Heading out this weekend to have a look at a 1988 12M Prowler. Was thinking
that someone out there might have something to say about this model or
manufacturer (good or bad please)
If we are serious, I would have full mechanical and hull surveys done and
any offer would be pending satisfactory survey.
How about it folks, any body had one or been on one and be willing to give
me some insight.
Appreciate any info.
Best Rgds
Bob

Heading out this weekend to have a look at a 1988 12M Prowler. Was thinking
that someone out there might have something to say about this model or
manufacturer (good or bad please)
If we are serious, I would have full mechanical and hull surveys done and
any offer would be pending satisfactory survey.
How about it folks, any body had one or been on one and be willing to give
me some insight.
Appreciate any info.
Best Rgds
Bob


I've sold a couple of these. One aft cabin, and an older Prowler flybridge
sedan with a cockpit about the same size. Very nice boats with a few "isms".

Construction quality is above average, IMO. Interior trim and fitting a little
nicer yet. IIRC, Prowler was associated with Cooper Yachts out of Vancouver BC.
Cooper is known for high end, high $$$ product.

You wind up with a little of everything in about a 36-footer, but some would
say maybe not enough of any particular thing.
They try to put a lot of content into a tight space.

The flybridge is just roomy enough, the aft deck is tight enough to be "busy",
(and be sensitive to the COG and the rolling motion if you stick a heavy
hardtop over the aft deck). The cockpit on the FB sedan was short, and the
climb up to the bridge pretty steep.

The boat will run out fairly well. I ran one with a couple of big block gassers
from Port Orchard to Seattle, and kept pace with a ferry doing in excess of
20-knots.

Depending on your intended usage and your personal tastes, a Prowler might give
you very good service. If you really like the boat, there's no well-known
reason acknowledged throughout the industry that would make it a poor choice.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Heading out this weekend to have a look at a 1988 12M Prowler. Was
thinking
that someone out there might have something to say about this model or
manufacturer (good or bad please)


A friend of mine had a 36' "Cooper Prowler", an aft cabin twin engine
powerboat. Are we thinking the same thing?

I remember it as being a nice boat, except for one issue that I had with it.
The hull was shaped so that there was this "half tunnel" just above the
waterline. I understand that the purpose of this was to catch the spray of
water off the hull and deflect it down so that you didn't get water spraying
up over the boat while under way.

The problem with this design is that while at anchor in a light chop the
water would just run up and SLAP the underside of that tunnel. SLAP - - -
SLAP - - - SLAP

It could be so bad that people couldn't sleep in the forward V berth. It
was so loud that I could hardly sleep in my own boat when rafted up next to
him.

This wasn't a problem in the aft cabin as the waves didn't hit the hull the
right way to get trapped back there. But up in the bow it could be awful!
If you don't anchor out in a light chop or use the forward cabin it is fine.
All other things about the boat were very nice.

If the boat you are considering has a similar hull design you may want to
run a little test on your "sea trial". Idle slowly into a small chop and go
down into the V berth and see what it is like.

Rod

I have a 1987 8M Prowler, made by Cooper, and we are very happy with it.
It appears to be very well made, with a lot of storage, beautiful teak,
a solid hull and fairly heavy-duty construction. It weighs a bit more
than other similar sized boats. I agree with the previous poster about
the slapping noise of of a light chop in the v-berth. We've gotten used
to it, though.

Capt. Jeff