Now in his 90s, Jim remains passionately connected to what’s happening in the multihull world, and incredibly sharp with details from the past. Find his latest contributions here.

On our ‘playful’ relationship with the sea and my newfound frame of mind on multihulls

Apr 29, 2024

Besides resembling a waterborne sleigh, or a canoe with training wheels, where do multihulls belong in the human scheme of things? In the Stone Age, they helped us populate the planet’s largest space. In the Space Age, they may watch us depopulate the planet, but since 1947, they’ve sure helped us have a good time. They seem to be the zenith, the culmination of a host of waterborne devices that have all combined to give us a less defensive – a more buoyant – relationship ...

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A Pioneer's Passing

Sep 22, 2023

This is  the eulogy of James Wharram, written by his long-time wife and design partner Hanneke Boon,  both true multihull pioneers. James was the last of my multihull colleagues from the 1950s, and while we were never really close, his embarkation for “the great perhaps” has left me feeling quite alone sometimes.      JBDear friends,It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that my soulmate and life partner James left this life on Tuesday 14th] ...

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What’s Next, Jim?

Aug 17, 2023

About 30 years ago, I joined up with a young Canadian cinematographer named Scott Brown (no relation), who had the lofty idea to make a definitive documentary film on multihulls. I had contacts,and he had cameras, so we started running around the world making on-camera interviews and covering events.Soon we realized that a lot of nifty stuff, like the personal collections of the true multihull trailblazers, was being lost to attrition and the dumpster. We decided that the real need was to ...

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Why Multihulls

Jul 11, 2023

I was born with eye trouble. As a kid, I was unable to play ball games or board games, but I was strangely drawn to playing alone with model boats. It’s been one damn boat after another, ever since.In my teens, I was failing at everything I tried. I struggled with an identity crisis, hungered for offbeat adventure, and needed an occupation. At about age 22, I took a job as deck hand on a big sailing schooner. I loved the work and the boat, advanced to the rank of Mate, and acquired some ...

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