| Prindle 18 | |
| Insignia: | Prindle 18 sail badge.png |
| Insignia Size: | 76px |
| Designer: | Geoffrey Prindle |
| Location: | United States |
| Year: | 1977 |
| No Built: | 2,300 |
| Builder: | Surfglas Prindle Catamarans Lear Siegler Inc. |
| Role: | Racer |
| Crew: | two |
| Draft: | 7inches |
| Displacement: | 3350NaN0 |
| Hull Type: | Catamaran |
| Construction: | Fiberglass |
| Loa: | 18feet |
| Lwl: | 17feet |
| Beam: | 7.92feet |
| Keel Type: | none |
| Rudder Type: | transom-mounted rudders |
| Rig Type: | Bermuda rig |
| Sailplan: | Fractional rigged sloop |
| Sailarea Main: | 170square feet |
| Sailarea Headsail: | 48square feet |
| Sailarea Total: | 218square feet |
| D-Pn: | 74.5 |
| Successor: | Prindle 18-2 |
The Prindle 18 is an American catamaran sailing dinghy that was designed by Geoffrey Prindle as a racer and first built in 1977.[1] [2] [3]
Geoffrey Prindle had started out as a surfboard manufacturer but was also successful racing Hobie 14 catamarans and started his own line of boats, starting with the Prindle 16.[2]
The design was initially built by Surfglas, a surfboard manufacturer that changed its name to Prindle Catamarans. The boat was also built by Lear Siegler Inc. in the United States. A total of 2,300 boats were built, but it is now out of production.[1] [3] [4] [5]
The design was replaced in the manufacturer's line by the Prindle 18-2 in 1983, a more conventional design, with straight hulls and centerboards.[1] [6]
The Prindle 18 is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars, a rotating mast and a fully-battened mainsail, using foam and fiberglass sail battens. The mast spreaders are adjustable for rake. The dual asymmetrical hulls have raked stems, slightly reverse transoms and dual transom-hung, kick-up beaching rudders controlled by a tiller. The hulls are both rockered and have no keels or daggerboards. The design displaces 3350NaN0 and features a mesh trampoline between the hulls.[1] [3]
This beachcat design has a draft of 7inches allowing beaching. The hinged mast also facilitates ground transportation on a trailer.[1]
For sailing the design may be equipped with one or two trapezes. It has a 4:1 mechanical advantage downhaul, an outhaul and mast rotation controls. The jib luff is attached with a zipper.[3]
The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 74.5 and is normally raced with a crew of two sailors.[3]