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Bob
Kupp's Tiki 46 in Phuket |
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I
had been looking for a pure cruising cat for several years and when I
first saw a sketch of the TIKI 46 by James Wharram Designs in the UK I
found many of the features I had in mind. Almost immediately I had ruined
the sketch doodling various ideas I had for the boat. After waiting for 6
months to get the study plans from JWD’s U.S. agent I finally telephoned
their UK office and was sent a set immediately. Liking what I saw I phoned
Ann & Nev Clement who were building the prototype on a pig farm in
Southwest England and arranged for a visit. They graciously put me up in
their houseboat and allowed me full run of their 46 of which the hulls and
pod were largely completed. John Barker, who at that time was working for
JWD, was also there and after patiently answering my many questions sold
me building plan set #3 then and there.
From
there I flew directly to Phuket, Thailand, to inspect a boatyard called
Seascape who were building two Tiki 38’s and a Tiki 26. The director is
Gunter Nutt, a cabinet maker from Liechtenstein who has been building
traditional craft here for 18 years, overseeing a crew of 9 Thai
craftsmen. The workmanship appeared to be of high quality although I
expressed, and still have, some reservations about the quality of
materials used. Marine ply, along with a lot of other things, is not
available here. The best grade exterior ply is used and Gunter assures me
that they have tested it extensively. As the Clements discovered, even BSB
certified wood is not always of high quality. The three Tikis built so far
are doing well.
Well aware of these and other risks of poor legal infrastructure,
vague tax laws, language barriers etc. I entered into an agreement for
Seascape to build a Tiki 46 for me, and I will report my experiences and
progress.
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I
will begin with a description of the port hull, but need to make two
things clear. 1) Unlike most Wharram cats, this one is being
professionally built. I quickly realized that the scope of this project
was way beyond any skills I may have fantasized I had as a builder or
designer, and my respect for those who do has greatly increased during the
10,000 plus man-hours that have gone into this project so far. 2) All of
the modifications to the plans were ideas of mine, Gunters or other
Wharram builders and were done without consultation or approval of JWD. I
will attempt to report as honestly as possible if these design
interpretations turn out to be “improvements”. |
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Also
I want to thank Graham Tate, owner of Seascapebuilt Tiki 26 “Bear
Necessities” for the use of his Olympus digital camera, which I will try
to learn to use better.
The
major changes I wanted to make were with the interior arrangement and I
changed the original 3 stateroom/2 head design into 2 stateroom/1 head. In
the port hull this involved turning the head into a central companionway
with a big wet hanging locker and then leading fore or aft into identical
staterooms. There are no tanks, pumps, through hulls or anything else that
makes noise or smells in this hull. |
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The
first mod was of the lower hull where we rounded off the obtusely angled
stem and made a shoe of 2mm stainless steel over the ply keel and skeg set
with countersunk ss woodscrews and 3M 5200. This will be painted with wash
primer and bottom paint but may not hold up well. The sea growth here
loves exposed underwater stainless. Additionally we decided to permanently
bond all the floors to the hull (except the one in the central
companionway which has an access hatch) to effect a double bottom and add
emergency flotation. |
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The
aft stateroom was extensively modified by moving bulkhead #6 forward 200
mm to achieve the same space as in the forward stateroom. Next the berth
was moved forward to bulkhead 7 and upper bulkhead 9.5 was made solid.
This allows the berth to have decent width like the forward berth. A
disadvantage is that it puts the entrance under the beam trough. Getting
in is not as acrobatic as it appears, however, and once inside has a very
spacious ambiance. There is an opening hatch over the head of each berth.
The butterfly vents lead to the beam troughs and allow some fresh air to
circulate even when all the hatches are closed. |
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Additionally,
this mod allows for a separate, watertight compartment with deck access
aft like the Tiki 38. Internally, the bunk level is continued aft all the
way to the stern to form the floor of this locker, which is vented at
floor level above the waterline. On the port side I will use this space
for a stern anchor locker aft and fender stowage forward (of bulkhead
#10). The hatch can be opened with the tiller amidships. |
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Both
staterooms were identically modified from the plan in 3 major ways. First,
an athwartship step/seat/locker was placed at the entrance to each berth.
In the forward stateroom here, the battery bank goes under the berth and
the inverter/charger into the seat. You can see the PVC pipe serving as
conduits for all the wiring. |
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Second,
a large hanging locker was installed inboard where the separate
companionway came down in the original plan. The wet locker in the central
companionway is located outboard opposite the stairs, which will later be
veneered with the same wood used in the trim. Also lightweight, well
ventilated privacy doors will be added. |
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Third,
the plan vanity was replaced by a mini-desk/shelf system that is at an
ergonomic height to be used from the step/seat. Any modifications to the
plan furniture must be done with an eye to adequate reinforcement of the
chain plates. |
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Finishing
up the port hull is a shot of the sail locker located forward of
the staterooms. Inside are hanging
poles and a bracket to mount the 8hp dingy
outboard. The hatch was made extra large to allow easier passage while
carrying sailbags, motors etc. All the
hatches except head, galley and central
companionway were made hinging using the Wharram style lashing which
I think is brilliant. The hatches are
secured by 2 sliding bolts mounted centrally
so that the hatch cannot be removed even if the lashings are cut. A
dingy hatch under the lockable ss cover allows access to the bolts when
locking is desired. The
angled chock on the forward crossbeam is for a mooring bridle. |
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