Small Pahi Group

Comment by Thomas Nielsen on December 21, 2012 at 9:18pm

Once upon a time I was ready to travel to Germany to buy Bjorn Wedel's Pahi 31.  But every time I was ready the dollar dove or the Euro rose so it remained beyond my budget.  Then I considered building one.  I ordered study plans of both the Tiki 26 and the Pahi 31 and lofted their cross sections on the wall in such a manner that I could sit in them and go dream sailing.  I measured my building space.  I read and read and then read more about the two boats.  In the end it was for a tree that I set forth with the Tiki.  I could build it in the space I had without harming that tree.  

Comment by Galway Bay on December 22, 2012 at 6:33am

Thomas - Have got to respect your priorities there.And you ended up with a fine boat.

Comment by Barrie Gilchrist on December 22, 2012 at 2:39pm

I had a beautifully built pahi 31 which had been pro built in Norway, kept it on west cost of Scotland, it was cutter rigged. Think it is still in a marina at Portavadie. I will post some pictures of it. I'm currently building an enlarged Hinemoa, but still have a huge soft spot for the pahi's.

Comment by Galway Bay on December 22, 2012 at 5:18pm

Super photos. I see the cutter rig but it looks like a conventional main with horizontal boom. I have a boom angled up about 30deg. The sail is not attached to it [ except for clew ] it acts like a sprit to stretch the sail out. I see no advantage in this for sailing but the boom is mounted on the back of the tabernacle so no pressure-point on the mast, and it works as a crane for lifting the mast, also you can swing bicycles etc. on board with it !!

Comment by Alex on December 23, 2012 at 2:53pm

Is that JWD design or yours? Almost a crabclaw....
I have been thinking of a p31 "ethnic" cross. Crabclaw and quarter rudders - large. Hans Klaar tacking cc and jib.
If the jib was also a boomed " tacking jib" like Mikko's, it could do better to windward and help in tacking? Being able to pull it across to tack would be a big plus and maybe remove the need for daggerboards?
I've always thought the daggers were too far fwd and the rudders too s,all on pahi's.
That said, I've always thought the Pahi 31 is the boat for me.

Comment by berbar2009 on December 24, 2012 at 11:32am

I present you my Pahi 31 in Brittain (France)

Comment by Galway Bay on December 24, 2012 at 4:03pm

Super photo-thanks. This is the original sail-plan, I was starting to think I was the only one still using it !! Every type of rig seems to have been used on this boat, there used to be one in Cork a bermudan ketch.

I wouder how many were built ? my own sail number is 32.

I am presuming this Brittain France is Brittany ?

Comment by Kevin Hutchinson on January 4, 2013 at 10:31pm

Hello, does anyone out there have a Pahi 26? They seem to be very rare.Has any new ones been built within the last10 years?

Comment by Kevin Hutchinson on January 5, 2013 at 9:12am

Kohala 20 

A few years back I posted musings about the long lost Pahi 20 design. Inspired by Wharrams sketches I developed my own version of the Pahi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I call it the Kohala 20 after my parents old home in Hawaii. About two years ago I built a model version of Kohala. It sailed well and I think it looks  good. I wanted more "roundness" to the V-hull shape. So I added about 2"(scaled to the model) of camber to the hull sides. I believe that the ply can be safely tortured to about 3" which I think is preferable. For comparison the Tiki 21 has about 3/4" of camber.I have also been tweaking the design in my computer as well. I hope some develop plans for it eventually. My latest thinking is to build the boat out of foam. More time any money up front but no more time and money wasted fixing rot.

Growing up sailing Hobie cats I always wanted a bigger more rugged catamaran with some cool styling. I wanted it to be big enough to sleep in the hulls yet small enough to still be trailerable.I think this concept would make a great weekend camp cruiser with limited offshore capabilties. The Kohala 20 fits the same niche as the well proven Tiki 21. However I think the Pahi styling would make a nice alternative to the 21.......Aloha Kevin

 

Comment by Galway Bay on January 5, 2013 at 11:56am

Very pretty model. By eye I think the P31 has about 3" of rounding in the side panels. It makes a difference to the space inside.

There has been much discussion on the sailing performance of the small Pahis. Seems fair to say that for every owner who is happy there is one who is not. Bear in mind these designs are 35 years old. I am of the opinion that they need some mods. to get the best from them.

The curve in the side panels reduces the angle at the keel - so less grip. The lack of rocker reduces draught - more of the same. Low draught leads to shallow rudders - less grip. JWD put daggerboards on these boats. In my experience I need one.

Wharram designs are less simple than they look. Many critics pick a single item in the design to lavish their criticism on. All designs are a collection of decisions woven together in one big compromise. Once you decide on deep "V" [ possibly for construction purposes ] you must use a short waterline to avoid losing light air performance through too high a wetted surface. This in turn limits the amount of rocker and/or how "sharp" the ends can be or you will suffer excessive pitching. Many of the critics of these boats would "cure" one "problem" at the expence of creating two more....

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