Gulf Coast 18
Fractional Sloop · Swing Keel · 1970–1978
A high-performance fractional daysailer with a 28.03 SA/displacement ratio, built for spirited sailing from 1970 to 1978
Designed by Martin Bludworth, built by Maudlin.
- LOA
- Beam
- Draft (max)
- Displacement
- Ballast
- Hull type
- Swing Keel
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 1.88 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 408 kg of hull, so roughly 1,000 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 408 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.23 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelyComfort 8Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 2.56Bluewater
LightD/L 114Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 28.0Powered-up
TenderBallast 36%Stiff
Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.
- Lighter than ~78% of boats her size on file
- Narrower than ~91% of boats her size on file
Compared with 391 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
36.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
28.0
Displacement / length
114.4
Comfort ratio
7.7
Capsize screening
2.56
Hull speed
5.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
335
Hull
Hull type
Swing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1970–1978
Designer
Martin Bludworth
Builder
Maudlin, Son Manufacturing, Gulf Coast Sailboats
Boats like this, on the water
Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.
Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.
Dufour Yachts T66.15 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA lightweight 800kg fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance in light air
Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
Hunter Marine 226.78 mSame hull family1.3 m longerA masthead-rigged trailerable cruiser with a keel-centerboard configuration for flexible draft and coastal access
The family
Related models
The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.
Gulf Coast 20A 1967 fractional sloop with a swing keel and high sail area-to-displacement ratio for lively performance in shallow waterGulf Coast 21A 1972 masthead sloop with a swing keel, designed by Martin Bludworth for shoal-water versatilityGulf Coast 14A lightweight lateen-rigged daysailer with a daggerboard, designed in the style of the iconic Sunfish
Keep looking
Nothing filmed of this one yet
Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.
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