Prout Quests, Event... any advice

[Auntie Helen]

We're thinking of changing our monohull for a catamaran, 30ft or more and are looking around the 45-50k mark. Prout Quests seem to be coming up at that price and look reasonable. Does anyone have any experience of them? Do they sail well and are they stable (a major thing for me as I'm disabled)? are they soundly built? Are spares easy to come by if required? Are there any quirks or gremlins we should know about? Or, more importantly, does anyone else have an alternative recommendation of a sound and safe Cat with plenty of room on board at about that price range. We tried a Gemini 105MC and liked it a lot but don't want to spend that much.

 

[capnsensible]

Excellent choice. I have sailed several thousands of miles on Quests and an Event including Solent cruising, with some deliveries including Edinburgh to Bergen and Glasgow to Gibraltar. Always felt safe and comfortable.
Bad bits: Marinas usually rob you even more than usual despite beam being not too different from modern monohulls. Not very good to windward. Will be slow and won't point but as with all yachts, motor sail if safety is involved. Dated design now, not sure if Prouts are still in business for queries.
Good bits: VERY stable, the classic 'left my drink on the table for 2 hours, still there when I remembered it!' All sail controls in the large cockpit. Big genoa, small main, easy to put a few rolls in headsail if the wind getr up and it really has to blow before the main needs reefing. Some had an engine in each hull, most had a single engine with steerable outdrive. Doddle to manouver. Big saloon on bridgedeck, only a couple of steps down into either hull, plenty of handholds for mobility. Most equipment fitted is standard marine gear so spares should not be an issue.
I don't think you will be dissapointed, I was't!! Happy sailing.

 

[Talbot]

50k may even stretch to an older Snowgoose 35 or 37 (but not the Elite) some of the cheaper ones are in need of quite a bit of work.

The boats are good solid cats in the best british tradition, and those in your price range are designed to be able to use the french canals. A good choice.

Alternatively my 9m catalac will be on sale shortly. and will not need any money spent on her!

 

[Auntie Helen]

This is helpful stuff. However I'm wondering if 35/37 feet might be a bit of a handful for singlehanding (my husband is planning to sail it on his own sometimes). That's why we were looking more at the 33 ft Quests and the Gemini.

So, Talbot, sell the Catalac to me (verbally, I mean!) Why would I choose it when they aren't the handsomest boat in the marina?

 

[Scillypete]

I've just been out for the day on my Prout Quest 31, sailed off and back onto the mooring and flew the cruising chute in between whilst out, all singlehanded. Everything falls quite easily to hand onboard the Prouts, they obviously gave it some thought when designing the cockpit layout. So for ease of handling you cannot go too far wrong. You should be able to get a Quest 33 or maybe a reasonable Event 34 within your budget, the Quest 31 can be had for a lot less but some may need work but not necessarily all.
As for size I personally am happy with the space and accomodation on the 31. Cats are very stable and not quite the handful that some would like to think. They may not point as well as a mono but they will sail to windward if you are prepared to plug away at it.

Happy hunting.

 

[Talbot]

out of the water, a catalac is definitely an ugly duckling

when immersed:

yes a prout goes better to windward
but a Catalac performs very well at all other points and can be driven to windward if you want enough.
Where a catalac scores over the prout is in living area. Apart from the snowgoose elite, the other prouts have narrow double beds, the 9m catalac has a proper double -- 6ft 2in x 4ft 3in. The saloon has much better external visibility, and the cockpit is larger. Plus of course you have a proper wheelhouse. Now the big difference is in the fixtures and fittings. Mine has the following:
central heating (4 kw eberspacher with outlets in both cabins, the galley, the saloon, and pilot berth).
A hot water system.
A proper shower.
fridge
Renewed headlining
furling genoa
behind mast reefing
180watt solar panel
45w mains charger and shore power system
bow thruster
just been polished and 2 coats of antifouling
great stereo and mp3 system
good instruments and plotter + AIS

etc etc

Internal layout

except fuel tanks and engine configuration are different on mine.

 

[Scillypete]

Must be summit up with your tape measure, the double on our Quest 31 is 6'3" by 4'6" very roomy and comfy too.

Agree about the view from the saloon could be the angle of the windows I guess.

 

[jh2005]

Well thanks for all the advice, folks - we bought ourselves a Prout Event 34 and are just about to bring her (Chellers) back to our home port of Sovereign Harbour later this week.

We did a significant amount of research as to what we wanted/needed and ended up with something I think will suit us very well.

The advice of everyone in this and other threads was much appreciated!

Mrs Chellers