Prout built these catamarans to cross oceans rather than fill charter fleets. The Elite carries that lineage forward with traditional, solid construction and a proven record of world circumnavigation.
Design and Construction
The Elite shares the Snowgoose 37’s reputation for rugged construction and seakindliness. Its traditional build includes bulkheads and furniture facings securely tabbed to the hull.
Early hulls had molded stub keels and were 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.
Instead of a trampoline, the foredeck is a rigid bridgedeck structure. It adds stiffness and provides room for two large forward lockers. The Elite’s hull shape differs slightly from that of the standard 37, and its smaller rudders are tucked below the waterline rather than hung outboard on the transoms like the original boat’s twin rudders. Small skegs protect the rudders when the boat takes the ground.
The double-ended hulls and canoe sterns dissipate wave energy from astern, but they don’t provide stern scoops or easy swim-step access. Flat keels and a narrow beam make the boat easy to haul, beach, or dry out between tides.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The Elite carries the same relatively low-aspect cutter rig as the standard boat. Its deck-stepped, anodized aluminum mast has a single set of spreaders and an air draft under 50 feet. Working sail area is 570 square feet.
Most boats are cutter rigged, with both the genoa and staysail on roller furlers. The fully battened mainsail generally carries a decent roach. All sail controls lead to the cockpit, where a clever stainless-steel fairlead and vertically mounted winch make hoisting easier. The aft mainsheet traveler leaves a useful deck area behind it.
With the mast stepped well aft and three smaller sails controlled from the cockpit, the Elite is well arranged for short-handed or single-handed passagemaking. Owners report that it balances easily and tracks well under autopilot. The flexible cutter rig also offers useful options: the large genoa keeps the boat moving in light air, while the staysail helps on a close reach. Beating upwind in chop, however, is no pleasure.
Typical passages average 6 to 7 knots, and 150-mile days are achievable on an ocean crossing.
Accommodations
Both the Snowgoose 37 and the Elite were offered with two interior plans. In the family layout, a full queen berth sits forward, open to the saloon, with wraparound settees and a large table. Two spacious double cabins occupy the sterns.
Forward in the starboard hull are a changing station, locker storage, a full-length bookshelf, and two hanging lockers serving the queen cabin. The galley occupies the middle of that hull and includes an unusual three-sink basin plus a three-burner stove and 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 fold-down seat and chart drawer. The boat’s single head is all the way forward and is quite large for a boat of this size.
In the open plan, the saloon settees continue forward, replacing the third cabin. Teak and quality joinery give the interior an elegance rarely found on a catamaran, although saloon headroom is only around 5 feet 8 inches.
The cockpit is comfortable but small compared with those of modern cruising cats. A bulkhead-mounted wheel sits to starboard, and a thick, bi-fold Plexiglas companionway door can be closed quickly in ugly weather.
Engine and Drive System
Most Snowgoose 37s, including Elite models, were built with a single engine. This was commonly a Volvo MD or three-cylinder Yanmar diesel producing 30 to 40 horsepower. The engine sits centrally on the bridgedeck, with excellent access through hatches in the cockpit and aft deck. A 35-gallon fuel tank is mounted beneath the cockpit.
The defining feature is the steerable, retractable Sonic Drive by Sillette. The stern drive turns with the wheel to improve maneuvering and retracts so the boat can be beached. Some later Elite models had twin engines, and a few owners have retrofitted twin installations. Even so, the single-engine arrangement remains popular for its simplicity and centrally placed weight.
Known Issues
The covered foredeck and low bridgedeck can produce slamming in rougher weather. The clearance is lower than on modern catamarans such as the Nautitech 40 Open, and the boat has a center nacelle like a Privilege. Period reviews report that heavy-weather bridgedeck slamming peaks on a close reach, while owners have also described considerable water action beneath the bridgedeck.
The narrow side decks require care when moving forward. A stout stainless-steel grabrail, positioned at a useful height, helps mitigate that exposure, as do tall, well-supported double lifelines and a bow lifeline.
The Verdict
The Snowgoose 37 Elite is a solid, capable world cruiser with a proven record. It descends from one of the most successful production catamarans and adds a little more room below than the standard 37.
This isn’t a performance cat, but it sails well for its length, is manageable short-handed, and can cover ocean miles at a consistent 6 to 7 knots. The trade-offs are a low bridgedeck that’s prone to slamming, modest headroom, and cockpit and side decks that feel small by today’s standards.
Pros
- Rugged, traditional construction with a solid bridgedeck and securely tabbed bulkheads
- Cutter rig with all controls led to the cockpit; excellent short-handed handling
- Steerable, retractable stern drive allows beaching and easy ground access
- Proven ocean-crossing pedigree, with hundreds of circumnavigations
Cons
- Low bridgedeck clearance causes slamming on a close reach in heavy weather
- Narrow beam and side decks, a small cockpit, and around 5 feet 8 inches of saloon headroom
- Double-ended hulls lack sugar-scoop swim access
- Not quick upwind in choppy conditions
