Launched in 1971 by designer Geoff Prindle, this 16-foot catamaran became one of the most successful small beach cats in sailing history, with approximately 9,000 hulls produced over its production run. The fiberglass foam sandwich construction creates lightweight yet durable hulls that are easy to beach launch and retrieve, making it an ideal choice for recreational sailing and catamaran racing. With its fractional sloop rig featuring a rotating mast, the Prindle 16 delivers impressive performance for its size. The SA/Displacement ratio of 67.55 indicates this is a genuinely quick boat that rewards skilled handling with exhilarating speed and the ability to get up on one hull in fresh conditions. The shallow 1.83-foot draft and retractable daggerboards allow exploration of skinny waters and easy beaching. Perfect for coastal sailing, small lake adventures, and one-design racing, this catamaran offers an excellent introduction to multihull sailing while remaining challenging enough for experienced sailors. The boat's forgiving nature, combined with its thrilling performance potential, explains why it became a cornerstone of the beach catamaran market and remains highly sought after in the used boat market today.
About this estimate ▾
- Based on asking prices — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition, year, location, and included equipment are not factored in.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering.
- See our full analysis: What Thousands of Sailboat Listings Tell Us About Used Boat Prices.
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
What is the Prindle 16's comfort ratio?
The Prindle 16 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 1.91. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Prindle 16 safe for offshore sailing?
The Prindle 16 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 4.73. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Prindle 16?
The theoretical hull speed of the Prindle 16 is 5.19 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Prindle 16 weigh?
The Prindle 16 has a displacement of 300.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 16.00 ft.
How much does a used Prindle 16 cost?
Based on 2 recent market listings, used Prindle 16 sailboats typically sell for between $1,000 and $1,000, with a median asking price of $1,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Prindle 16?
The Prindle 16 was designed by Geoff Prindle, first built in 1971.