G. Prout & Sons
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Boatbuilding |
| Founded | 1935 in Canvey Island, United Kingdom |
| Founders | Geoffrey Prout, Roland, and Francis Prout, |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Fate | bankrupt |
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
| Products | Initially folding dinghies, canoes and kayaks, then sailing catamarans[1] |
G. Prout and Sons of Canvey Island, Essex, in the United Kingdom, was initially a builder of folding dinghies, canoes and kayaks founded in 1935. In the 1950s, the company moved to the construction of small sailing catamarans with Shearwater I and later Shearwater III, which the National Maritime Museum describes as the first production catamaran in the world.[2] The company then developed from small catamarans to larger cruising vessels. G. Prout & Sons was dissolved in 2002.[3]
History[]
Geoffrey Prout, a boating expert, writer, and World War I veteran, founded the company in 1935 after receiving a patent for his folding boat (collapsible canoe) in January 1935.[4] Brothers Francis and Roland Prout were canoeists who took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. They worked in the family firm G. Prout & Sons Ltd, with their father, making folding canoes and dingies. They developed their first catamaran, the Shearwater I in the early 1950s. Initiallly they experimentally lashed together two K1 kayaks and added a bamboo platform and a mast and sail, and after the success of this went on to build the Shearwater I, in which they participated in local regattas. They then developed the Shearwater III.[3][1]
The brothers were both awarded the Freedom of the City of London and were appointed liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.[1]
In 1975 the brothers became directors of a new company, Prout Catamarans, while Frank's son and Roland's daughter continued to make catamarans as G. Prout & Sons Ltd.[1] Prout Catamarans changed its name to 199 AB Limited in 2001 and went into administration the same year.[5] In 1989 G. Prout & Sons Ltd was renamed Prout Holdings Ltd, and on 22 April 2020 the decision was made to wind up the company and a liquidator was appointed.[6]
Cruising catamarans[]
Prouts built a large range of catamarans.[3] The table is sorted initially by length of vessel, and is composed of those built in the company's heyday.
| Model | Launch date |
|---|---|
| Prout Swift | 1954 |
| Apollo 18 | 1969 |
| Prout Cougar | 1962 |
| Prout Ranger 27 | 1962 |
| Prout Ranger 45 | 1965 |
| Prout Scirocco 26 | 1982 |
| Prout Quest 31 | 1978 |
| Prout Quest 33 | 1985 |
| Prout Event 34 | 1993 |
| Prout Snowgoose 35 | 1970 |
| Prout Snowgoose 37 | 1978 |
| Prout Snowgoose Elite | 1986 |
| Prout 38 | 1998 |
| Prout Escale 39 | 1991 |
| Prout 45 | 1995 |
| Prout 46 Ken Freivokh Design | 1998 |
| Prout Quasar 50 | 1980 |
References[]
- ^ a b c d McCave, Fred. "The Prout Story". CanveyIsland.org. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Loveland, Graham. "Shearwater catamaran "Yellow Bird" – BC16". National Maritime Museum. National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Prout Catamarans - a History". Katamarans. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "GB445597 Collapsable canoe". patentscope.wipo.int. Patentscope. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "199 AB LIMITED - Overview". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "PROUT HOLDINGS LIMITED - Filing history". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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- British boat builders
- Defunct manufacturing companies of England
- British companies disestablished in 2002
- British companies established in 1935
- Companies based in Essex
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