Catamaran, twin centreboards · Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar) · First built 1956
A 1956 restricted development catamaran featuring a rotating spar and lightweight construction originally sold as a kit
Designed by Francis & Roland Prout, built by Prout.
LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Catamaran Twin Cbrd.
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 2.29 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 120 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 120 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.18 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LightHeavy
30 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 30
EasygoingPowered-up
62.3 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 62.3
Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file
Narrower than ~78% of boats her size on file
Compared with 145 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
Rig & sail area
Rig
Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar)
Ratios
SA / displacement
62.3
Displacement / length
29.9
Hull
Hull type
Catamaran Twin Cbrd.
Construction
Wood/FG/Composite
Production
Years built
First built 1956
Units built
1500
Designer
Francis, Roland Prout
Builder
Prout, Fairey Marine Ltd
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.
Hobie 144.27 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterThe original Hobie Cat, this lightweight beach catamaran features a rotating spar and a high power-to-weight ratio
Supercat 154.65 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA high-performance beach catamaran with a rotating spar and an exceptional sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Hobie 165.05 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe most popular sailing catamaran ever built, featuring a rotating spar and boardless hull for high-speed beach sailing
Hobie FX One5.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 5.18-metre single-handed catamaran featuring a rotating fractional rig and an exceptional 56.56 sail area-to-displacement ratio
Hobie Tiger 185.51 mSame hull family0.5 m longerDesigned to the Formula 18 rule, this 5.5-metre catamaran features twin daggerboards and a high power-to-weight ratio
Alcort Inc. Catfish4.01 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA 1964 George Patterson design, this ultra-light twin-board catamaran offers high-performance sailing in a 4-metre package
