Prout 45

Solitude is a fine example of a Prout 45. Recently completed annual service and recent yard haul out, she is ready for her next owner.

Solitude is a true classic among bluewater cruising catamarans, known for its robust British construction, seaworthiness, and liveaboard comfort. Built in 1996, this 45-foot model represents the culmination of decades of multihull design by the Prout brothers—pioneers in catamaran innovation.

The Prout 45 was launched in 1995 following the 50 Quasar and was one of their prettiest boats. The sleek looking design features a low bridge deck clearance, which means there can be a bit of slamming going upwind, and the displacement is on the heavy side. You won't be breaking any speed records, but this is a catamaran that will take you anywhere safely. The flip side with that lower profile is that windage is significantly reduced versus other designs.

The Prout 45 features a solid fiberglass hull with a hand-laid layup, no balsa core below the waterline, and a reinforced bridgedeck. Designed for ocean crossings, her hulls are narrow and efficient, contributing to better upwind performance than many modern cruising cats. Her low-profile cabin and moderate beam provide a sleek, aerodynamic silhouette, enhancing performance and fuel efficiency. The Prout 45s are moulded with a lay-up consisting of Isophthalic Gelcoat, 2 x 300 g powder-bound mat (hand laid up with Isophthalic resin), 600/300 Bi axial material, 9mm end grain balsa, 450 g chopped strand mat with additional reinforcing below the waterline and keels, with certain key areas reinforced with Kevlar.

Up front, she looks a bit like a Privilege on the foredeck with those small trampolines and the nacelle. All the lines come down the aft side of the mast—and because this is positioned aft in the Prout position, your sheets, halyards and reefing lines are all to hand in the cockpit.

The galley is down in the starboard hull, making the saloon very comfortable. The interior design is pretty innovative. The saloon stops short of the forward bulkhead, so there is space for an owner's cabin forward in the center of the boat. The Prout nacelle that runs fore and aft along the main deck adds living space and headroom as well as buoyancy. The wide transom steps provide easy water access. With ample tankage for extended cruising, she is well suited for liveaboard comfort and ocean-crossing capability.