Sailing Wharram Tangaroa Mk4 35' catamaran in Broken Bay NSW Australia

[alanrb1]

Thankyou for your question. The Tangaroa is a very safe and proven world cruising cat. I believe James Wharram's designs are probably the most popular and successful catamarans of all time. They have been and still are being built in many countries of the world.

[alanrb1]

The Tangaroa design goes back to the late 1940's when James Wharram set about to design a cat that was affordable and easy to build. Timber construction means the potential for rot so one has to be on the lookout for the telltale signs and reseal any water barrier failure in the early stages. I am not aware of any standard design Wharram cats capsizing, that was not first swamped. This must be partly due to not having centerboards and a modest rig.

[alanrb1]

My boat was purchased for $500 as an unfinished project . The decks and beam bolts were letting rain water inside the hull and rotting along the keel was becoming evident. The boat was built to plan when I bought it, but having owned a Tangaroa back in the 1980's, I had some ideas on how to modify a few things. I have created 0.3m extra headroom by using a straight sheerline instead of the standard curved one.

[alanrb1]

I have extended the main cabins back about 1.9m to create 2 double bunks. Also I have chained on the beams to (1.) eliminate the beam bolts and (2.) minimise movement between the hulls which has allowed me to build a solid cockpit with provision for a centerboard between the port hull and the cockpit.  The boat has a lot of windage especially with my large bimini (backyard trampoline frame) and does not go well to windward at present. But the bimini is essential in my opinion.

[alanrb1]

It keeps the hot sun off us and allows the hatches to be left open during rain. I am keen to finish the centerboard and see how she performs to windward then. My rig is close to standard but I have increased the foot length of the mainsail from about 3m to 4.2m to get a bit more power. At a total boat weight of 6.4 tons loaded ready to sail, we need a bit more power to keep things moving in light winds. We have had the boat up to 14.7 knot so far surfing the waves, spinnaker only.

[alanrb1]

The boat was finished and lunched at Kempsey NSW from where we sailed it to Sydney with an temporary mast that I put together. The new mast and rigging was built by a Sydney rigger. So far we have been coastal cruising up as far as Terrigal beach and down the coast to Jervis Bay and Ulladulla and will begin our ocean crossings 2014 with our initial destinations in the South Pacific. Yes Broken Bay is our home port. The Tangaroa is ideal for the DIY sailor who wants maximum bang for the buck.

[alanrb1]

I fondly refer to the boat as the "mobile beach house" as we have most of the comforts of home with the ever changing scenery that you don't get with the fixed beach house. If you have plenty of money, a plastic cat would be less maintenance and would look more shiny and modern. The Wharram cat is a bit more agricultural, and there are people who are repelled by them and others that love them, but if you are having fun, who cares? Thanks again Alan

[Ozbullwinkle]

What is your overall opinion of your Tangaroa? Was it built according to the plans or does it have some modifications? What passages have you done in it & is Broken Bay your home port?