Professionally Built Wharrams
This is an exciting and growing area in the
development of James Wharram Designs. Most of you know us as the producers of
quality Polynesian Catamaran designs for the self-builder. We are still very
much developing and improving our designs for those who want to self-build
their own boat. Over the years however, we have had numerous requests for James
Wharram Designs to branch out into producing boats for those of you who want to
buy a quality finished boat from a professional builder, rather than build one
yourself.
The move into " professionally built
" designs required a philosophical analysis on our part, as in the past we
have always focused on the "self builder". We knew that some would
accuse us of "moving away from our traditional market" or perhaps
"abandoning our principles". Even so, after much soul searching, we
decided to proceed. We see it as opening up a parallel stream of development,
rather than shutting off our current one. Having a range of professionally
built Wharram designs will, we believe, enhance the reputation and value of all
our well built designs.
Professional
Builders
We believe that it is important to have a
range of professionally built Wharram catamarans to support the continued
development of this type of craft in an increasingly restrictive and
bureaucratic building and sailing environment. In so doing, the issue of
enforcing high building standards became paramount, so that clients of
professional boat builders would be delivered the same quality Wharram boat, or
better, as we established with the Tiki 28 and 36 in our professional
"Wharram Built " yard in Cornwall in 1987-1992.
We now have several established James Wharram
Designs ‘authorized professional builders’ that meet our standards for
excellence: Andy Smith Boatworks in the
Philippines, Seascape in Thailand and Boatsmith, Inc in the U.S.A. Our fourth
builder in India, Viking Boats, still needs time to get established and will
focus on the Indian home market, before being available to supply boats to the
general yachting public.
Our professional builders have a close
relationship with James Wharram Designs, where we will assist the Wharram boat customer with their choice of
design and handle any design queries or modifications. It is seen as a
three-way relationship between Designers, Yard and Customer where at the end of
the day all three parties are proud of the boat built.
Andy Smith Boatworks, Panglao Island,
Phillipines
Andy Smith has a long standing relationship
with James Wharram Designs, beginning as a JWD apprentice in the 1980s and
later becoming manager of the ‘Wharram Built’ Yard in Cornwall (1989), building
the Tiki 28 and Tiki 36 designs. Andy has exclusive rights for the professional building of the Ethnic design the
Tama Moana - Child of the Sea (this design is however also available for
self-building). The yard also has the exclusive building rights for the Islander 55
and 65 designs, which are only available professionally built.
Andy Smith specializes in ply-epoxy-glass,
strip-plank and double-diagonal ply construction methods. For more information visit Andy’s website, www.andy-smith-boatworks.com or contact him at info@andy-smith-boatworks.com Yard Tel.:+63
385027104 Mobile:+63 9209606030
Photo gallery of Andy Smith Boatworks
Seascape , Phuket, Thailand
Seascape has been a franchised Wharram
builder since 2002 and has built many Wharram Tiki designs (from 26ft to 46ft)
as well as a number of their exclusive Wharram professional design the Pahi 52.
Contact Gunther Nutt at Seascape info@seascape-asia.com Tel.: +66 76
282236
Photo gallery of Seascape yard
Boatsmith, Inc, Florida, USA
Boatsmith is the newest member of the JWD
professional builder family, joining the ranks of franchised builders in 2008
after James
and Hanneke met Boatsmith’ owner David Halladay at the 2008 Wooden Boat Show in
Mystic Connecticut and were able to personally inspect “Abaco”, Boatsmith’s
outstanding example of a Tiki 30. In
2009 Boatsmith received the moulds and exclusive building rights for the GRP
Tiki 8 Meter. For more information
visit the Boatsmith website, www.boatsmithFL.com or contact David at david@boatsmithfl.com Tel.: +1 561 7440855.
Welcome to Boatsmith
Viking Boats, Mumbai, India
Rajesh Desai of Viking Boats has built a
Tiki 30 and Tiki 38 for the Indian market. They are still establishing their
yard facilities and will build for the home market for the time being. Viking
Boats website www.vikingboats.in
Welcome to Viking Boats
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