James Wharram Designs win Classic Boat design competition for an Eco Fishing boat.

The July issue of Classic Boat magazine features the winners of this year’s design competition for an Eco Fishing Boat.

They wrote: “The brief was for an under 10m boat that would not need a license for fishing under sail or oar. Many entries nodded to traditional types, but the winner was surprisingly radical.”



They chose the new Wharram Ethnic design, the 27ft Amatasi double canoe, the only catamaran entry. The design is developed from the 21ft Tahiti Wayfarer design and inspired by the Ethnic canoe craft of the Pacific. The hull lines are derived from the fishing canoe hulls of Samoa (bonito canoe, Va’a alo or Amatasi) and similar canoes in the Society islands. They have very shallow draft and are easy to row and beach. The boat is steered with steering paddles. The wide centre deck is ideal for all sorts of fishing methods, with room to store lobster pots and net bins. She has an easy to handle and brail Sprit rig with small yawl mizzen to assist in steering. The design also has great potential as a youth group boat, or to take part in ‘Raids’, but is also suitable for coastal cruising. She has one or two removable cuddy cabins.



Construction is in ply/epoxy stitch & glue for the Western builder, but she can be plank built, dory style, in remote islands in the Pacific. There is already a prospective builder in Cornwall who has been to visit to discuss the build and in Tonga they are considering the design for fishing trips of several days duration.

We are planning to build a prototype in Devoran and are looking for participation in the build by local marine students or apprentices. Classic Boat magazine are planning to publish regular building reports.


James studies the underwater hullshape.
Hanneke building the working model.

Building Plans will be produced while building the prototype, meantime Hanneke has built a 1:10 accurate scale model. This model was exhibited at Beale Park Boatshow in June and at the Cornish Boatshow in Falmouth 2 weeks later.



Wharram stand at Cornish Boatshow with models of the Ethnic range, Amatasi, Tahiti Wayfarer and Tama Moana (as sailed on Lapita Voyage)