Prindle 18
The Prindle 18 is an American catamaran sailing dinghy that was designed by Geoffrey Prindle as a racer and first built in 1977.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Geoffrey Prindle |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1977 |
| No. built | 2,300 |
| Builder(s) | Surfglas Prindle Catamarans Lear Siegler Inc. |
| Boat | |
| Crew | two |
| Boat weight | 335 lb (152 kg) |
| Draft | 7 in (18 cm) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Catamaran |
| Construction | Fiberglass |
| LOA | 18.00 ft (5.49 m) |
| LWL | 17.00 ft (5.18 m) |
| Beam | 7.92 ft (2.41 m) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | none |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mounted rudders |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Fractional rigged sloop |
| Mainsail area | 170 sq ft (16 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 48 sq ft (4.5 m2) |
| Total sail area | 218 sq ft (20.3 m2) |
| Racing | |
| D-PN | 74.5 |
Geoffrey Prindle had started out as a surfboard manufacturer, but was also successful racing Hobie 14 catamarans and started his own line of boats, starting with the Prindle 16.[2]
Production
The design was initially built by Surfglas, a surfboard manufacturer that changed its name to Prindle Catamarans. The boat was also built by Lear Siegler Inc. in the United States. A total of 2,300 boats were built, but it is now out of production.[1][3][4][5]
The design was replaced in the manufacturer's line by the Prindle 18-2 in 1983, a more conventional design, with straight hulls and centerboards.[1][6]
Design
The Prindle 18 is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars, a rotating mast and a fully-battened mainsail, using foam and fiberglass sail battens. The mast spreaders are adjustable for rake. The dual asymmetrical hulls have raked stems, slightly reverse transoms and dual transom-hung, kick-up beaching rudders controlled by a tiller. The hulls are both rockered and have no keels or daggerboards. The design displaces 335 lb (152 kg) and features a mesh trampoline between the hulls.[1][3]
This beachcat design has a draft of 7 in (18 cm) allowing beaching. The hinged mast also facilitates ground transportation on a trailer.[1]
For sailing the design may be equipped with one or two trapezes. It has a 4:1 mechanical advantage downhaul, an outhaul and mast rotation controls. The jib luff is attached with a zipper.[3]
The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 74.5 and is normally raced with a crew of two sailors.[3]
References
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Prindle 18 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Geoffrey Prindle". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- Sherwood, Richard M.: A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition, pages 94-95. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Prindle Catamarans". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Lear Siegler Inc. 1961 - 2002". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Prindle 18-2 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
