The Prindle 19 is a high-performance beach catamaran designed for exhilarating speed and agility, embodying the core philosophy of its builder, Performance Catamarans Inc. With a length overall of just over 19 feet and a generous beam of 8.5 feet, this catamaran offers a dynamic sailing experience, making it a popular choice among performance enthusiasts and recreational sailors alike. Its lightweight fiberglass solid hull construction contributes to its impressive speed potential and responsive handling.
The Prindle 19 was built by Performance Catamarans Inc., a company founded in 1975 by visionary sailboat designer Tom Roland in Santa Ana, California. While Tom Roland was the founder, the specific designer of the Prindle 19 is Richard Loutek. Performance Catamarans became renowned for its Nacra line of catamarans, consistently focusing on creating lightweight, fast, and agile multihulls. The company's ethos centered on delivering exceptional speed and responsiveness, catering to competitive racers and performance enthusiasts. The Prindle 19, first built in 1985, emerged during a period where the builder was pushing the boundaries of catamaran design, aiming for optimal hydrodynamic efficiency and exhilarating performance. It was noted for its "sleek shark bows and no deck seam," distinguishing it from some earlier Prindle models. There is no information to suggest significant variations like MkI/MkII designations during its production run.
The Prindle 19, characterized by its catamaran hull type and fractional sloop rig with a rotating spar, offers impressive sailing performance. With a reported sail area of 247 square feet, it is designed to be powerful and quick. Its twin centerboards, which can be raised to a minimum draft of 0.42 feet, allow for easy beaching and shallow-water access, while also enhancing upwind performance when deployed to their maximum draft of 2.08 feet. Owners frequently describe the Prindle 19 as a fast and forgiving boat, noting its resistance to pitchpoling. It is considered a powerful boat, capable of delivering exciting performance, and is often compared to the Nacra 5.8 in its performance characteristics. While it's a great recreational boat for just playing around, its high-performance nature suggests it's not typically recommended for first-time sailors due to its power.
As a high-performance beach catamaran, the Prindle 19 prioritizes sailing dynamics over extensive interior accommodations. The indicates no maximum headroom, which is typical for a boat of this type, meaning it lacks a traditional enclosed cabin. The interior layout is minimal, primarily consisting of the trampolines between the hulls and small, sealed compartments within the hulls for buoyancy and limited storage of essentials like sail parts. Any "interior" would be for gear storage rather than living space. The construction features a fiberglass solid hull and deck.
Owner perspectives on the Prindle 19 generally highlight its performance-oriented design and forgiving nature. Many owners praise its speed and responsiveness, describing it as a "fast and forgiving boat." Some note its resistance to pitchpoling, a common concern with high-performance catamarans. While powerful, it can be a good recreational boat. Owners have made small modifications to their boats while maintaining the core Prindle 19 design. Some discussions among owners revolve around common maintenance issues, such as ensuring the boat points directly head to wind for mainsheet and downhaul adjustments, and addressing potential issues with original deck fittings or tangs. However, the overall sentiment indicates that with proper maintenance, it remains a capable and enjoyable boat.