"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