Thread: Dare I let the cat out of the bag?

Just echoing that Bloggs character who has clashed horns with me on the CY forum (in a nice way G'day mate).

My Auk plans came from the Woodenboat store. They were cheaper than elsewhere and the photocopy was horrid. Worse still, they weren't anything like the latest plans from Iain at the time. There are a myriad of stories of people buying direct from Iain and getting extras, extras that the agent wouldn't know about. I can't say that the same applies to David Payne but my dealings with him have been direct, honest and I reckon he'll look after you.

Richard

it's still a lovely boat. I'd like to book passage on her please. Hell, I'll even help sand something :eek:

Dare I let the cat out of the bag?

Whenya ready ter put it in the craypot

Too Right I am mate... we got adopted by a feral kitten a few months back and the hoons love it but mate I need some cray bait and that furball thing is just PERFEK!!

Actually its not a bad thing that furball... we have this agreement it does NOT step on paw in my shed or in the house and it continues to breathe... it does and its craybait!... so far its bloody lucky! sodit!

You know its funny... Every time I "decide" that this or that design is "IT" someone comes up with something else to turn me head... this time it hasnt happened

mmm well aside from a bloke who I was yarnin with awhile back about a set of Wharram Tiki 26 plans he had spare who has suddenly started emailing me with pics and sayin the ruddy plans are still available!!! :mad:

BUT!!! possum did say I had exactly $1000 left in the plans kitty and that I must make a decision and stick with it... so if I get Davids Paketi plans for 330 and these Tiki ones for 540 that about does it eh? and heck Ive even got some change left after!!! WHAHOO!! not enough for that other star attraction Petersons Susan but hey so what! I can live with that

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

mmm well aside from a bloke who I was yarnin with awhile back about a set of Wharram Tiki 26 plans he had spare who has suddenly started emailing me with pics and sayin the ruddy plans are still available!!! :mad:

Howdy Dingo,

The Tiki 26 is a classic - heaps of style (the Tikis are amongst the most stylish cats - but just like a Rosinante the looks are at considerable price in terms of interior volume).

Mind you if someone offered me a Rosinante ... I just wouldn't hesitate.

I know people have gone around the world in the little Tiki - but the accomodation is more like a WW1 slit trench than accomodation as we know it.

Because of the vee hulls in these small sizes the boat is hugely wider at deck level than at berth level.

If you have seen one in the flesh - then you will know whether the interior is acceptable to you - but if you haven't LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE PLANS AND CHECK STUFF AGAINST THE SCALE CAREFULLY.

Whereas if you have read the "Compleat Cruiser" by LFH (if you haven't send some of your plan money that way!) there is a drawn cross section of the Rosinante with a properly scaled person sitting inside - my, it IS a little tight - maybe the chap there hits his elbows every time he has to relight his pipe - but LFH's sketch is there warts and all - brutally honest about the space.

The TIKI really is in the same sorta scale to the Rosinante but with less overall beam (per hull) and much less at hip height.

Looking at both from the outside I think they are both high expressions of art. But just check for yourself that the TIKI's accomodation will suit you.

MIK

Gidday again there Mik... mate Im a shortass only 5ft 5 1/2 in me boots so what most people require in area spacial needs are somewhat less for me... Im not sayin your wrong just that Im smaller than the "average" bloke that designers work on... so where most feel cramped I feel quite comfy and cosy

The Tiki always has taken my breath away I honestly dont know what it is about them but there you have it... although my preference and initial purchase intent was and still would be for the larger Tiki 38 but Ive left that one too late... and now at $3250 for the plans well thats well above her highnesses stipulated plan spending amount limit... whereas this blokes price is right on the money

I love the look and the arrangement of them... Ive had several sails on a Tangaroa and a long one up the Northwest coast of WA on a Naria and love them its a totally difference experience to any other type of boat (multi or mono)

Some would say that the designer is important in the equasion and to some degree I agree but with Wharrams I think theyre the exception to the rule... See I have had several runins with James over the years on his forum along with another and in email conversations but I dont take them personal as its the boats I like not the man... he at this stage is quite irrelevent the information on building his designs is available without the need to contact him direct or personally

Hi Dingo,

Great choice on the dream boat! Looks great and wish I had the space to build something that big (limited to about 16-17' so even 23' boats are too big for me :mad: ).

Speaking of Wharrams too...I noticed last night that Classic Boats (the UK mag, which - forgive me for my sins - I like more than Wooden Boat) has a feature in the June issue on Wharram and his latest design(s). I only saw the ad in the May issue, so not sure how in-depth but it may be worth a read if you like his stuff.

Or if you want something a bit bigger...in the current Multihull mag there's a new cruising cat just been launched in Qld (of course) - the Executive 73...only $4million AUD but a nice looking boat for cruising the Whitsundays in!

If you can't get Classic Boat up there let me know and I can send you a copy or the article when the issue arrives.

Regards,
Darren

Thanks for the heads up Darren
James and Hanneke Boon (his design partner say no more) have bought out a couple of "new" designs over the last few years "child of the sea" and the "Islander" range... sadly and the cause of much disgust amongst old time Wharramites is that hes made them available to the industry rather than the amature... in other words hes made some contacts in Asia to build them professionally and so the designs arent available to anyone else

Hes also pushing his Tiki line that way as well with the larger ones being pushed to be bought from his builder in Asia

I dont really have a problem with that hes goin after the $$ what I have a bit of an issue with is that hes still maintaining that they are available for amature builders but the plans arent... you can get the study plans but not the building plans

Interestingly I actually do have issues with his plan price structure... since the plans have not been changed or altered since he drew them back in the 60s I dont see why the Aussie bloke that runs their site needs to have them so expensive... however I dont think another discussion on the $ of plans is relevent here... albeit that his designs were intended for the hippy yippie crew who couldnt afford the major cost of plans to get on the water seems hes changed that view over time... and sigh money is now most important... sigh never mind.

With Child of the sea which by the way I actually like a fair bit (crab claw sails and all ) I know of one bloke a long time Wharramite who James sent the initial drawings to and hes been steadily building it since but has to wait on occasion for Hanneke to send updated or new drawings to continue

My preference with his designs are the older ones the Tiki Tehini Narai and such I dont particularily like his Pahi designs (other than the whopper Gaia) although they do have more internal room...

I will see if I can find that mag mate. Cheers for the heads up

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

his designs were intended for the hippy yippie crew who couldnt afford the major cost of plans to get on the water seems hes changed that view over time... and sigh money is now most important... sigh never mind.

Seems to be the case with a lot of 'old hippies' when they grow up and get mortgages, facing retirement, etc. Can't always blame them I guess

I'm sure there's lots of his plans floating about in the community for peope in the future to buy or copy and so they'll keep getting built. Certainly easier than some of the other designs for cats I've seen out there. I think I'll wait to I can afford my Seawind before getting a catamaran

Let me know if you can't get the CB mag, there's always a few at my local newsagent - doesn't seem to be as prolific as Wooden Boat so you can't get it everywhere. And they're just staritng a series on buying a used boat which will be handy (moreso if I suddenly come into money!).

Regards,
Darren

Howdy,

James Wharram must be one of the most successful boat designers of all time.

He has tapped into the worldwide market in a way few others have.

But he probably isn't driving a Roller or anything like it.

MIK

All true Mik... and hes an arrogant git as well

But his missus is real nice I actually rang and spoke to her awhile back one really nice lady... eerr thats the lady in Cornwall not his other "missus" Hanneke who from my contact is much of a muchness with James

Darren check out the designs of Shuttleworth another pom... Now THEY are EXPENSIVE!!! and I do mean EXBLOODYSPENSIVE!!! :eek:

I think he fell into the niche by accident and suddenly found he had stumbled upon something that a lot of people dreamed of but never had the money to afford and made his name through that avenue as it wasnt only the hippys that got on board with his designs... hes become much of an icon to many and likes to consider himself above reproach in many aspects

As I said I dont much like the bloke... but his older designs? yes! they definantly have something every other design hasnt got... an asthetic quality a style that screams freedom and evokes idle days in beautiful lagoons.

oooh one powerball and Im gone!!! but hang on a tic!! One powerball = upteen million dollars at my disposal? GAWDS FRIGGIN SAKE!!!! Id never make my friggin mind up!!! nah better to be pistanbroke than mega rich I reckon

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

they definantly have something every other design hasnt got... an asthetic quality a style that screams freedom and evokes idle days in beautiful lagoons.

Because the breeze is blowing from that direction and there's a chop and there's no friggin way you'd be pointing it over there!

If Ford had made a Model T version of the Kombi van, well that's about what you've got there!!


Cheers,

P

Here is Dingo painting a tropical idyll ...

And it is full of biting midges.

OUCH!

A bit like some of the beaches a bit out the back of the Whitsundays.

But I do know where Midge is coming from - but Wharrams do look nice sitting in a tropical lagoon. Grass skirts, pert naked bosoms - not a cloud in the sky and no sign of melanoma.

I don't like them as sailing boats either, but stick 'em in a lagoon and they look luvverly. The early ones at least.

Don't forget the "RID" to deal with the midges and other biteys.

MIK

: Okay Midgey ol fella dont bust a hernia ol son relax I dont see one in my near future

Originally Posted by Wild Dingo

Darren check out the designs of Shuttleworth another pom... Now THEY are EXPENSIVE!!! and I do mean EXBLOODYSPENSIVE!!! :eek:

Hi Dingo,

Checked out Shuttleworth's pages - some lovely designs, and something I'd consider if (a) I have a sudden penchant for fiberglass things and (b) I win lotto. But GBP9,000 for a PLAN?? :eek: :eek: You could pick up a nice second-hand cruiser for that in the UK or here - with the exchange rate...that's $22,500! :eek:

Thanks for the pointer to the designs though. Always nice to oogle expensive boats, even if they have dodgy 1970's interior styling.

Now, back to looking at plans of things I can afford....

Regards,
Darren