Overview
The Prout family had been building multihulls since the 1950s by the time the Snowgoose 37 arrived, an evolution of their earlier 34/35-footer lengthened into the model that became, by production numbers, one of the most successful cruising catamarans ever built. More than 500 hulls across all Snowgoose 37 iterations were completed before Prout & Sons ceased operations in 2002.
Design and Construction
At roughly 12,000 lb displacement on a 15.6 ft beam, the hull uses solid fiberglass construction, with more recent-production hulls solid below the waterline and cored above, and a solid bridgedeck for rigidity. The signature Prout mast-aft cutter rig, with a distinctive raked mast stepped well aft and a large genoa forward, was designed specifically to make the boat manageable for short-handed and singlehanded sailing, a genuinely different approach from most catamarans of the era.
Under Sail
Typical cruising speed runs 6 to 7 knots, with the design handling well on autopilot and performing capably in light air; 150 miles a day is realistically achievable. The mast-aft rig and large genoa make sail handling manageable shorthanded. The offshore record is the standout feature of this design: katamarans.com’s independent review calls it a proven ocean crosser with an unmatched track record, describing hundreds of completed circumnavigations across the model’s production run. Cruising World’s John Kretschmer notes that many 37s and all Elites were rigged with staysails, a big plus in heavy weather, and that the masthead-rigged 37 can be sailed like a monohull offshore without a huge roachy mainsail to wrestle in a storm. Practical Boat Owner’s Duncan Kent says she is not close-winded, with about 50 degrees off the apparent wind common, and fastest on a beam reach at 7 to 8 knots in a fresh breeze. The standard engine was centrally mounted with a steerable drive leg, which offsets the lack of prop wash over the rudders. The foredeck is solid rather than a trampoline, which adds strength and weight, and most boats have three double cabins.
Buyers Notes
Bridgedeck slamming on close reaches in rough weather is a known characteristic of this hull form; ask an owner about their real-world experience before buying. Salon headroom, around 5 ft 8 in, is low by modern standards. Confirm whether a specific hull is the original Snowgoose 37 (1983-1986) or the later, slightly wider Snowgoose 37 Elite (1986 onward), since the two have different displacement, sail area, and interior volume.
