BoatsPrairie 32

Prairie 32

Cutter · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · First built 1976

A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, designed by George S. Hawn, Jr. for stable cruising

Designed by George S. Hawn & Jr.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a beamy beam gives 39 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 39
CoastalBluewater

1.72 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.72
LightHeavy

456 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 456
EasygoingPowered-up

13.8 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 13.8
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 421 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.8
Displacement / length
456.1
Comfort ratio
39.3
Capsize screening
1.72
Hull speed
6.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1020
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1976
Units built
35
Designer
George S. Hawn, Jr
Builder
Prairie Boat Works

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Westsail 329.75 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA fiberglass adaptation of William Atkin's Thistle design, this heavy-displacement cutter saw 834 hulls built.
Nauticat 3310.11 mSame hull family0.5 m longerSiltala's inaugural production model, this long-keeled ketch offers a stable, high-comfort platform for extended cruising
Alden 32 Motor Sailer9.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOriginally known as the Winsome Class, this masthead sloop features a long keel and was available in both sloop and ketch
Hans Christian 339.98 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Harwood Ives for comfortable, steady offshore passage-making
Cape George 319.45 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA William Atkin-designed cutter with a heavy ballast ratio and long keel, built for stability and offshore comfort
Hans Christian 3410.36 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA Robert Perry-designed cutter with a long keel, serving as the rare, original predecessor to the widely produced 36-foot series.

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

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Nothing filmed of this one yet

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