Prairie 36

[dweller]

We are the new owners of the 1980 Prairie 36, formerly known as Tutch O' Dutch. We'll be changing the name to Prairie Dog as we apply for a transfer of the documentation.

It's basically in sound condition, and the surveyor rated everything as "above average," which he said was unusual for a boat of this age. Lots of little projects, but nothing major.

Twin Perkins 4-236 and a Westerbeke generator. LP stove and refrigerator, which is different than all other Prairies that we've seen.

Would welcome corresponding with other 36 owners.

 

[KneeDeep]

Hello and Congratulations on the new boat!

We have owned a 37 Atlantic Double Cabin sister ship of yours since last spring. Our is a 1988 with the galley down and bunks and we absolutely lover her.

I have seen a couple different plans for the Prairie's - is your galley up or down, and v-berth? We love space in the salon from the wide beam and people are amazed that the boat is only a 37'

I have seen a couple of other folks on the site with your boat that should be along soon.

We have twin Detroit 8.2's which is way too much for the cruising we do at hull speed, but it is fun to occasionally get up on plane. I think the Perkins are perfect for the boat.

Cool idea on the photoshop on the new name!! Looks great!

 

[cappy208]

Good day:

Last summer we repatriated our Prairie 29 from Sandusky Oh. Awesome little BIG cruiser. Having nothing bad to say. I can only relate look for the fuel tank fills and hoses to the tanks. That would be my sore spot. The wiring and the grounds would be another issue. Other than those issues, these are pretty bullet proof cruisers.

 

[wyoboater]

Welcome aboard! Nice boat you've gotten yourself! Enjoy it! Where will it call home?

 

[dweller]

Welcome aboard! Nice boat you've gotten yourself! Enjoy it! Where will it call home?

We're going to use it as a winter cruising boat in Florida. She's currently stored on the hard at Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage, in Placida, FL. Will be going down before Thanksgiving to prep her and start on the long list of little projects.

 

[Sortie]

Welcome aboard. Nice rig. Our 29 is a good boat, no real issues except those identified by Cappy208.

John

 

[CaptTom]

I have seen a couple of other folks on the site with your boat that should be along soon.

Uh... that would be me Sorry it took so long, I was out on the boat all weekend.

Welcome! There aren't too many of us Prairie 36'ers around, so any effort to get together to share notes is always welcome.

Our 1980 36 (hull number 23) was upgraded to Perkins 6 cyl turbos in 1982. Configuration is galley up, full V-berth forward and centerline master berth. In our 3rd year of ownership, still loving the layout. I really didn't want or need the extra horsepower, but that's what this one had.

Feel free to ask about questions as they come up!

 

[dweller]

Uh... that would be me Sorry it took so long, I was out on the boat all weekend.

Welcome! There aren't too many of us Prairie 36'ers around, so any effort to get together to share notes is always welcome.

Our 1980 36 (hull number 23) was upgraded to Perkins 6 cyl turbos in 1982. Configuration is galley up, full V-berth forward and centerline master berth. In our 3rd year of ownership, still loving the layout. I really didn't want or need the extra horsepower, but that's what this one had.

Feel free to ask about questions as they come up!

Thanks. My hull id@ is PBJ000210280-36. Does that identify what my hull number is? I'm guessing that "80" and "-36" identifies the year and Prairie 36, but what do the other numbers indicate?

Ron

 

[CaptTom]

Hull number 21. PBJ is the builder. 80 is the year, 36 is the length. Not sure about the other "2".

You should have a brass plaque with the hull number, too.

Our boats are close sisters! I wonder who has hull #22?

 

[dweller]

Hull #

Thanks. There is a plaque, but the boat is about 1200 miles away, and I can't recall what the plaque said.

One note: my engine access hatch is very small. The other 36s I looked at had huge access hatches, but mine is about 18" x 24". I examined the structure underneath the salon floor, but couldn't see anything that had obviously been changed. The small hatch makes the engine room pretty dark and dismal.

Ron

 

[Rick.]

I added LEDs' to mine, pic attached is taken with a phone, no flash....

 

[dweller]

I added LEDs' to mine, pic attached is taken with a phone, no flash....View attachment 41136

Very impressive. I'm ordering two 5-meter strings of LED lights.

Main problem--the light will show how badly my engine room needs a thorough cleaning.

Ron

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. R. VERY impressive for a Prairie 36 ER!

 

[Rick.]

Yes, seeing all the problems is the only downside. I got these from Amazon, one roll did the whole ER.

360deal smd 5630 White Waterproof 300 LED Fleixbe Strip 12V DC

http://www.amazon.com/360deal-5630-White-Waterproof-Fleixbe/dp/B00IJR1ZSM

I would recommend buying automotive grade 3M double sided tape (grey spongy stuff), the adhesive on the leds' it's pretty weak. One year, and one very cold winter later, it seems to be holding up well.

 

[Rick.]

Thanks Firefly,

Next up is repainting the floor.....

Rick

 

[markpierce]

Congratulations! Nice a$$, ur stern.

 

[Dentman]

Good afternoon dweller question do you still on your 36 Prairie boat ???

 

[Dentman]

Nice Boat do you still own it?

 

[CaptTom]

We haven't see dweller in a while. That boat (Hull #21) was for sale in Port Charlotte back in June of this year, last I knew. This is an eight-year-old thread. I think dweller had at least one other boat since owning the Prairie.

 

[Dentman]

Good evening Captain Tom yes I’ve seen it for sale. Was thinking about purchasing. Wondering if you knew any info on this boat

 

[High Wire]

The former “Prairie Dog “ is sitting for sale not 100 feet away. Here is the contact info:
Ship To Shore Sales
941-234-3949
Angie Ormand

 

[Boatboy0110]

Prairie Dog became "Don't Worry"

Prairie Dog became "Don't Worry. A gentleman bought it in November and has decided to sell it to me. I'm working on securing insurance. Going to Peter Ricks. My plan is to rename it Prairie Dog. Bob Hart in Punta Gorda. New member.

 

[CaptTom]

Welcome! That's a great boat, you're going to love it!

Keep us posted here (or, start a new thread for your new adventure.)

Oh, and, pictures when you can!

Edit: I just saw the previous owner posted this boat for sale on the Facebook Prairie owner's group. It was posted after I started this post here. Are you sure he agreed to sell it to you?

 

[Boatboy0110]

Prairie Dog became "Don't Worry"

Hi Capt Tom,
We agreed to the deal yesterday subject to me getting insurance.
He's helping me. I got a survey from 4/2022!
Where are you in Maine?
I had a 1957 Matthews 42' Cabin Cruiser at DiMillos from 1991-97.
Built for Marshall Fields wife. They had or probably still have an estate on Isleboro.
I've got some tank issues but one good fuel, water and holding tank and I have that. What do you think of returning it to Prairie Dog> Great name.
Thanks!

 

[CaptTom]

Restoring the name Prairie Dog is a great idea. I'm not a fan of names which tempt fate.

After some research I found that they have places they call prairies in Florida, not too far from where our boats were built. I suppose that must be where the company name came from. Not the true prairies of the West.

I'm curious about your tank problems. So far I've been lucky with my four aluminum tanks, but I know because of the way they're bedded in foam that I'm on borrowed time. I'll be interested to see how you solve that problem. I'd be heeled over pretty badly if I could only use one fuel tank!

I'm South of Portland, so if you ever head back up that way, we'll have to have our boats pose for side-by-side photos. It's rare to see another Prairie around here.

 

[Boatboy0110]

Prairie Dog became "Don't Worry"

Sorry Tom, I don't see us cruising to Maine. There's a couple here in my marina in Punta Gorda FL that cruised in their power boat from Maine with dual 454 gassers. They spent $13K on fuel! They shipped it back. I managed to get the insurance coverage I wanted and will send the deposit to the seller tomorrow. I have an Allmand 31 sailboat to sell and the sellers working with me on that. The Prairie has a little more "style" than your average trawler and the layout is good. I will be using it more as a condo on the water so all I need is one good fuel tank, water tank and holding tank for now. I would be inclined to replace with smaller tanks than the originals. Happy Cruising! I loved cruising in Maine out of Dimillos. In Florida, the coast is bare and there are a few coves off the intercoastal that everybody goes too. I've never been a Marina hopper. In Key West area, slips and moorings are full and places to drop the hock are even full in some places. Crazy! Actually, the world is crazy but that's another discussion for another website!!

 

[AlexRelax]

Hi

We are the new owners of the 1980 Prairie 36, formerly known as Tutch O' Dutch. We'll be changing the name to Prairie Dog as we apply for a transfer of the documentation.

It's basically in sound condition, and the surveyor rated everything as "above average," which he said was unusual for a boat of this age. Lots of little projects, but nothing major.

Twin Perkins 4-236 and a Westerbeke generator. LP stove and refrigerator, which is different than all other Prairies that we've seen.

Would welcome corresponding with other 36 owners.

Hi, I just bougth a 1981 Prairie 36 with twin 4.236 Perkins also. May I ask you if your engines has turbo? and how many HP are them rated?

 

[Boatboy0110]

Hi Dweller ...
The Prairie 36 I mentioned above was purchased by me in March. It was previously named Prairie Dog and Tutch o' Dutch? I had discussed renaming it Prairie Dog but I'm a Cat guy so ... Prairie Cat. Perhaps Tutch O' Dutch has been used more than once. I have an original survey for "tutch o' dutch from 2015. I also discovered that the boat was previously named "Suzy Q" which is very interesting to me. I have previously owned two boats maned Suzy Q! I'm watching too much Twilight Zone.

 

[CaptTom]

My 36 has twin Perkins T6.351 turbos. The first owner had them installed the year after they bought it, replacing the stock motors, which I think were 85HP NA Perkins.

The paperwork I have shows them as 200HP each. But I have also seen other numbers for similar engines, I think something like 185. Either way, that's more than I've ever needed. I think the stock motors would have been fine.

 

[Boatboy0110]

Wow, I was responding to a post from Dweller from 2015. I think you were too Alex. I have the Perkins 4-236's with 85 HP. They are running great. I'm in Punta Gorda, FL primarily using the 36 as a Live a board. Bought it in February but took ownership in late March. Prepped and painted the hull with two coats and the bottom with two coats before launching on April 30th (I'm 74!) Boat has sat on the hard for over two years.