia

I am a freshman at The Kiski School, an all boys private boarding school located in Pennsylvania. In my Survival Arts class this semester, we spent nearly a month piecing together the Melanesian Outrigger Canoe. The plans for the canoe were very easy to follow. The pieces all fit very well with one another to the point where we had no issues putting them together. Each of us had an enjoyable time learning how to build a boat.

Building Neuro, a Hitia 14

Work began in July 2013 with the delivery of the plywood and timber: Okoume marine plywood and two large planks of Mahogany. We worked on Neuro during the weekends and during our free time after work on weekdays. We only had few machinery so we did most of the work by hand. It was the most satisfying experience to see Neuro take shape as we progressed.

Storm Tactics On Wharram Catamarans

Don Brazier, Wharram agent in New Zealand and owner/builder of a beautiful 41 foot Narai Mk IV, has been collecting accounts from many Wharram sailors who have experienced severe weather at sea. He himself has made a number of voyages in the Pacific and encountered severe weather, in which he deployed drogue and parachute.

Letters from Tiki 46 'Peace IV'

The first Tiki 46 was built by Ann and Neville Clement, two experienced single-handed ocean sailors. Upon completion they crossed the Atlantic and now make a yearly migration up and down the USA East coast. Ann has written regular updates on their travels, interesting experiences and improvements to their boat.

The Katipo Voyage - Pacific Voyage On A Narai Mk4

This is an account of Don's latest voyage in the Pacific: "It was a wild, rough night but Katipo's bows rose to the large, steep phosphorescent capped waves with ease. It was like sitting on a roller coaster at a fun park but if you peered out from behind the shelter of the deck pod you were blasted by cold wind and spray."

Pahi 42 Mother Ocean's Lesson In Survival

"Survival is, as a matter of fact, Mother Ocean's middle name. Her talent for it is baffling: Being among an estimated 700 boats on the hard in Grenada in autumn 2004, she was one of the precious few to come out of the carnage of hurricane Ivan without visible damage, save one solar panel that came off at the height of the storm".

Building And Sailing a Tiki 38 In South Africa

"She had taken me 3 years to build in a warehouse in Durban, South Africa. I have not sailed a large boat single or short handed so it was with some trepidation that I took Dragon on her first cruise in December 2004 to Richards Bay."

Tiki 38 'Dragon' Sails To New Zealand

"Plenty of water has passed under Dragon's keels since I last wrote to you. In January 2009 Dragon and I left I our home port of Durban, South Africa for New Zealand. We had stops in St Helena, Fernando de Noronho, Forteleza and Grenada. Dragon has proved herself to be a magnificent boat."

The Wharram name is legendary.. Many, many thanks for all you've done for the global sailor's world of sustainable, practical, and beautiful sailing. The Wharram name is, and will remain, legendary. - Norm

The Lapita Voyage

The Lapita Voyage began in 2008, when two 38ft double canoes , designed by James Wharram Designs, based on an ancient Polynesian canoe hull-form and built in the Philippines, set out on a 4,000Nm voyage along the island chains of the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomons.

Their destination was Anuta and Tikopia , two tiny, remote islands at the Eastern end of the Santa Cruz Islands, where the boats arrived in mid March 2009 and were donated to the islanders for their future inter island voyaging.

The 'Lapita Voyage' was a major expedition in Experimental Marine Archaeology. It was the first exploration by Ethnic sailing craft of one possible migration route into the Central Pacific. The voyage was made entirely under sail without motors , using traditional Polynesian crab claw sails and steering paddles.

The Polynesian Catamaran Association

The Polynesian Catamaran Association has been a voluntary club for people interested in the designs of James Wharram since 1967. Due to a direct request from James and Hanneke an archive of all the past PCA publications has now been created, and made available on-line. We hope you enjoy reading all 75 of The Sea People magazines!

Community Discussion

For all friends and sailors of Wharram Catamarans. A very active Facebook group of over 7000 members. This Facebook group has taken over where the Polynesian Catamaran Association left off. Do join them.

Another very active Facebook group. Wharram Tiki design: 21' to 46'. Share your questions, thoughts, ideas, advice and stories. Sell your boat, or find a Wharram Tiki for sale.

A Facebook group dedicated to the smaller catamarans in the Wharram range.

Our forum is now closed to new submissions, but still contains a lot of useful information.

Facebook group for the HUI Wharram gathering in Florida, United States.

This association was born from the passion for sailing and the self-construction of original boats among some friends who live near Lake Bolsena. Facebook group.

A photo discussion forum for Wharram Design Enthusiasts.

Sales, news and blogs: A place to find information about James Wharram catamarans for sale, gatherings, launches, builds, blogs and links. This website is maintained by Boatsmith, Wharram's authorized US builder.

Builders and Sailors

Follow the building and sailing adventures of this beautiful self build Tiki 38 - built in Poland.

Photos of Wharram Hitia 17 catamaran ' Star Catcher ', by John Hughes. These photos really capture the spirit of adventure that the small coastal trekking Wharrams can offer.

Following a long time dream, I set sail in April 2019 in the south of France. My new home is a 26 feet sailing catamaran built out of plywood. The boat design follows the rule: keep it as simple as possible. This has the advantage that one is closer to the ocean and also that there are fewer and cheaper repairs than usually on a sailboat.

I have always been a big fan of self sufficiency, liked being outside of the main stream, and loved DIY projects. My mind got set for another big adventure that I think will change my life once again. I get highly excited about it and will be writing about it in more details here.

Melanesia being built at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) as a practical example of outrigger canoe building.

Building, sailing and maintaining Hitia 17 'Lilla My'. A great step-by-step picture blog.

Dedari Nyuh Kuning was built in the village of Nyuh Kuning on the beautiful island of Bail. It's a Wharram Hitia 17, a 17 foot Polynesian style catamaran in stitch and glue technique.

Documenting the construction and sailing adventures of a Hitia 17 beach cruising catamaran.

Shaun converted his Tahiti Wayfarer outrigger canoe 'Wilber' into a double canoe and travels around the Gulf intracoastal waterway.

Photo blog of assembling and launching Tiki 21 'Itatae'.

Adventures of a Small Green Catamaran.

Construction and voyages of a Tiki 21 in the Pacific northwest, USA.

A blog on sailing and maintaining a Tiki 21, San Francisco Bay.

Brad's writings about building and sailing 'Beto'.

Picture blog of the restoration and sailing of Hinemoa 'Tuatara', New Zealand.

Building a beautiful Tiki 26 in the Philippines.

Documenting the construction of a Tiki 26. In Portuguese.

Building a Tiki 26 in Mississippi, USA.

The construction and sailing of Tiki 26 'Tsunamichaser' in the Pacific north west, USA.

The story so far of Anette and Manne Gehrken and their Tiki 30 in Greece.

Rogerio's account of building 'TikiRio'. In Portuguese.

Photos of building and sailing Tiki 31 'JoJo'. Also included is information on building costs, equipment and materials, as well as logbooks.

Building a Tiki 31 in Crete.

Life on a self built Tiki 38 catamaran, built in England.

Aluna is a Tiki 38 built in California by Beat Rettenmund. He is using a Crabclaw rig.

Diary of a first time boat builder in Kent, England.

A build project in Canada.

Building a Pahi 42 in 18 months and sailing her in the middle east during the first Gulf war.

Documenting the building of a Tiki 46, France.

Projects and Expeditions

A home built Tiki 21 with a mission: clean plastic litter from the sea. 'Itatae' was built in Estonia and now sails in Croatia. Also includes a blog about the building process.

Rory McDougall entered Tiki 21 'Cookie' into the single-handed trans Atlantic 'Jester Challenge' 2010. You can follow progress on this blog site.

Rory McDougall discusses his solo circumnavigation of the world in Tiki 21 'Cooking Fat' in this series of audio podcasts.

The Tiki 38 'Mon Tiki' eco catamaran project is a self-sustaining, for profit business serving the summer visitors to Montauk.

Captain Kiko Johnson is a sailor and experienced boat builder specializing in traditional Hawaiian canoes made by hand. He is building one of the Child of the Sea - Tama Moana designs.

First expedition following the migration route of the ancient polynesians on two Wharram ethnic 'Tama Moana' designs. James Wharram and Hanneke Boon were part of this voyage from the Philippines to Tikopia and Anuta. In English and German.

Largyalo is an enlarged Pahi 63, she is bound for a round-the-world voyage of several years. Universities and Institutes are invited to engage and accompany research projects. Due to her self-sufficient energy supply system, this vessel represents an ideal setting for environmental projects. In English and German.

Organisation monitoring the health of the oceans and reefs of the world. Will be using an Islander 65 as mothership when enough finances have been raised. Invites other Wharram cat owners to join.

Planet Ocean is the latest project of Sonja Napetschnig and Tom Puchner. They have enabled thousands of students and young people to discover and learn to love and respect the sea. At the heart of Planet Ocean is our 52ft Wharram catamaran - the only carbon neutral, self sufficient, noiseless diving boat in the world.

Exploring the coast and islands of the curious Sea of Cortez on a Tahiti Wayfarer - to get to know the waters, landscapes, wildlife, and people that make the area so special.

Dragongate is now telling the story of a family sailing adventure aboard a Wharram 26' Pahi across North America (by trailer) through Florida, across the Gulf Stream and through the Bahamas.

Blog by live-aboard sailors of Tiki 31 'Kahuna' in Brazil. In Portuguese.

Follow Glenn Tieman's solo adventures around the Pacific on his self built Wharram ethnic boat 'Tama Moana'.

Follow Peter, Alexandra and their son Finn on their round the world voyage on a 40' Narai Mk IV. In German.

Blog of a liveaboard family's experiences sailing the world. In French.

Follow the adventures of Ariki 'Piggy' from Vancouver Island to Hawaii, south to Tahiti/French Polynesia, and across Polynesia to New Zealand.

Sail Beluga provides a uniquely personal and relaxing way to experience the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of the Turks & Caicos Islands. Beluga is a 40ft sailing catamaran available for half and full day private charter experiences from Providenciales. What could be more romantic than sailing in the tropics on your own private catamaran?

Catalpa is a beautifully built Pahi 42. Cyril and Manon run day charters out of Port Louis in Guadeloupe. They can take small or bigger groups of people for day sails with lunch. Hanneke has sailed on Catalpa on one of their day charters and can recommend it. If you are on holiday in Guadeloupe and would like to experience sailing a Pahi 42, this is an ideal opportunity. Catalpa was built in Germany in 1995 to a very high standard. Photographs of her taken in 2003 in Corfu can be seen in our gallery .

Join us on 'Taboo' and enjoy a morning full of discoveries on the north coast of Moorea. You'll be guided trough the unmistakable Cook and Opunohu bays to admire their lush tropical vegetation. You'll enjoy the tranquility, gliding over the various shades of the blue lagoon, navigating along the reef for a panoramic view of Moorea.

Cruise on a Wharram Pahi 42.

If you like the idea of a yacht charter during which you will find uncrowded cruising grounds, a great variety of stunning scenery, a balmy tropical climate, blue water, white sandy beaches, brilliant snorkeling, fabulous food, a very friendly welcoming population and lots more, then you really should consider a sailing charter on the Andaman coast of Thailand.

Sailing around the archipelago of Lamu, between beautiful wild islands, lagoons and coral reefs, on a Wharram Pahi 63 'Kaskazi'.

Respect for the brilliance of a holistic approach in Wharram design.. Hello, the purpose of this email is to express my respect and compliments to James and Hanneke. I have been researching their designs for two years now and I have read many blogs and comments and seen many pictures and videos from builders and sailors. I recently received building plans for a Tiki 26 #454. I bought my first sailing Dinghy when I was 14 years old and now that I am 62 I am still sailing nearly everyday in my Prindle 15 or my Tornado catamaran on the northsea coast at Ter Heijde about 5km north of Hoek van Holland in The Netherlands. I understand sailing boats and catamarans better than nearly everyone around me and so I understand the many challenges and pitfalls and scams in designs. Reading on the internet I see even experienced builders lack the knowledge to fully respect the brilliance of a holistic approach in design architecture and the high standards of safety in the Wharram designs. Therefore I wish to express my gratitude and respect to James and Hanneke. - Alfred Daniels

The Short Story Competition

In 2004, we ran a storing writing competition. Due to the very high standard of most of the entries submitted, the three finalists were very close in the final scores. Therefore, after much deliberation, we decided to award prizes to all three finalists for their excellent stories. The winner's prize was awarded to the two entries that tied for first place and a 'runner up' prize to the story that scored so close to the winners.

Winner #1 - Thomas Hembroff, Canada

For his outstanding story: ' Stick To The Plans '. Congratulations Tom, you have awarded one of two winner's prizes: a set of Tiki 21 Building Plans and a Winner's Award Certificate signed by Ruth Wharram.

Tom's story ' Stick to the Plans ', is set in the 1970's during the 'shakedown' voyage of the Ariki 'Piggy'. Tom and his brother Don, after having completed the building of their boat they set off on a voyage around the world. All goes well and they pick up a hitchhiker, an artist, who wants a ride to their next destination, New Zealand. The voyage to New Zealand is a very dramatic and dangerous leg of their journey. The fact that their fate hangs on a knife edge is revealed through the reactions of their artistic passenger. Read this well-crafted story to share the excitement of this harrowing voyage.

Winner #2 - Loretta M. Thwaite, Australia

For her outstanding story: ' The Wharram Hunt '. Congratulations Loretta, you have been awarded the other winner's prize: a set of Tiki 21 Building Plans and a Winner's Award Certificate signed by Ruth Wharram.

Loretta's story ' The Wharram Hunt ' is a set in a small coastal town on tropical Queensland, Australia. The story is told in an amusing and sensitive way of a woman, who having settled in this town, is invited out for a cruise by a middle-aged friend and his two buddies. She is not overly impressed by the comfortable cruise on the pleasure craft, but is subsequently introduced to a new perspective on boats by another friend who dreams of building a Wharram. The intriguing story then unfolds of the 'hunt' for a glimpse of a finished Wharram so that the dream can be distilled into the purchase of a set of plans and the commencement of the building of a Polynesian catamaran. On the way friendship blossoms into something much deeper as the two go about fulfilling the shared ideal of a life together with a future vision of a sailing life aboard their very own Tangaroa.

Winner #3 - Rhisiart Gwilym, USA

The judges have decided to award a further 'Runner Up' prize for the excellent story: ' The Ice Bears And The Bees '. Congratulations Rhisiart, you have been awarded the runner up prize: a set of Melanesia Outrigger Building Plans and an Award Certificate signed by Ruth Wharram.

Rhisiart's story ' The Ice-Bears and the Bees ' is a set sometime in the future in a post oil-energy based world. The writer cleverly weaves the story of the coastal sailing community of the future into the story, narrated by an older member of the clan, about a trading voyage to lands where the clan has negotiated treaties for bee hive farms and the trading partners take their share of the harvest to trade for other goods. The tale of a young visionary member of the clan and his revolutionary new craft is woven into the main story. The voyage culminates in the visit to the land of the magical ice bears where the species is being nutured back from extinction under the custodianship of a myserious hermit. The theme of the revitalising of the natural world is symbolised by two events: the birth of a child to the young man's lover in the land of the ice bears and the release of bears back into the lands of the world. A good read.

There were ten entries received for the competition most of a very high standard. Thanks very much to all those that sent in their stories.

The judges for this competition were: Ruth Wharram , Steve Goodman (former JWD Webmaster) and Jennifer Weissel (Author of Running Down Rawana ).

• Seaboats Main

NEW BUILD - 18m Catamaran Workboat RT18

The RT range of vessels at Meercat Workboats are our Road transportable varieties, ranging from 14 to 18metres as standard with an ability to extend to 22metres built in our new facilities in Hythe, Southampton.  The standard 18metre is a twin hulled vessel, with the options to add additional hulls to extend the beam and deck area. The increased beam offers a significant increase in crane lifting, cargo capacity, whilst still maintaining its shallow draft, manoeuvrability and ability to be road transportable.

Vessel Type: Twin Screw, twin hull workboat Classification: UK MCA Workboat Code Area of Operation: Cat 2 – 60nm from safe haven Construction: Welded Steel

Dimensions LOA: 18.75m Beam Overall: 8.7m Depth Moulded: 1.75m Draft Loaded: 1.3m

Performance Bollard Pull: 5 tonnes Speed: 8 knots Cargo Capacity: 40 tonnes (Total inc liquids)

Propulsion & Manoeuvring Main Engines: 2x Doosan L086TIH Power: 2x 285hp (210kW) @ 2100rpm Stern Gear: 700 open props Steering: Twin Rudder – hand hydraulic

Tanks Fuel Bunkers: 2x 2.6m3 Fresh Water: 0.2m3 Black Water: 0.2m3 Liquid Cargo: 2x 9m3, 2x 12m3

Aux Machinery & Deck Equipment Generator: Beta 21kVA 415V 3phs Deck Crane: Iron Fist IFG450M6 1.6t @ 16.6m Deck Winch: NSW 10t tugger winch

As a well-proven design, Meercat can provide a number of examples of RT18 vessels working around the world in many applications, proving what a truly versatile design it is.  

The details of all vessels are offered in good faith but we cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. Any buyer should instruct their agents, or their surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to sale, price change, location or withdrawal without notice.

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Large daughter craft and small crew transfer vessel

The Wallaby-18 is a high performance catamaran that can be used as a large daughter craft on far offshore Service and Operation Vessels (SOV), as they will be used e.g. on Dogger Bank offshore wind farms. This prototype brings the suspension boats' technology to TRL 7. As a result to its rather large dimensions for a daughter craft, the Wallaby-18 is a powerful yet economic crew transfer vessel (CTV) for nearshore offshore wind farms. Passenger comfort, economy and carbon footprint of the WB-18 are stunning. It compares in wave performance to 24m - 28m catamarans but CAPEX, OPEX and carbon footprint are significantly lower (50%-60%) at same wave performance.

In the future the WB-18 will not be built as CTV but it will be the perfect pilot boat in rough sea state. It provides for a safe access and still is fast and economical.

• Roll RMS max. 3,0°
• Zero slip confidence level min. 95%
• Slip size max. 0,3m