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Prudence Herreshoff
Designer: L. F. Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Various  ·  First built: 1937
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About the Prudence Herreshoff

Bearing the celebrated Herreshoff name, the Prudence is a sailboat that carries with it the legacy of one of America's most storied boatbuilding dynasties. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, founded in Bristol, Rhode Island, earned a reputation for producing vessels of exceptional craftsmanship and thoughtful design, and boats carrying the Herreshoff pedigree continue to attract serious sailors who value that heritage. With limited specifications readily available, prospective buyers would be well advised to seek out owners and class associations for detailed performance data. What can be said is that Herreshoff-designed boats have historically emphasized seaworthiness, balanced handling, and quality construction — traits that tend to make them well-suited for coastal cruising and day sailing where responsiveness and reliability matter most. For those drawn to classic American sailing traditions, the Prudence represents an opportunity to own a piece of nautical history. Buyers researching this model should prioritize thorough in-person inspections and consult with Herreshoff enthusiasts, as the passionate community surrounding these boats can often provide invaluable insight into ownership, maintenance, and the sailing character that specs alone cannot fully capture.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.75 ft / 6.93 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.75 ft / 6.02 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Displacement 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Ballast 3,500.00 lb / 1,588 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer L. F. Herreshoff
Builder Various
First Built 1937
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Performance Ratios
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
50.0
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
405.65
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 3.39 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.00
P (Mainsail Luff) 405.65
E (Mainsail Foot) 564.55 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Bear, Ensign Pearson, Spartan 1 Buchanan

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Prudence Herreshoff ★
22.8 ft
Bear
23.0 ft
Ensign Pearson
22.5 ft
Spartan 1 Buchanan
23.0 ft
LWL
Prudence Herreshoff ★
19.8 ft
Bear
18.1 ft
Ensign Pearson
16.8 ft
Spartan 1 Buchanan
18.3 ft
Beam
Prudence Herreshoff ★
8.0 ft
Bear
6.8 ft
Ensign Pearson
7.0 ft
Spartan 1 Buchanan
6.5 ft
Displacement
Prudence Herreshoff ★
7 lbs
Bear
5 lbs
Ensign Pearson
3 lbs
Spartan 1 Buchanan
5 lbs
Ballast
Prudence Herreshoff ★
3 lbs
Bear
2 lbs
Ensign Pearson
1 lbs
Spartan 1 Buchanan
3 lbs
Sail Area
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
258 sq ft
Ensign Pearson
235 sq ft
Spartan 1 Buchanan
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
14.2
Ensign Pearson
18.1
Spartan 1 Buchanan
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
50.0 %
Bear
40.0 %
Ensign Pearson
Spartan 1 Buchanan
61.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
31.1
Ensign Pearson
18.8
Spartan 1 Buchanan
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
1.58
Ensign Pearson
1.94
Spartan 1 Buchanan
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
405
Bear
378
Ensign Pearson
Spartan 1 Buchanan
398
Hull Speed
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
5.7 kts
Ensign Pearson
5.5 kts
Spartan 1 Buchanan
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Prudence Herreshoff ★
Bear
1.1
Ensign Pearson
2.0
Spartan 1 Buchanan
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