Coastal Trekkers To Long Term Live Aboards
From the car trailable Tiki 21 – winner of the 1982 Cruising World Design Competition, to the Tiki 46, a spacious ocean cruiser or charter boat, the TIKI range offers car trailable coastal trekkers to long term live aboards. Although a Tiki 21, a very popular coastal trek design, has circumnavigated, we would not recommend this for everyone! A number of Tiki 26s have also made ocean crossings, but again this is only for the experienced sailor. The larger TIKI designs of 30ft and over are craft capable of longer voyages and ocean crossings. They are designed to be less costly to build by using appropriate wood/epoxy technology and by eliminating, wherever possible, expensive metal fittings common to modern yacht design.
On the larger TIKIs the ‘Deckpod’ offers sheltered steering and the ‘Stern Ramp’ provides easy access to and from the water. The TIKIs are boats you can work and live on. The Wharram approach goes beyond simple boat design – the concept of ‘Flexispace’ puts emphasis on not just the physical living area, but also the ‘mind space’ of those on board.
About Tiki Building Plans
The TIKI Building Plans, designed from the early 1980s till the present, represent a new phase in our presentation of building drawings. The first small Tikis were all built in stitch-and-glue ply and epoxy. This needed a different way of guiding the builder through the build process, as the boats are built shell first, instead of frame first. All TIKI building Plans are very detailed, which some builders have described as a course in boat building.
The plans supply large drawings, drawn to scale, of all the plywood parts and overall construction details. Some parts are given full size, to be copied on the plywood.
These scale drawings are accompanied by an A3 size sketchbook, which leads the builder step by step through the build with beautiful detailed sketches and numbered sequence of construction. They are all hand drawn by Hanneke, who has years of hands-on experience of building and designing Wharram catamarans. All our practical expertise, with a focus on keeping things simple, has gone into these drawings. These sketchbooks have made it possible for people with no boatbuilding experience to build a beautiful boat.
See information about building costs.
What’s In Our Plans?
In this video, we open up an example of a full set and walk you through the contents – from the large-scale technical drawings to the beautifully illustrated A3 sketchbook that guides you step by step through the build. If you’ve ever wondered about building your own Wharram, this video gives you a real, hands-on look at what to expect inside the plans.
Tiki 21
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy Stitch & Glue | |
|---|---|---|
| Length Overall: | 21′ | 6.40 m |
| Beam Overall: | 12′ | 3.66 m |
| Waterline length: | 18′ 6″ | 5.64 m |
| Draft: | 1′ 2″ | 0.35 m |
| Weight: | 790 lbs | 360 kg |
| Loading capacity: | 1000 lbs | 460 kg |
| Sail area: | 208 sqft | 19.25 sqm |
| Building Time Estimate: | 400 hrs | |
The Tiki 21 was designed in 1981 as an easy to build Coastal Trek catamaran, using new epoxy/glass stitch & glue techniques. In 1982 the new and then quite radical Tiki 21 was given first prize by Cruising World magazine (USA) in their design competition for a ‘Trailable Gunkholer’. Since then nearly 1000 Tiki 21 Plans have been sold (2015).
In 1991-97 Rory McDougall sailed his self-built Tiki 21 ‘Cooking Fat’ around the world, sometimes alone, sometimes with a companion. She was, and still is, the smallest catamaran to have circumnavigated. In 2010 Rory entered ‘Cooking Fat’ in the Jester Challenge (single handed ‘race’ across the Atlantic for small boats – under 30ft) and came into Newport, Rhode Island a close second after 34 days.
The Tiki 21 has stayed popular as a simple, easy to trail Coastal Trekker all over the world. Her unique soft Wharram Wingsail Rig has been used on all subsequent Tiki and other Wharram designs (30ft – 65ft) and is very popular with the owners of these boats.
Tiki 26
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy Stitch & Glue | |
|---|---|---|
| Length Overall: | 26′ | 7.92 m |
| Beam Overall: | 15′ 1″ | 4.60 m |
| Waterline length: | 22′ 6″ | 6.84 m |
| Draft: | 1′ 4″ | 0.40 m |
| Weight: | 1550 lbs | 700 kg |
| Loading capacity: | 1700 lbs | 770 kg |
| Sail area: | 285 sqft | 26.5 sqm |
| Headroom in hulls: | ||
| Over floor: | 3′ 11″ | 1.2 m |
| Over bunk: | 2′ 11″ | 0.9 m |
| Building Time Estimate: | 700 hrs | |
The Tiki 26 was designed by popular demand soon after the Tiki 21, for people who wanted to do more serious Coastal cruising. Her ocean going abilities have since been proven in various ocean crossings.
The Tiki 26 can be trailed and is easily beached, to step off in ankle deep water. Sleeps two in the hulls, leaving room for small galley and chart table, but accommodation can be increased with a decktent, giving space for a double bunk.
Tiki 30
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy Stitch & Glue | |
|---|---|---|
| Length Overall: | 30′ | 9.15 m |
| Beam Overall: | 16′ 4″ | 5.00 m |
| Waterline length: | 25′ 5″ | 7.75 m |
| Draft (incl. LAR keel): | 2′ 1″ | 0.65 m |
| Weight: | 2200 lbs | 1000 kg |
| Loading capacity: | 2200 lbs | 1000 kg |
| Sail area: | 385 sqft | 35.8 sqm |
| Headroom in hulls: | ||
| Over bunk: | 2′ 11″ | 0.9 m |
| Over floor: | 4′ 11″ | 1.5 m |
| Width of bunk: | 2′ 11″ | 0.9 m |
| Headroom in optional deckpod: | ||
| Over floor: | 4′ 3″ – 3′ 7″ | 1.3m – 1.15m |
| Over seat: | 3′ 3″ – 2′ 11″ | 1m – 0.9m |
| Building Time Estimate: | 900 hrs | |
The ideal low budget self build ocean cruiser. With a sleeping capacity of 6 (two doubles in the hulls) and spacious level deck area, TIKI 30 makes an excellent low cost charter boat.
It is our largest self-build boat design that is capable of being towed behind a vehicle. This means keeping the build weight down, and simple but adequate accommodation. This is not a high cost, luxury boat, but an elegant, versatile, ‘double canoe’ sailing boat, providing basic comfort for ‘Living on the Sea’.
An optional deck pod with double berth and/or navigation station is available. This pod replaces the standard open cockpit.
Tiki 31
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy/Laminate | |
| Length Overall: | 31′ | 9.45 m |
| Beam Overall: | 17′ 6″ | 5.33 m |
| Waterline length: | 27′ | 8.23 m |
| Draft: | 1′ 9″ | 0.53 m |
| Weight: | 3000 lbs | 1360 kg |
| Loading capacity: | 2200 lbs | 1000 kg |
| Sail area: | 386 sqft | 35.9 sqm |
| Building Time Estimate: | 1100 hrs | |
A traveller/workboat with ramp access at stern. She has open hull cockpits with removable tough awning covers, ideal for fishing. For workboat use she has a Wingsail schooner rig, with two short masts. Can sleep 4-6.
Tiki 38
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy/Laminate | |
| Length Overall: | 38′ | 11.60 m |
| Beam Overall: | 22′ 4″ | 6.20 m |
| Waterline length: | 31′ 6″ | 9.60 m |
| Draft (incl LAR keel): | 2′ 6″ | 0.75 m |
| Weight: | 6600 lbs | 3000 kg |
| Loading capacity: | 4400 lbs | 2000 kg |
| Sail area: | 573 sqft | 53.2 sqm |
| Bunk width (centre of hull): | 3′ 9″ | 1.14 m |
| Forward bunk width: | 2′ 9″ – 1′ 4″ tapered | 0.85 m – 0.4 m tapered |
| Platform Clearance: | 2′ 7″ – 2′ 11″ | 80cm – 90cm |
| Building Time Estimate: | 2200 hrs | |
The TIKI 38 was designed using all the latest Wharram construction innovations. Her deckpod gives good shelter when ocean cruising and includes a bunk for the off-watch crew. Forward of the deckpod is 26 Sqr metres of safe, usable deck space. An excellent family cruising boat.
The TIKI 38 interior comprises two double cabins, two single cabins, galley, navigation station and toilet/shower, as well as good storage areas in bow and stern.
Tiki 46
| Building Method: | Ply/Glass/Epoxy/Laminate | |
| Length Overall: | 46′ | 14.00 m |
| Beam Overall: | 24′ | 7.30 m |
| Waterline length: | 38′ 1″ | 11.60 m |
| Draft (incl LAR keel): | 3′ 7″ | 1.10 m |
| Weight: | 5 tons | |
| Loading capacity: | 4 tons | |
| Sail area: | 1000 sqft | 91 sqm |
| Main bunk width: | 4′ 8″ – 3′ 9″ tapered | 1.42 m – 1.15 m tapered |
| Aft bunk width: | 3′ 11″ – 2′ tapered | 1.2 m – 0.6 m tapered |
| Platform Clearance: | 2′ 11″ – 3′ 5″ | 90cm – 105cm |
| Building Time Estimate: | 4000 hrs | |
The Tiki 46 is a boat designed for Blue Water sailing, with live aboard space for a crew of up to 10. She also makes an excellent charter vessel with 4 private double cabins and an extra double in the deckpod. Plenty of safe deck space and slim hulls for easy, fast sailing, not requiring huge sail area to get speed.
Anne and Neville Clement write logs about their voyages on self-built Tiki 46 ‘Peace IV’.