Design Brief & Intent
The Prindle 19 was built with a singular, uncompromising mission: high-performance fleet and distance racing. While earlier beach cats were designed as accessible day-sailors that could be easily launched through the surf, the Prindle 19 catered to advanced crews who demanded precise pointing angles, rapid acceleration, and minimal drag. Loutek's symmetrical hulls meant the boat could no longer rely on hull shape alone to prevent leeway. Instead, it utilized deep, pivoting centerboards to slice through the water, allowing the boat to point far higher than its asymmetrical competitors.
The structural design reflected its elite performance brief. Performance Catamarans Inc. utilized vacuum-bagged foam-core fiberglass construction to ensure the hulls were exceptionally stiff and lightweight, weighing in at a mere 385 pounds. The crossbars were robustly engineered to eliminate the torsional flex common in earlier catamarans, ensuring that energy from the sails was transferred directly into forward momentum. Rather than having a cabin or cabin joinery, the layout is defined by a clean, taut trampoline deck optimized for double-trapeze work, where the skipper and crew can fully harness the boat's massive power.
Variations & Configurations
Throughout its production run, the Prindle 19 was offered in two primary configurations: the Standard and the MX. The Standard version carried a traditional fractional sloop rig with a rotating aluminum spar, featuring a total sail area of 247 square feet.
The MX configuration was developed for sailors seeking even greater performance, featuring a major rig modification. It incorporated an aluminum spar, or bow striker, extending forward from the front crossbar to the jib tack, positioned just beneath the bow bridle. This structural addition allowed the MX to carry a significantly larger, lower-footed jib. The MX variant was paired with high-performance radial-cut laminate sails rather than standard Dacron, optimizing the boat’s speed in light-to-moderate air. Additionally, while the standard rig was highly competitive, many owners eventually retrofitted their boats with asymmetrical spinnakers, transforming them into modern downwind rockets.
Sailing Performance & Handling
On the water, the Prindle 19 is a pure momentum machine. With a displacement-to-length ratio of 27.15, it sits firmly in the ultra-light racer category. This featherweight build is paired with a staggering sail area-to-displacement ratio of 74.67, which translates to immediate acceleration in the slightest puff of wind. At the helm, the boat feels remarkably responsive, though its high-tension, rigid frame demands constant attention.
The centerboard system is a defining characteristic of its handling. The boards feature a pivoting, circular trailing edge that effectively seals the slot when deployed. To prevent the gurgling and drag associated with open wells (as the Prindle 19 does not utilize trunk gaskets), owners use a simple but clever shock cord system attached to the shroud chainplates to partially lock the boards in a semi-retracted position when sailing downwind.
With a low comfort ratio of 1.84 and a high capsize ratio of 4.67, the Prindle 19 offers a wet, thrilling, and unforgiving ride. The low comfort ratio underscores that this is a physical, athletic platform rather than a stable cruising design. Active weight management on the double trapeze is mandatory to keep the hulls flat and prevent pitch-poling. Unlike asymmetrical cats that gently slide sideways when overpowered, the symmetrical hulls and deep centerboards of the Prindle 19 will bite, meaning a sudden gust must be managed with immediate sheet trim or a quick bear-away to avoid capsizing.
Known Issues & Triage
Given the boat's age and high-performance nature, prospective buyers must watch for several structural wear points. The most common issue on these foam-sandwich hulls is the development of soft spots. Over decades of hard racing and foot traffic, the outer fiberglass skin can delaminate from the internal foam core, particularly on the decks forward of the front crossbar and directly under the trapeze areas. Triage involves tapping the hulls with a plastic mallet to listen for dull, hollow thuds, indicating delamination that requires epoxy injection to re-bond the layers.
The centerboard trunks are another high-stress area. The immense lateral load generated by the deep centerboards can cause spiderweb stress cracks in the gelcoat around the trunk exits. If left untreated, these cracks can propagate into structural failures. The aluminum mast step and front crossbar must also be closely inspected; the high-tension rig places immense compression loads on these components, which can cause the mast step casting to warp or the crossbar to fatigue. Finally, because the boat is frequently sailed in salt water and stored on trailers, the original aluminum rudder castings and gudgeons are prone to corrosion and play, requiring regular bushing replacement to maintain precise steering.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners have successfully kept the Prindle 19 relevant by adopting contemporary materials and rigging philosophies. One of the most popular modern upgrades is the transition from traditional wire standing rigging to high-strength synthetic lines, such as Dyneema or specialist soft rigging kits. This modification significantly reduces weight aloft, lowers the boat's center of gravity, and dramatically decreases mast-raising and trailering setup times.
Sail plans have also seen major updates. While vintage Dacron sails are still used for casual day sailing, competitive owners refit their rigs with modern, square-top mainsails constructed from advanced composite laminates. These sails auto-twist at the head in high wind gusts, dumping excess power and making the boat easier to control on high-speed reaches. Additionally, adding a modern spinnaker system with a launching snuffer mounted to the bowsprit has become a standard upgrade for fleet racing, allowing the Prindle 19 to maintain its reputation as a formidable competitor against modern multihulls.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Decades after its introduction, the Prindle 19 remains a highly respected niche model on the brokerage market. It occupies an interesting economic sweet spot: it commands a slight premium over common recreational beach cats due to its superior speed and build quality, yet it represents an extraordinary value compared to modern high-performance catamarans. The boat is relatively scarce compared to mass-market alternatives, but a passionate community of owners and specialized marine suppliers keeps parts and advice highly accessible.
When acquiring a Prindle 19, the purchase price is often only a fraction of the total cost of ownership. Buyers should prioritize finding a boat with solid, dry hulls and a functional trailer. Upgrades like replacing aged sails, renewing trampolines, or sourcing custom rigging can easily exceed the baseline value of the boat. However, for the sailor willing to invest in these updates, the resulting performance package rivals that of much more expensive, modern racing machines.
The Verdict
The Prindle 19 is a tour de force of beach catamaran design, representing a high point in the evolution of twin-hull racing. It is not a boat for beginners, nor is it a casual beach cruiser; it is an athletic, high-speed machine that demands respect, skill, and physical coordination. For experienced sailors looking for blistering speed, exceptional pointing ability, and a highly responsive helm at a fraction of the cost of a modern racing cat, this classic multihull continues to deliver an unmatched adrenaline rush.
Pros:
- Blistering speed and exceptional pointing angles thanks to symmetrical hulls and pivoting centerboards.
- Rigid, high-quality vacuum-bagged foam-core construction minimizes hull flex and maximizes energy transfer.
- Generous deck layout optimized for double-trapeze work.
- Active aftermarket support for sails, trampolines, and custom rigging upgrades.
- Incredible performance-to-cost ratio on the used market.
Cons:
- High capsize and pitch-pole risk requiring skilled, active crew work in heavy air.
- Complex rig and centerboard setup leads to longer setup times than simpler beach cats.
- Susceptible to hull delamination and soft spots in high-load areas.
- Scarce parts availability for original aluminum castings and specialty spars.
- Unforgiving handling characteristics that make it unsuitable for novice sailors.
