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Wharram Tiki 46

1991–present · designed by James Wharram (with Hanneke Boon) · built by Owner-built from plans; some professional yard-built examples

James Wharram-designed Polynesian-inspired ocean-cruising catamaran. Plywood-epoxy construction from plans sold by Wharram Designs; intended for owner-builders. Hulls lashed (not bolted) to crossbeams with synthetic line; open slatted bridge deck (no solid bridgedeck panel). Wharram Wingsail rig with class-specific mast / stay geometry, not a generic production sloop setup. Designed for ocean cruising at modest cost via owner-build. The Tiki 46 is one of the larger Wharram cruising designs.

This is a general read on the Wharram Tiki 46 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.

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At a glance

Hull form: Multihull Cat
Rudder: Transom Hung
Mast step: Deck Stepped
Hull construction: Wood
Bridgedeck: Open
Production: 1991–present

What the Wharram Tiki 46 is known for

Lashed-not-bolted hull-to-crossbeam connection is intentionally flexible — distributes load gradually, avoids the bolt-fatigue failure mode of fixed-rigid catamaran connections.
Plywood-epoxy construction (when well-executed) is repairable anywhere with basic materials — a class advantage for remote cruising.
Owner community is highly engaged + well-documented — Wharram Designs has supported builders since the 1960s and the institutional knowledge is deep.

Known trade-offs

Owner-built quality variance is the dominant risk. Two Tiki 46s from the same year can be wildly different boats. Build provenance + materials documentation are non-negotiable for any buyer.
Plywood-epoxy hulls have a finite lifespan dominated by moisture ingress; a 30-year-old Tiki 46 with weak epoxy schedule history may be at end-of-life regardless of cosmetic condition.
Wide beam + open bridgedeck = marina-unfriendly + weather-exposed living. The Wharram lifestyle suits a specific kind of cruiser; it is not a Beneteau Lagoon equivalent.
Resale market is thin and niche; expect long marketing periods and limited buyer pool when selling.

Age-related quirks to expect

Owner-built quality variance — each Tiki 46 is effectively bespoke; build quality, materials, and modifications vary enormously between hulls High all (owner-built)

Lashed crossbeam attachment — synthetic-line lashings (not bolts) join hulls to crossbeams; lashings need inspection / replacement on schedule Medium all (architectural)

Plywood-epoxy hulls — moisture in plywood = end-of-hull problem; epoxy coating integrity is critical High all (age + maintenance-driven)

Wharram wing-sail rig — class-specific mast, stays, shrouds, and sail handling; spares and rigging knowledge are not generic Low all (architectural)

Systems to check before you buy

Plywood hulls + epoxy coating integrity priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

The single highest-risk system on any Wharram. Plywood hulls require intact epoxy + glass-cloth sheathing; any breach + persistent moisture = plywood rot = unrepairable in the affected area. Moisture-meter survey of every hull section is mandatory. Builder logs + materials provenance (which plywood, which epoxy, what schedule) matter enormously.

Lashings + crossbeam attachment priority: offshore, coastal

Hulls are joined to crossbeams with synthetic-line lashings, not bolts. The lashing design is intentional (flexibility under load) but lashings need inspection annually and replacement every 5-10 years depending on UV exposure + material. A failed lashing offshore is a catastrophic failure mode unique to Wharrams.

Wharram rig — mast, sails, standing rigging geometry priority: offshore, coastal

Wharram designs use a class-specific rig (wing-sail / soft-wing geometry on later designs, gaff-like on earlier). Standing rigging geometry is NOT equivalent to a generic production sloop. Riggers unfamiliar with Wharram designs may quote inappropriate solutions. Consult Wharram Designs or experienced Wharram riggers.

Auxiliary propulsion (twin outboard or twin inboard variants) priority: coastal, liveaboard

Some Tiki 46s have twin outboard wells in the hulls; others have twin small inboards (typically 20-30hp diesels). Verify which on a given hull. Outboards are cheaper to service but less efficient at displacement cruising speeds; inboards are more efficient but harder to access.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Designed for it. Multiple documented Tiki 46 circumnavigations. Caveats: owner-built quality variance + lashing inspection regime + plywood-epoxy moisture management. A well-built Tiki 46 is a credible ocean cruiser; a poorly-built one is dangerous.
Coastal: Workable. Wide beam + shallow draft = good shoal-water cruiser. Marina-fit can be a problem (the wide beam exceeds many slip widths).
Liveaboard: Strong for the right buyer. Two-hull layout gives privacy + space for couples. No solid bridgedeck = no enclosed saloon between hulls — you live in the hulls + a deck-tent / hard-top over the open bridge platform.

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