FairKeel → Buyer's guides → Wharram Mana 24

Wharram Mana 24

2014–present · designed by James Wharram + Hanneke Boon · built by Wharram Designs (plans) / owner-built

Modern small Wharram coastal catamaran — designed as an accessible self-build at the small end of the Wharram cruising range. Plywood- epoxy stitch-and-glue construction from plans sold by Wharram Designs Ltd (Cornwall, UK); intended for amateur owner-builders building their first boat. Open slatted bridge deck (no solid panel), deck- stepped mast, hulls lashed to crossbeams with synthetic line. Wood- composite hull is repairable anywhere with hand tools, epoxy, and glass cloth. Intended for coastal cruising and day-sailing — not offshore.

This is a general read on the Wharram Mana 24 class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

At a glance

Hull form: Multihull Cat
Rudder: Transom Hung
Mast step: Deck Stepped
Hull construction: Wood
Bridgedeck: Open
Production: 2014–present
Built in: UK (plans) / variable (owner-built)

What the Wharram Mana 24 is known for

Easily repairable anywhere — wood-composite plywood-epoxy + glass cloth hull can be patched with hand tools and locally-available materials.
Modern Wharram with refined small-cruiser design language; accessible self-build project at the small end of the range.
Wharram Designs institutional support; engaged owner community (smaller than older Tiki/Pahi community given the design's relative youth).

Known trade-offs

Quality varies hull-by-hull. Build provenance + materials documentation are non-negotiable.
Newer design with a smaller fleet — fewer comparable sales, less aggregated owner-experience data than older Tikis.
Limited accommodation — small two-hull layout; not for liveaboard use or extended cruising.

Age-related quirks to expect

Owner-built quality variance — every Mana 24 is bespoke; survey must assess THIS hull. Newer design but still a first-build for many severity: High affects: all (owner-built)

Plywood-epoxy hull moisture susceptibility — breached epoxy + persistent moisture = plywood rot severity: Medium affects: all (age + maintenance-driven)

Lashed crossbeam attachment — lashings need annual inspection and replacement every 5-10 years severity: Medium affects: all (architectural)

Newer design with shorter track record — fewer comparable hulls and less owner-experience data than older Tikis severity: Low affects: all

Systems to check before you buy

Hull-laminate + epoxy condition priority: coastal, weekending

Highest-risk system on any Wharram. Inspect epoxy hot-coat condition, plywood-stitch joint integrity, glass-sheathing delamination. Moisture-meter survey. Builder logs + materials provenance matter.

Lashings + crossbeam attachment priority: coastal, weekending

Hulls lashed to crossbeams with synthetic line. Annual inspection and replacement every 5-10 years.

Rig — simple gaff or bermudan rig priority: coastal, weekending

Mana 24 rig is small and simple; class-specific geometry. Replacement is inexpensive and doable by competent owner.

Auxiliary propulsion (small outboard) priority: coastal, weekending

Typically a small outboard (5-10hp). Outboard wells in plywood hulls are moisture-ingress hotspots.

How it fits your plans

Coastal: Designed for it. Modern small Wharram coastal cruiser.
Weekending: Strong fit. Day-sail / weekender / camp-cruiser for one or a tolerant couple.
Offshore: Not designed for it. Outside class scope.

This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's known about the Wharram Mana 24 — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.

It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.

Run a free report on your listing →

See something that doesn't look right? We'd love to know — email us about the Wharram Mana 24 →

Browse all used-boat buyer's guides →