Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
Why don't they point to windward very well?
Pete
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They actually "point" high, they just "side slip". I used to get around this by sailing mine for a point on the horizon 10 degrees upwind of my
destination. (in my early 20s)... I didn't realize that this was not like all
boats, until I cruised on a friends
Searunner trimaran. I was amazed to see the
Searunner go where I pointed it!
The reason Wharrams side slip, is that they have no centerboards or daggerboards for lateral resistance. Keels would have been a second choice to boards, but with deep Veed hulls already, adding keels large enough to be effective, would've made for too much
draft.
Wharrams are designed in a place with huge tides, where boats often sit on the bottom at low tide. They are great for this, very utilitarian, and fine for "off the wind" cruises. The circumnavigators that I know, unlike island hoppers, fairly seldom go to windward.
The newer Tikis, are a bit better to windward than my old "classic design" was, and if it is a larger Tiki, with a
deck pod, it is a viable alternative for major cruising... for young, tough people who don't mind a bit of "roughing it".
The accommodations being in separate hulls, with
galley on one side and nav station on the other, is a bit problematic. Otherwise, they're fine sea boats.
M.