BoatsHappy Sailer 18

Happy Sailer 18

Fractional Sloop · Swing Keel · First built 1974

A lightweight fractional sloop designed by Klaus Fahrenkroog for spirited performance in shoal waters

Designed by Klaus Fahrenkroog, built by Wegu Canada Ltd.

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 2.13 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 544 kg of hull, so roughly 1,150 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 544 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 0.76 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 8 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 8
CoastalBluewater

At 2.64 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.64
LightHeavy

114 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 114
EasygoingPowered-up

31.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 31.9
TenderStiff

19% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 19%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
18.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
31.9
Displacement / length
114.0
Comfort ratio
8.1
Capsize screening
2.64
Hull speed
5.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
419
Hull
Hull type
Swing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1974
Designer
Klaus Fahrenkroog
Builder
Wegu Canada Ltd, CAN)

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.

Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
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
RS Quest4.29 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA 140kg fractional sloop with a centerboard trunk designed for stable, versatile training and family sailing
Drascombe Dabber4.72 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centerboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility
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

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.

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