Prout Event 34

[Benbow]

Any thoughts on the Prout 34 for long term cruising for a couple?

I am convinced that the accommodation is good, but I don't know anything about its sailing performance.

Thanks

 

[CodStewart]

Looks nice. I know nothing about boats but it still looks nice. I'd buy it and if you don't like it, just sell it. Boats are always easy to sell.

 

[ccscott49]

Boats are always easy to sell??? I think not! Depends on the boat!

 

[CodStewart]

He he! I know. I was just bored and didn't know what else to write. Apologies.
I still think the Prout looks nice for a cat. [If it is indeed a cat]

 

[Talbot]

Prout Event for a couple would be fine. I believe new ones still being built in South Africa. Dont expect a cat to go to windward as well as a BAV/JEN/BEN etc, but do expect a good sea boat, that has the space and accomodation for living aboard. The Event does sail relatively well to windward, but remember that a cat cannot be heavily loaded in the same manner as a mono.

 

[snowleopard]

Met two of them during ARC 2001. They certainly seemed good sea boats. One was from Japan so over half way through a circumnavigation. Most British Prouts are heavily built and have a performance on a par with an AWB of the same length, a bit slower upwind and faster on a reach. The 34 is just about small enough to get into a marina berth and some travel hoists so much less of an embarassment than bigger wide-beam cats.

Some people don't like the look of Prouts but I feel their low coachroof looks good. It is achieved by creating a large nacelle below the cabin floor that introduces some drag but is good for living on. The 'minsail' rig takes a bit of getting used to but has a lot of advantages, particularly the ability to do all sail handling from the cockpit.

 

[timentide]

Been living aboard for last 3 years and after 15000 miles in Europe and all around the Caribbean I can only sat how well the Prout 34 is suited for 2 to live aboard. If you want specific info then please pm me.

 

[timevans2000]

I have just returned from an Atlantic circuit in a Prout snowgoose 37. The big problem with cats is keeping them light. If you are an exstreme minimalist, you would probably manage with the 34ft Prout. Most people wouldnt cos we all collect too much junk. We were exstremely aware of weight but even so the performance of the boat suffers conciderably. Our boat has an extra tall rig which helpes put back some of the performance in light airs.
To windward our boat is faster than similar sized monohulls who are also live aboards in full criusing trim, assuming the seas are relatively flat. As soon as you are bashing into big seas, we had to reef down to stop the cat slaming. She was capable of the speed but we didnt like the stress tht the slaming put on the hull with all the extra weight we were carrying.Interestingly, she would point as high if not higher than many monohulls that were similarly loaded. To windward we were always capable of pointing a lot higher than any of the Lagoon 410 charter cats we saw in the Caribbean. I dont think this can be down to poor of unfamilair crews on every occation.
We also spent some time cruising in company with a south african built Admiral 38 cat. He was similarly loaded. We had better speed than they did on all points of sail. If I ever go off again, I would think seriously about going in the same boat. I think 37 ft is too small for a live aboard cat going trans atlantic purely for its load carrying capacity. Hope this helps

 

[jeremyshaw]

I agree with Benbow, but would add a few points, having owned a Prout 37 and now a Fountaine Pajot Belize 43.

Prouts are slammers because of the low bridgdeck clearance, and this does induce stress on the rig and interior if you press on into heavy seas (though failures are rare).

You really have to think about what kind of living aboard you want to do. Batteries alone add substantial weight, let alone additonal fuel, a decent dinghy/outboard and all the paraphernalia of cruising life. Most people reckon you need to go to at least 38 feet for a liveaboard cat.

If you can look at bigger boats try the FP Athena which has higher bridgedeck and good performance. Or their older Tobago. Lagoons do seem to be slower (I've sailed with a few) and possibly less strongly built.

One final point - one of the happiest couples I ever met cruising spent less on their cat than we did on a refit. It was 25 years old and maxed out at 5 knots. It would have driven me crazy. They were having a wonderful time.

 

[catch22]

hello timevans2000
we met in horta with kevu folks and on the crossing from azores to uk I wa on runaway 47 camper
bruce