
As we explore material legacies and evolution with a regenerative lens for our Wharram Narai Mk IV build, the focus now shifts to sheathing techniques and materials that provide strength, water resistance and longevity. Historically, boatbuilders used natural materials like tar, animal hides and plant fibers to protect and reinforce wooden vessels. Today, there’s an urgency for boat builders to explore natural fiber composites as alternatives to plastic-based sheathing materials like nylon and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), which negatively impact marine environments.