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Wharram Pahi 63

1980–present · designed by James Wharram + Hanneke Boon · built by Wharram Designs (plans) / owner-built; yard-completed examples disproportionately common at this size

LOA ~63 ft / ~19.2 m, beam ~28 ft / ~8.5 m (the "63" in the model name is FEET, not metres — this is a 63 ft boat, never a 200+ ft one). James Wharram + Hanneke Boon Polynesian-inspired large ocean-cruising catamaran — the flagship Pahi, designed for extended-range expedition cruising and group / family voyaging. Plywood-epoxy stitch-and-glue construction from plans sold by Wharram Designs Ltd (Cornwall, UK); given the multi-year build time and complexity, yard-completed examples are more common at this size than at smaller Pahi sizes. Open slatted bridge deck (no solid panel), deck-stepped masts supported by lashings, hulls lashed to crossbeams with synthetic line. Wood-composite hull is repairable anywhere with hand tools, epoxy, and glass cloth. Known for being the basis of "Spirit of Gaia" — the Wharram-family flagship.

This is a general read on the Wharram Pahi 63 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: 1980–present
Built in: UK (plans) / variable (owner-built)

What the Wharram Pahi 63 is known for

Easily repairable anywhere — wood-composite plywood-epoxy + glass cloth hull can be patched with hand tools and locally-available materials. At this size this is a major asset; production-build catamarans of comparable size require significant yard infrastructure for equivalent repairs.
Lashed-not-bolted hull-to-crossbeam connection is intentionally flexible — distributes large loads gradually, avoids bolt-fatigue failure modes on rigid catamaran connections.
Expedition-credible platform — known to have supported significant voyaging programmes including Wharram-family flagship "Spirit of Gaia".

Known trade-offs

Quality varies hull-by-hull — at Pahi 63 size, build errors have enormous consequences. Build provenance + materials documentation are non-negotiable; ideally the hull was yard-completed or owner-built by someone with prior boatbuilding experience.
Plywood-epoxy hulls have a finite lifespan dominated by moisture ingress. At Pahi 63 surface area, a weak epoxy schedule history means very expensive remediation.
Resale market is essentially nonexistent — fewer than ~50 hulls built globally; comparable sales data is missing. Marketing periods of 1-3+ years are not unusual.
Operating cost scales with size — marina (where it fits), haul-out, crew, and rig refit are all expensive. Not a cheap large boat to keep going, even though the original build can be cost-effective.

Age-related quirks to expect

Owner-built quality variance — at Pahi 63 size, build errors compound; survey must assess THIS hull rigorously, not class priors severity: High affects: all (owner-built)

Plywood-epoxy hull moisture susceptibility — enormous hull surface area increases inspection burden significantly severity: High affects: all (age + maintenance-driven)

Lashed crossbeam attachment — at this size, crossbeams are very large; lashing replacement is a significant undertaking severity: Medium affects: all (architectural)

Wharram-specific schooner or twin-mast rig — specialist rigging and sailmaking knowledge required; few yards globally are equipped severity: Medium affects: all (architectural)

Very few comparable hulls means pricing is reference-poor; valuation bracket is enormous severity: Medium affects: all

Systems to check before you buy

Hull-laminate + epoxy condition priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

Highest-risk system on any Wharram, and Pahi 63 hull surface area is huge. Inspect epoxy hot-coat condition (UV chalking) across full hull, plywood-stitch joint integrity at all seams, glass-sheathing delamination around through-fittings and waterline. Moisture-meter survey of every hull section is mandatory and time-consuming. Builder logs + materials provenance matter enormously — often incomplete for older hulls.

Lashings + crossbeam attachment priority: offshore, coastal

Hulls joined to crossbeams with synthetic-line lashings, not bolts. At Pahi 63 scale, crossbeams are heavy-duty structures handling enormous load; lashing inspection annually and replacement every 5-10 years is critical. A failed lashing offshore at this size is catastrophic. Inspect crossbeam saddles + lashing channels for wear, moisture ingress, and laminate fatigue.

Wharram rig — schooner / twin-mast at this size priority: offshore, coastal

Pahi 63 rigs are typically twin-mast schooner configurations — class-specific and complex. Few yards globally have direct experience; consult Wharram Designs or experienced Wharram riggers. Soft-wing sail conversions add specialist sailmaking requirements. Mast and rigging refits at this size are substantial undertakings.

Auxiliary propulsion (twin inboard diesels) priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

At Pahi 63 size, twin small-to-mid inboards (25-50hp diesels each) are typical. Verify configuration. Inboard installations involve cutting structural plywood and should be inspected for surrounding laminate integrity, fuel-tank corrosion, shaft-log moisture ingress, and engine-bed structural condition.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Designed for it. Pahi 63 is an expedition / extended-range platform. Caveats: owner-built quality variance is the dominant risk; lashing regime + plywood-epoxy moisture management are non-negotiable. A well-built Pahi 63 is a credible long-voyage and group-cruising vessel.
Coastal: Possible but oversized. Wide beam exceeds most marina slip allowances; haul-out infrastructure for vessels this size and beam is very limited.
Liveaboard: Strong for groups, families, or charter operations. Substantial accommodation in the hulls; still no enclosed saloon between hulls — a deck-tent or hard-top over the open bridge platform provides weather shelter. Some hulls have been operated as small charter vessels.

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 Pahi 63 — 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.

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