Does anyone want to help me figure out how to increase the light and medium air performance of my Tiki?

It's plenty fast for me in heavy air, say 20+. But, it's just terrible in wind under 6.

Thanks,

Hi,

I dont think Wharram designs with speed in mind, so you should not expect to much from your Tiki 21.

If you want a faster boat, perhaps you could consider a different design ?

If not, good sails always helps. A larger rig is the standard answer for light air performance. But then you would be overpowered in the heavy stuff and need to reef earlier. Also, the Tiki is designed for the rig you have got, so be careful with new solutions..


If you want to get radical, you could consider contacting Dave Culp at http://www.kiteship.com. He will probably reccomend a kite based solution both up and downwind.

Great Boat
I would figure out how fast it is first. In other words, with that sail area,short mast and (surprisingly light)weight, hull length, how fast is it expected to be? You will probably find it not bad after all! The boat didn't point well, and I would guess that a huge hooter might be the tool, as it would help the upwind light air? Rick? Without sacrificing safety! (we sailed in cranking conditions, and the boat just steadily speeded up - no heeling, phenomenous I say.)
Do you have the additional lines going to the forked stick atop the sail (name escapes me) that controll twist? Seemed like a good idea, and was an option. Jay should have the rigging diagram on that.

Thanks all, for your response.

If I were much younger I'd be a radical kite sailor! Saw a thing on TV where two guys crossed the English Channel! What a hoot! French coast guard was not amused though!

I think the real problem with the Tiki is that the shrouds go all the way to the mast head. This prevents the gaff (forked stick{that might make a good boat name}at the top)from rotating horizontally into a beam position. This leaves the main severly "goose winged" down wind.

Up wind, I haven't a clue! Although when the wind gets up over 6 knots it will point about as well as a Hobie 16 if not as fast.

amazing that you got that much speed out of the Tiki hulls in heavy air.
With the low aspect you have it should actually perform better in light air, I would supspecdt.
Nevermore,
Edgar

The builder maintains that Tiki should be able to achieve speeds of 1-3 times the square root of the WLL (18'6") or 4.3 to 12.9 knots. My GPS has indicated speeds in the 10-12 knot range several times.

My problem is that in wind speeds much below 6 knots, getting the 4.3 is extremely difficult.

If you had a monohull you would have trouble getting more than 4.3 knots in winds over 6 knots.
A mono would do better (proportionately) at the lower wind speeds mainly because of mast height. We (catamarans) got killed at a drifter finish with a bunch of monos for that reason once at the Gulfport to Biloxi. Actually was pretty amusing seing all the monos crammed up and cursing each other going dead down wind as we tacked back and forth (it was faster to tack , probably more to do with getting clean air).

You guys have gotten me thinking. (I try not to do that, it makes my head hurt!). What would a good fast catamaran expect in 3-6 knots?

how much sail area do you have now? my hobie 16 has a reefable main and option of a roller furling jib at 218 sf, a hobie 18 rig with reef points might be even better, you also get a rotating mast that helps efficiency. those wharram rigs are very cruiser oriented, are you sailing to tahiti or do you want to throw some spray across the bay?

I currently have 208sf. 130 main, 78 jib. The boat throws plenty of spray in high winds, and Tahiti is tempting!

The goal I'm trying to reach is that of increased light air performance.

One of the guys mentioned earlier a big hooter, that might just be the ticket since I've already ordered a spinnaker.

But, thanks any way!