By 1983, the 35 had evolved into the 37. Most boats were built during the 1980s, and a later version, the Snowgoose Elite, was launched in 1986. Somewhere around 500 Snowgoose 37s were built. The design has a proven ocean-crossing record: nearly 100 are reported to have completed circumnavigations, and the model remains popular with blue-water cruisers.
Design and Construction
The Snowgoose 37’s defining structural features are its solid forward bridgedeck and centre nacelle, which together make the boat very rigid and strong. Early hulls have molded stub keels and are solid fiberglass. Newer models are solid below the waterline and cored above it. Older boats have balsa-cored decks, while some newer boats use other core materials to reduce weight.
These hulls were among the first catamarans to have rounded bilges, and they show a slight reverse sheer. They’re double-ended, with canoe sterns that dissipate wave energy from behind. Bulkheads and furniture facings are securely tabbed to the hull in traditional fashion.
Flat keels, a narrow 15-foot 3-inch beam, and small skegs protecting the rudders make the boat easy to haul, beach, or dry out between tides. Bridgedeck clearance is lower than on more modern designs. That contributes to some slamming in rougher weather, but it also keeps windage low.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The Snowgoose 37 carries a relatively low-aspect cutter rig on a deck-stepped, anodized-aluminum, single-spreader mast. Air draft is under 50 feet, and working sail area is 570 square feet. Most boats are cutter-rigged, with both the genoa and staysail on roller furlers. The mainsail is generally fully battened and has a decent roach.
Prout was an early proponent of the mast-aft rig. All sail controls lead to the cockpit, and a clever stainless-steel fairlead with a vertically mounted winch makes hoisting easier. The aft mainsheet traveler also leaves a useful deck area behind it. Writing in Katamarans, the reviewer noted that the sail plan, with its aft-set mast, is well arranged for single-handed or short-handed sailing.
Owners report that the boat is easy to singlehand, with three smaller sails controlled from the cockpit. It balances readily and handles well under autopilot. The large genoa draws the boat along, while the staysail helps on a close reach.
This isn’t a performance catamaran, but it sails well for its length and performs admirably in light air, averaging 6 to 7 knots and 150 miles per day on Atlantic crossings. Punching upwind through chop is challenging, however, and bridgedeck slamming is most likely on a close reach in heavy weather.
Accommodations
The Snowgoose 37 was offered with two interior plans. In the family layout, a full queen berth forward is open to the saloon, which has wraparound settees and a large table. Teak and quality joinerwork give the interior an elegance rarely found on a catamaran, although headroom is only around 5 feet 8 inches.
In the starboard hull, the forward section contains a changing station, locker storage, a full-length bookshelf, and two hanging lockers. The centrally placed galley has an unusual three-sink basin and a three-burner stove with oven. The refrigerator and freezer are beneath the aft bunk.
Each aft cabin has a double berth, hanging locker, seat, vanity, and deep shelves. The port hull contains a roomy navigation station with a folddown seat and chart drawer. The boat’s single head is all the way forward and is quite large.
In the open-plan version, the saloon settees extend forward, eliminating the third cabin. Outside, the cockpit is comfortable but small compared with those on modern catamarans. A bulkhead-mounted wheel sits to starboard, and a bi-fold Plexiglas companionway door can be closed quickly in ugly weather.
Engine and Equipment
Most Snowgoose 37s were built with a single engine centred on the bridgedeck. Typical installations include two-, three-, or four-cylinder diesels producing 30 to 40 horsepower, such as Volvo MD-series engines or three-cylinder Yanmars. Cockpit and aft-deck hatches provide excellent access.
The defining propulsion feature is the Sillette Sonic Drive stern drive. It turns with the wheel, providing good control in forward and reverse, and it retracts so the boat can be beached. Later Elite models and some retrofitted boats have twin engines.
A 35-gallon fuel tank is fitted beneath the cockpit. The boat’s narrow beam allows it to fit a standard marina berth. With the mast removed, it can also motor through the French canals to the Med.
The Verdict
The Snowgoose 37 is a solid, capable world cruiser with a proven track record. Its rigid solid bridgedeck, tabbed bulkheads, and retractable drive suit long-term cruising and allow the boat to be beached. The cutter rig and cockpit-led controls also make short-handed passage-making realistic.
The trade-offs are lower bridgedeck clearance, with slamming in heavy close-reach conditions, modest headroom, and a cockpit that feels small by modern standards.
Pros
- Rugged, rigid construction with a solid bridgedeck and tabbed bulkheads
- Proven ocean-crossing record, with nearly 100 reported circumnavigations
- Cutter rig with all controls led to the cockpit, making short-handed sailing easier
- Retractable, steerable stern drive allows beaching and drying out
- Narrow beam fits standard marina berths and the French canals
Cons
- Low bridgedeck can cause slamming when close-reaching in rough conditions
- Headroom is limited to around 5 feet 8 inches, and the cockpit is small
- Challenging to sail upwind in choppy conditions
