Our Story
In the languages of Polynesia, vaka means canoe — specifically the great double-hulled voyaging canoes that Polynesian navigators used to cross the Pacific Ocean centuries before anyone else had mapped it. These were not simple boats. They were ocean-going vessels, built for long passages, for living aboard, for going places others said couldn’t be reached.
The Wharram Tiki 38 is a direct descendant of that tradition. James Wharram spent decades studying traditional Polynesian hull forms and sailing techniques, and built his designs on those principles — the same principles that carried the first voyagers across half the planet. When we needed a name that captured what this boat is and what she stands for, Vaka was the only word that fit.
I fully refitted this yacht for comfortable living — I lived on board with my then 7-year-old daughter for 3 years, while keeping the Wharram spirit of open outdoor space giving you 360° views and open spaces with different feels to enjoy the sea breeze, and protection from the elements when needed.
If you love nature, the outdoors and comfort, this yacht is the one for you.
As founder of the Wharram Asia Facebook community, I’m part of the global Wharram owner and builder network. If you’re considering building or buying a Wharram, come sail one first — ask anything about the build, the rig, the handling.
Life aboard S/V Jumpalagi — Phi Phi Island · Christmas at Chalong Bay · Home cooking
“The Tiki 38 is everything we hoped for. Real sailing, real adventure — not the packaged tour experience we’d had before.”
“Three days on her was worth more than three years of forum research into building our own Wharram.”
“The anchorages we reached — no other boat was there. The shallow draft changes everything about where you can go.”
