and Friends/other multihulls.

Comment by Galway Bay on March 1, 2013 at 2:00pm

Well done Alex. Considered doing this myself but did'nt want to "hog" it as I already have the "Small Pahi" group.

Super logo. Definitely Not-A-Wharram !!

Comment by Alex on March 1, 2013 at 4:49pm

I am a Wharram fan. I like his catamarans. I'm glad he's moving into outriggers - and would love to see someone try out the Tama moana as an outrigger.
I would also like to see a Wharram proa. It's a pity he didn't continue with it, but that wasn't its time.... I realise that it'd have been cool, but how many plan sets would have sold?
The proa makes a lot of sense and its time is coming.......

Comment by Jeremy Walker on March 2, 2013 at 12:21pm

Mention of the word ‘proa’ can be an invitation to no end of conflict, since there are so many variations and people can get precious if not downright stroppy about their own additions to the gen

re.

But let’s face it, they (bi laterally asymmetric multi’s, or proas) have been around for a long time despite Capt Cook thinking that a Ndrua was the latest cutting edge sailing invention of his time.

 Proas are water craft well used by some and when, if ever, one or other of them does become hugely popular is an interesting question. So for me the bilateral aspect of design has facilitated a way to afford and maintain a creative link with this, the origin of sailing. From a practical point of view I am able ( single handed) to manhandle my sailing craft through all stages from building, transport, launching, beaching and sailing where any other craft would be problematic: As a comparison I would have needed help to un-rig and haul the Hinemoa onto a trailer or into my workshop, but not so with a 23 ft proa.

 

Comment by Alex on March 2, 2013 at 1:08pm

Not mainstream but definitely starting to build momentum.
I also wouldn't want to restrict this to a proa only group. All multihulls welcome.
Any pics on your proa?

Comment by Galway Bay on March 4, 2013 at 6:18pm

I second the idea of a boat you can handle on your own. It is however surprising perhaps what you can handle on your own. I can lift/carry my crossbeams on my own and load them on a high rack on the roof of my van. I can carry my [alu] mast complete with rigging / halyards and step it on my own. When I was building I could move the hulls around the shop on my own. It is nice to have a helper to assemble / disassemble [IN the water] and to float on / off the trailer but I probably could do it on my own and besides I have only had to do it a few times in 20 yrs. The only time I used a crane was to lift it onto the trailer for launching first time and even then if no machine was available I could have lifted it with a chain hoist and reversed the trailer in under.

I think this is about as big as you can go and still do this. So for me I think I might build another boat but probably not a bigger one.

Comment by Jeremy Walker on March 4, 2013 at 7:02pm

I'm putting in as much time as possible so that some presentable pics can be shown. Compromise in detail work means that no 'in shop construction work' can be shown as is the case with some of the nice shots shown by other builders on this site. Previously (when my canoe was on the water) some snap shots were taken and shown on the Yahoo proa site, but those are not worth showing here.

handling on my own means being able to load onto a trailer bare handed.....without need of any gear. I have even been able to turn the waka over and pull a splash mold then de-mold with only a few minutes help from my wife positioning a saw horse to elevate the job.

Of course by the time the solid wooden outrigger beams are added to the ama side as well as those on the leeside 9 to carry the paddleboard as a safety ama) and the  cabin and rig are included, then weight is substantial.

Comment by Jeremy Walker on March 5, 2013 at 4:55pm

Being able to single handedly manage (in it's componenet form) a catamaran of a bit more than 30ft is of course an advantage with a Wharram design. Anything larger becomes less manageable and vice versa, but the tricky thing I think, is to achieve seaworthiness at the same time as manageability. Rory McDougall has so far set the benchmark in the small size and I appreciate the achievement, ergonomics aside. So in order to get a little more elbow room without going to a much larger and heavier craft, I simply have to work to another plan.

Comment by laurent on March 6, 2013 at 3:19pm

i cant imagine for off shore cruising to have not enough eight in hull , 

at least to have  some room to be seated crosslegged . i am 1.80 and it is just enough  in the tikiroa cabin  

 

Comment by Alex on March 6, 2013 at 3:42pm

Smaller hull/s to store stuff and a minimalist deckpod? Maybe a little bigger than the one in the groups logo- just sitting headroom.
I keep coming back to podcat or proa. Not lee pod tho.

Comment by Jeremy Walker on March 8, 2013 at 3:31pm

"smaller hulls to store stuff and a minimalist deck pod"?

This is pretty much what I have with the Siderigger, and a pic or two would be the best way to quickly illustrate. 

Deckpod has been hurriedly sanded and an epoxy coating slapped on, so i have no excuse to not take some pics.........later today is possible.

From an ergonomic point of veiw the restriction in internal hull space on a small canoe makes deck area preferable for stretching out on, and a tent shelter provides width at the bottom and water shedding shape at the top.

Sailing a catamaran with a tent erected on deck is obviously a problem, but by keeping the rig on a lee hull only and having the accomodation between hulls to windward there is useable space.

What I found with the Hinemoa was that there was a surplus of deck space and a very tight sleeping space. The extra deck area carried a weight penalty and then there were additions like a walkway plank from mast to jib  and also a central cockpit. Sure it is possible to do away with those additions, but it is also possible to do away with a lot more and end up with an outrigger configuration.

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