Wharram 'Eco' Cat Launch Party

[jcaprani]

The plywood was EU grown, FSC certified 5-ply WBP poplar, rather than the typical marine ply from tropical hardwoods.

It is not certified as a marine grade plywood but was used as an experiment and has done very nicely so far. Ultimate longevity will not be known for several years...

The port hull was made with West System and the starboard from Ecopoxy, which the manufacturers describe as soy-based.

Standard West System 6 oz cloth was used as sheathing on both hulls to allow for a fair comparison. The cuddy cabintop starboard will be sheathed with Ecopoxy over Porcher Greenlite 6oz cloth, which is plant-based.

Very lightweight, high quality throughout and easy to work with. It is available from Robbins Timber of Bristol, UK.

Plans and scantlings for a planked version of this boat will be drawn up after the plywood version plans are released for sale. The planked version will be made available to community boatbuilding projects in the Pacific.

James Wharram has written several blogs on the subject of this boat at wharram and there are hundreds of pictures of the build available here: https://picasaweb.google.com/JCapran...eat=directlink

The boat is currently moored at Mylor Yacht Harbour, Falmouth, UK and anyone interested to view it should contact Hanneke Boon at James Wharram Designs

[atoll]

Originally Posted by jcaprani

The plywood was EU grown, FSC certified 5-ply WBP poplar, rather than the typical marine ply from tropical hardwoods.

It is not certified as a marine grade plywood but was used as an experiment and has done very nicely so far. Ultimate longevity will not be known for several years...

The port hull was made with West System and the starboard from Ecopoxy, which the manufacturers describe as soy-based.

Standard West System 6 oz cloth was used as sheathing on both hulls to allow for a fair comparison. The cuddy cabintop starboard will be sheathed with Ecopoxy over Porcher Greenlite 6oz cloth, which is plant-based.

Very lightweight, high quality throughout and easy to work with. It is available from Robbins Timber of Bristol, UK.

Plans and scantlings for a planked version of this boat will be drawn up after the plywood version plans are released for sale. The planked version will be made available to community boatbuilding projects in the Pacific.

James Wharram has written several blogs on the subject of this boat at old index page now redirecting traffic to new site and there are hundreds of pictures of the build available here: https://picasaweb.google.com/JCapran...eat=directlink

The boat is currently moored at Mylor Yacht Harbour, Falmouth, UK and anyone interested to view it should contact Hanneke Boon at James Wharram Designs

Thank you john!,unlike me john actually built the boat with hanneke,
and welcome to the forum!

good luck on the next project in west africa,i hope you will post lots of photos.

alex

[jcaprani]

"Very lightweight, high quality throughout and easy to work with. It is available from Robbins Timber of Bristol, UK."

Sorry for bad sentence order, this text was meant to refer to the ply rather than the sheathing cloth.

[kaimusailing]

When Wharram entered his Tiki 21 in the Cruising World competition many years ago, he won it, and now we have a whole family that has sprung from that initial concept. I expect the same might happen again, and I don't expect the Wharram Design group to fold up in the next few years. The idea of working with renewable woods and resins is ECO, and a good avenue to explore.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by kaimusailing

When Wharram entered his Tiki 21 in the Cruising World competition many years ago, he won it, and now we have a whole family that has sprung from that initial concept. I expect the same might happen again, and I don't expect the Wharram Design group to fold up in the next few years. The idea of working with renewable woods and resins is ECO, and a good avenue to explore.

+on that

[jcaprani]

I totally understand why the prefix 'eco-' is viewed with suspicion and cynicism by many people. It is a vague snippet of linguistic flim-flam that has been rinsed by too many individuals, groups and businesses. Sometimes with an ethical agenda that is genuine and heartfelt, but more often with less lofty intentions.

As far as James Wharram Designs is concerned, the best description I have ever read of their design style is from a French retrospective magazine article published in 2011.

It described Wharram catamarans as embodiments of 'Happy Frugality'

Here's to being frugal AND happy, a truly ecological ethic!

Happy New Year to all.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by jcaprani

I totally understand why the prefix 'eco-' is viewed with suspicion and cynicism by many people. It is a vague snippet of linguistic flim-flam that has been rinsed by too many individuals, groups and businesses. Sometimes with an ethical agenda that is genuine and heartfelt, but more often with less lofty intentions.

As far as James Wharram Designs is concerned, the best description I have ever read of their design style is from a French retrospective magazine article published in 2011.

It described Wharram catamarans as embodiments of 'Happy Frugality'

Here's to being frugal AND happy, a truly ecological ethic!

Happy New Year to all.

ditto on that