Peter Spronk Catamarans

[brian eiland]

Peter Spronk was a notable creator of fast and distinctively elegant catamarans, built in the Caribbean, where the designer intended them to be sailed.

He was born in the Netherlands and moved to South Africa when he was 16, where he designed and built boats. In the 1960s he moved to the St Martin where he produced his best known boats, including BLUE CRANE, BLACK BEARD, MAHO, EL TIGRE, JOLLY MAN, RUBAYAT. PPALU, etc

I found this group of photos languishing on an older computer of mine and figured they deserved a posting on this forum under their own heading

 

[brian eiland]

Interestingly I don't see many (any) fractionally rigged sloops in the whole bunch of these 'trade wind' sailing machines.

 

[brian eiland]

Just found a few more,....also Eagle by his understudy Doggie Brooks

 

[keysdisease]

Peter Spronk built some really beautiful catamarans. I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with him in the late 70's at his shop and private chartering Maho on several occasions. Some of the best sailing I have ever enjoyed was bashing through the swells off St Martin at 20 knots.

I have always thought the Spirit of St Christopher was one of the most beautiful sailing vessels of any kind, she was one of my favorites. His boats looked so sleek and the lapstrake construction gave them that low profile "going 20 knots at the dock" look.

RIP Mr Spronk, may you and Dick Newick enjoy each others company swapping stories and laughing at us mere mortals.

 

[Sand crab]

Spronk head?

I noticed some of these had a Spronk head. I saw a pic where it looks like it's just open to the water below. Is that what it is?

 

[keysdisease]

Yes, just a hole open to the sea, works great

 

[Stephen Ditmore]

Apparently his brother-in-law is still going strong in Grenada: About Us Fortress Marine Ltd in the Caribbean https://fortressmarineltd.com/about.html
Hoping to get down there next month and drop in on him.
Got my eye on this Spronk: 49 ft SPRONK 1979 Custom 49 BLUE MOON St. Augustine Florida United States $179000 https://www.yachtbroker.org/yacht-details?id=80018&vessel=2783927

 

[brian eiland]

Sent you a private email this morning. I'm living in St Augustine now.

 

[redreuben]

Hard to tell from photos of course but they look to carry a fare bit more beam than is the usual ?

 

[brian eiland]

Peter Spronk was a notable creator of fast and distinctively elegant catamarans, built in the Caribbean, where the designer intended them to be sailed.

He was born in the Netherlands and moved to South Africa when he was 16, where he designed and built boats. In the 1960s he moved to the St Martin where he produced his best known boats, including BLUE CRANE, BLACK BEARD, MAHO, EL TIGRE, JOLLY MAN, RUBAYAT. PPALU, etc

I found this group of photos languishing on an older computer of mine and figured they deserved a posting on this forum under their own heading

Interestingly I don't see many (any) fractionally rigged sloops in the whole bunch of these 'trade wind' sailing machines