Questions About a Prairie 32

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by Sheepshank

KInd of like Johnny Cash's "A boy named Sue" huh? , NIAGRA ?falls.You probably smell funny too.

LOL! Good point.

[onestepcsy37]

back in the 1980's a dockmate of mine in fort lauderdale did a six month trip to the bahamas in a prairie. his son accompanied him part of the way.

he thought the boat was ultimately strong, but that was it. said it sailed poorly (admittedly, he was not an experienced sailor) and was an uncomfortable liveaboard. said he always felt like he was living in the cellar. also thought the cockpit was way too small. when he came back he sold the boat for $20k and left the sea - went home to new mexico....

[Sheepshank]

I will be taking her out in a couple weeks for the first time.I will post back with my interpratation of her sailing characteristics then.So far she fits most of the pysical characeristics that i am looking for in a boat. modified full keel, cutter rgged,external chainplates to hull ,stern hung rudder, hand layed hull,small cockpit, some not all new sails, minimal initial investment,granted have put more money into it now, 4.5 hours by car from my mountain home. .Anyway thanks for posting.Nam mi o ho ren ge kio

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Sheepshank

I will be taking her out in a couple weeks for the first time.I will post back with my interpratation of her sailing characteristics then.So far she fits most of the pysical characeristics that i am looking for in a boat. modified full keel, cutter rgged,external chainplates to hull ,stern hung rudder, hand layed hull,small cockpit, some not all new sails, minimal initial investment,granted have put more money into it now, 4.5 hours by car from my mountain home. .Anyway thanks for posting.Nam mi o ho ren ge kio

At the end of the day its about the sailing...good luck...

[Mike Meer]

Boat here in Annapolis sold. Enthusiastic new owner so she should be sailing before too long.

[quintessence]

just purchased hull #2 and working on a few changes, would love to talk to other owners about a few options. Also I Perry's review in print anywhere?

[Sheepshank]

Pm me if you want to chat.If you have any luck getting in touch with the p32 owners group let me know.My Prairie project is well underway.Congrats on your new boat.

[Capn Jimbo]

In answer to the several posts whose authors couldn't quite seem to comprehend the name of this design - "Prairie": I would remind you of the VERY famous term "Prairie Schooner", which "prairie schooner wagon covered with white canvas, made famous by its almost universal use in the migration across the Western prairies and plains".

It may be that the name originally came from the looks of these ubiquitous covered wagons:

http://images.encyclopedia.com/utili...=300&width=300

The tall "rig" on these wagons even looked salty. Ergo, the name of the seagoing "Prairie" seems rather appropriate, historical and worthy. Per this resource:

"PRAIRIE SCHOONER, a wagon used for long-distance travel and freight transport in the nineteenth century. The wagon was made with six or seven arching wooden bows supporting a canvas cover. Seen from a distance, the vehicle so resembled a ship at sea as to suggest the name. Mormons, California gold-seekers, emigrants to Oregon, freighters operating on the Great Plains, and settlers seeking homesteads all used the schooner after it was brought into common use in the Santa Fe trade soon after 1821. It was not only the chief means for the transportation of goods, but it also provided a home for pioneer families as they journeyed west in search of land."

Works for me.

[Brad1111]

Does anyone no the value of these boats

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Brad1111

Does anyone no the value of these boats

It would depend, to a very large extent, on their condition.

[pnvalen]

I own a prairie cutter 32' and i am redoing it .Does any one has any plan for the sail set up .

[pnvalen]

I own a prairie cutter 32 and did a lot of renovation in the galley and on deck.Question i have some problems tacking under one sail ,Main or genoa.I get speed around 5knot start to tack as soon as she is right in the wind she stay there and turn back to where i start .How can i solve that problem.

[Warren149]

Originally Posted by pnvalen

I own a prairie cutter 32 and did a lot of renovation in the galley and on deck.Question i have some problems tacking under one sail ,Main or genoa.I get speed around 5knot start to tack as soon as she is right in the wind she stay there and turn back to where i start .How can i solve that problem.

Hi unfortunately this is the sort of the design issues that Bob Perry was talking about. You could try contacting him directly to see if he has any advise for you.

I would suggest , sail with 2 sails, use the engine to help tack, tack really fast don't give it a chance to go in 'stays'.
You could try playing with the rake on the mast. Your problem comes from the mast location, to far aft and hullshape , center of balance( hull) and center of effort( sails) are all confused by poor design. , read the first post.
Cheers Warren