Dodgy ‘Professional’ Builders – A Warning

Home News Dodgy ‘Professional’ Builders – A Warning
By Hanneke Boon

We would like to draw attention to the problems people have experienced by ordering their Wharram catamaran to be built by the ‘RB Power & Sailing’ yard of Raoul Bianchetti in Pattaya, Thailand.

The first boat built was a heavily modified Tiki 38, of which the owner refused to take delivery and which since being launched in February 2009 has broken up at anchor. The second Tiki 38, which was being build for Warren Matthews, was removed from the yard last January for finishing in New Zealand, after the owner discovered serious deficiencies in the build.

You can read about Warren’s experiences here.

Practices like these are the reason for James Wharram Designs setting up Franchised Yards, where the owners can be sure to get a correctly built, high quality Wharram Design. RB Power & Sailing is NOT a franchised yard!

Currently franchised Wharram yards include Andy Smith Boatworks in Bohol, Philippines and Boatsmith in Florida, USA