Prout 38 Buyer's Guide
The Prout 38 is a 1998-introduced cruising catamaran from Prout & Sons, designed by Robert Underwood and David Feltham, and it remains a recognisable name on the brokerage circuit for sailors wanting three-couple space without a performance cat's compromises. Shopping one means weighing the boat's documented structural traits against the upgrades previous owners have added over two decades of service.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The interior was originally laid out for three couples, with one head in the port hull and a sunken galley in the starboard hull, plus a cool box in the forward stateroom. A large molded foredeck and the absence of a forward trampoline are consistent across the class, so buyers should expect a solid bridgedeck forward rather than netting. Ex-charter hulls may show higher cycle counts on systems but often come with a fuller inventory.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a practical cruising inventory. Commonly fitted items include solar, radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, inverter, cockpit shower, hot water, bimini, and dinghy davits — together these mean a buyer can step aboard and cruise without immediate spend on energy or navigation. Often-seen additions such as a watermaker, spinnaker, freezer, EPIRB, and life raft extend bluewater range and safety. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are a hardtop, a completed transatlantic, and a short-handed setup; these signal a boat prepared for specific passage work rather than default spec.
What to Inspect
The fixed keels are durable and serve as good grounding plates that protect the rudder when the cat is beached anchor, but they contribute to drag and a lack of lift on the wind — inspect them for grounding damage and check rudder alignment. Because each hull sinks about one inch for every 950 pounds, verify loaded trim against the brochure's 20,170-pound max recommended weight. The aft-stepped mast and small blade mainsail with big foretriangle are standard; confirm rigging wear at the masthead and the sail-drive seals on the twin 20-horsepower diesels, since redundant propulsion is only an asset if both legs are sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Prout 38 include Trinidad and Tobago, France, the United Kingdom, Guatemala, Grenada, and Germany. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm the layout matches your crew plan, verify the keels and sail-drives, and assess whether the fitted solar, autopilot, and watermaker suite meets your cruising style. A well-kept example with the common inventory is a turnkey three-couple cruiser; an ex-charter boat deserves closer system scrutiny.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Prout 38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $155,653 | — |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $155,653 | 0.0% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $139,014 | -10.7% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $127,430 | -8.3% |
| Apr 26 | 9 | $135,215 | +6.1% |
| May 26 | 1 | $135,215 | 0.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $135,000 | -0.2% |
Where they're listed
Prout 38 listings appear across 6 countries. France has the most listings with 4 (26.7%), followed by Trinidad and Tobago and United Kingdom.
Country view
15 listings · 6 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $138,976 | 4 | 0 | 26.7% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $134,015 | 4 | 0 | 26.7% |
| United Kingdom | $155,653 | 3 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Grenada | $135,000 | 2 | 2 | 13.3% |
| Germany | $128,588 | 1 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Guatemala | $165,000 | 1 | 0 | 6.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siltala 38 | 37.5' | $ 109,163 | 60 | 18 |
| Island Packet 38 | 38' | $ 99,000 | 56 | 22 |
| Robertson and Caine 38 | 37.5' | $ 219,000 | 46 | 15 |
| Lagoon 38 | 43.04' | $ 521,303 | 35 | 14 |
| Prout 38You are here | — | $ 135,107 | 16 | 2 |
| Broadblue Catamarans 385 | 38.68' | $ 210,000 | 9 | 0 |
| Kadey-Krogen 38 | 38.16' | $ 74,900 | 9 | 1 |
| Privilège 37 | 37' | $ 159,000 | 8 | 2 |
| Downeast 38 Cutter | 38' | $ 35,000 | 7 | 0 |
| Morgan 38 | 37.67' | $ 69,000 | 5 | 1 |