Wharram Raka catamarans

[salticrak]

These cats have caught my eye and i was wondering wether anyone here has pics/info on these boats other than what is available on a google search.
cheers Paul.

[boatsmith]

The Rakas are a narrow hulled Wharram. There is less interior volume than in an Tangaroa which is the same length. Hence there have been much fewer of them built.
The Tiki 36 we which we have proposed is very much the same size boat as the Raka.
It is a Tiki 30 that has been stretched and had the freeboard raised. It still has narrow hulls. with light weight and decent sail area. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...6-a-45371.html

James and hanneke desighned a Tiki 36 which was a precursor to the Tiki 38 which replaced it. I believe that there was only one built.

[salticrak]

Why thank you boatsmith for your detailed reply, your design looks to be a winner.

[double u]

before starting on my Tangaroa back in 77 I closely compared the 2 plans & I still recall that the angle of the hull's "V" was the same on both boats, but as the Raka hull was lower it was narrower too (one could now say that losing interior volume of such a spartan boat would surely be the last straw that brakes the camel's back, or, on the other hand that the interior volum was a coffin anyway...
the other difference I recall were the lighter scantlings of the Raka: e.g. stringers 1"x2", Tangaroa 1"x3", etc.
(as it was: it was enough of an adventure with the "wider" hulls of the Tangaroa...)

[boatman61]

The Raka was intended as the 'sports version' of the Narai..

[double u]

sorry 2 contradict you, boatman61, t'was the Tangaroa's "sportsversion" :https://www.wharram.com/site/catalog...c-designs/raka
funnily enough pretty much the same salespitch as in the mid 70ies!

[double u]

btw: in case anybody ever wondered where the "Wharram-sign" came from: just turn it upside down!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by double u

sorry 2 contradict you, boatman61, t'was the Tangaroa's "sportsversion" :https://www.wharram.com/site/catalog...c-designs/raka
funnily enough pretty much the same salespitch as in the mid 70ies!

Working from memory here.. looked at them back in the late 70's.. bought the study plans for the Raka and Narai but leant towards the Raka for the sleekness.. never went further due to domestic issues.. like divorce.. then later the Tiki's came out and I took that path for the easier build technique.. not the best of carpenters.
Stich n glue and fill..

[double u]

I don't think the tradtional Wharrams were more difficult to build. creating the necessary pressure for the recorcinol glue could be a challenge, but I remember the Tangaroa build as technically very simple (if not speedy: took me ~4500h)

[boatman61]

Tangaroa you cut the timbers, build the frame, cut the hull sheets and bulkheads, attatch to frame.. blah blah.. hull done.
A Tiki you cut the hull sheets, keel and bulkheads, stitch together with wire, slide bulkheads into envelope glue and fillet.. hull done..
But as I said.. I am an inferior mortal..

[double u]

I guess laying out & handling full-size hullsides isn't for the fainthearted...particularly singlehandedly!
apart from hullplanking - the recorcinol would have kicked off too fast for i person - I was able to do nearly everything on my own
(btw:"-61" is age or "vintage"?)

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by double u

I guess laying out & handling full-size hullsides isn't for the fainthearted...particularly singlehandedly!
apart from hullplanking - the recorcinol would have kicked off too fast for i person - I was able to do nearly everything on my own
(btw:"-61" is age or "vintage"?)

61 was age I joined CF.. 68 is age last September.. going on 16..

[double u]

good on ya!
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by double u

good on ya!
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost."

And.. every silver lining has a cloud..