1988–present · designed by James Wharram + Hanneke Boon · built by Wharram Designs (plans) / owner-built; some yard-completed examples
James Wharram + Hanneke Boon Polynesian-inspired offshore cruising catamaran — asymmetric-hull modern Tiki, smaller sister to the Tiki 46. Plywood-epoxy stitch-and-glue construction from plans sold by Wharram Designs Ltd (Cornwall, UK); the vast majority of hulls are owner-built by amateurs over 3-8 year timelines, with some completed by specialist yards. 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. Designed for cost-effective ocean cruising; multiple documented bluewater passages on the class.
This is a general read on the Wharram Tiki 38 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
1988–present
Built in
UK (plans) / variable (owner-built)
What the Wharram Tiki 38 is known for
Easily repairable anywhere — wood-composite plywood-epoxy + glass cloth hull can be patched with hand tools and locally-available materials. Major asset for remote ocean cruising.
Proven bluewater design at modest cost — multiple documented ocean passages. Smaller sister to the Tiki 46 with similar design philosophy.
Engaged owner community + Wharram Designs institutional support. Tiki 38 is well-documented across build logs and cruising accounts.
Known trade-offs
Quality varies hull-by-hull. Build provenance + materials documentation are non-negotiable; build-time hidden defects (poor stitch alignment, inadequate glass laminate, undersized hardware mounts, missed epoxy hot-coats) can persist for decades until stressed.
Plywood-epoxy hulls have a finite lifespan dominated by moisture ingress; an old Tiki 38 with weak epoxy schedule may be at end-of-life regardless of cosmetic condition.
Wide beam + open bridgedeck = marina-unfriendly + weather-exposed living. Wharram lifestyle is not for everyone.
Resale market is thin and niche; expect long marketing periods.
Age-related quirks to expect
Owner-built quality variance — every Tiki 38 is bespoke; survey must assess THIS hull, not class priorsseverity: Highaffects: all (owner-built)
The single highest-risk system on any Wharram. Inspect epoxy hot-coat condition (UV chalking), plywood-stitch joint integrity at hull seams, glass-sheathing delamination around through-fittings and waterline. Moisture-meter survey of every hull section is mandatory. Builder logs + materials provenance matter enormously.
Hulls lashed to crossbeams with synthetic line. Annual inspection and replacement every 5-10 years. A failed lashing offshore is catastrophic — unique Wharram failure mode.
Tiki 38 rig is class-specific. Consult Wharram Designs or experienced Wharram riggers. Soft-wing sail versions exist on some hulls and add specialist sailmaking knowledge.
Auxiliary propulsion (twin outboards or twin small inboards)priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard
Twin outboards (10-20hp in wells) or twin small inboards (10-20hp diesels). Verify configuration. Outboard wells are a plywood-moisture hotspot; inboard installations involve cutting structural plywood and should be inspected for surrounding laminate integrity.
How it fits your plans
Offshore
Designed for it. Multiple documented Tiki 38 bluewater passages. Caveats: owner-built quality variance dominates the risk calculus; lashing inspection regime + plywood-epoxy moisture management are non-negotiable. A well-built Tiki 38 is a credible ocean cruiser in the smaller-cat scope.
Coastal
Workable. Wide beam + shallow draft = good shoal-water cruiser. Marina-fit can be tight.
Liveaboard
Workable for couples or families with kids tolerant of close quarters. Living is in the hulls; deck-tent or hard-top over open bridge platform.
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 Tiki 38 — 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.