Tiki 46 Tacking Capabilities

[itsMarek]

Good Day Forum.
I would appreciate if someone could answer a question regarding Tiki 46 ability to tack. Recently I sailed on one (being a prospective buyer) and I discovered that it would not tack without the help of a backsheeted genoa.
The wind was around 15-16 knots and the boat itself had no problems sailing in this condition. From around 45 deg. onwards the speed was coming up to around 8.5 knots but that was not enough speed to get the boat to tack without the backsheeted genoa. According to the owners it does not tack by itself in any wind force condition.
Would please, experienced sailors comment on this?

Thanking you all in advance.

[Doodles]

Can't answer your question but you may get better responses at this site:

Wharram Owners Forum - Multihulls4us Forums

or here ...Discussion Forum - Wharram Builders and Friends

Are you looking at the one in Malaysia? Love the Tiki's.

[Mark Johnson]

Wharrams tack just fine if you backwind the jib. It seems weird if you aren't used to it, but I found it easy, even in very high winds. Yes, it stops the boat, the bow comes about, and you take off on a new tack. This is not the issue... It's the leeway. The boat is not going where it is pointed to! If you bear off a bit, or have an "off the wind" destination, they sail fine. To windward... not as well as a multi with a large centerboard.

M.

[boatman61]

I agree... Tiki's can be difficult to tack... till you get the knack..
which is basically keeping the sails drawing to the last minute... leave the sails sheeted in at the pinnacle of the tack untill the jib starts to back then let fly...
the main starts to draw as you adjust the jib.. then adjust the main as you gain the desired course...
Leave the jib backed to long and you'll be fighting to get back up to the desired course rather than falling on to it...
But that was a 21 & 26....

[Tiki 38']

Just to make sure I go about properly, I backwind my genoa every time I tack. It is easy. Why don't you want to do it?

[itsMarek]

Thank you everyone for your comments.
My initial question was to do with my zero exposure to catamarans.
So really I was asking if it was normal for the Tiki 46 (in this case) to have a hard time when tacking. So it is normal.
Thank you again.

[Tiki 38']

Did you enjoy your sail on the tiki?

[itsMarek]

Yes it was good although it was a handfull experience.
With the main sail sheet amidships short handed sailing keeps you running around. I'm going ahead with the purchase of that boat and I will have to find a way to get that main sail sheet into a cockpit so that I can have all the sails in one place. I need to be able to sail this boat single handed.
If you have any suggestions regarding this please let me know.

[itsMarek]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I agree... Tiki's can be difficult to tack... till you get the knack..
which is basically keeping the sails drawing to the last minute... leave the sails sheeted in at the pinnacle of the tack untill the jib starts to back then let fly...
the main starts to draw as you adjust the jib.. then adjust the main as you gain the desired course...
Leave the jib backed to long and you'll be fighting to get back up to the desired course rather than falling on to it...
But that was a 21 & 26....

Thanks very much for your comments. Yes indeed this will have to be the game. There was one more thing that bagged me. A boat of this size with the main sail sheet amidships. Even when fully crewed this would pose a challenge in heavy weather in night time to my understanding.
I need to make this boat set up for single handling and for that reason it looks like I will have to get that main sail sheet shifted to the cockpit. Small problem there though. There is a fixed (glassed windows) spray dodger on the deck pod. I will do more sailing on this boat to get a better handle on the issue. If you have any suggestions regarding this I would be most grateful.

[Tiki 38']

you could run it thru blocks at deck level right to where you want it.