Prindle Cat 18 Specs

The Prindle 18 is a cruising and racing class catamaran that is designed to be sailed either solo or with a crew mate. Its lightweight and sleek design allows it to achieve impressive sailing speeds when it is sailing with the wind. When it is sailing into the wind, it is aided by its two pivoting centerboards. The Prindle 18 was designed and built in the U.S. by Catamaran Inc. It is no longer in production, but many well-maintained models can be bought on the secondhand market.

  1. Class and Utility

    • The Prindle 18 cruising and racing catamaran was designed to sail optimally with a total skipper and crew weight of between 270 and 320 lbs. It was designed to be ideally suited for use by couples and other lightweight crews, representing the weight range of the majority of current sailors.

    General Features

    • The Prindle 18 is a sloop-rigged, symmetrically hulled catamaran. It possesses a closed one-design format and is equipped with two pivoting gasketless kick-up centerboards, for improved windward performance. In similarity with the larger Prindle 19, the Prindle 18 was designed along the lines of the Olympic Class Tornado. In addition, it possesses a fiberglass hull.

    Dimensions

    • The Prindle 18 catamaran, weighing 380 lbs., is considered easy to get up and down the beach, according to Sailing Pro Shop. It measures 18 feet in length, with a beam width of 8 feet 6 inches. With its board up, the Prindle 18 has a draft of 5 inches. With its board down, it possesses a draft of 2 feet 1 inch.

    Displacement and Sailing Area

    • The Prindle 18 possesses a displacement at water level of 375 lbs. The sails supplied with the Prindle 18 have a sailing area of 216 square feet.