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Geary 18
Designer: L. E Ted Geary  ·  Builder: Blanchard Boat Co. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1928
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About the Geary 18

Designed by the legendary L.E. Ted Geary in 1928, this classic 18-footer represents nearly a century of proven sailing performance. With 1500 boats built primarily by Blanchard Boat Company, the Geary 18 has established itself as a beloved centerboard dinghy that bridges the gap between spirited day sailing and competitive racing. The boat's fractional sloop rig and generous sail area-to-displacement ratio of 49.24 delivers impressive performance for its size, making it particularly well-suited for experienced sailors who appreciate responsive handling. Its 3.75-foot draft and centerboard configuration allow access to shallow waters while maintaining good upwind ability, perfect for exploring protected bays and coastal areas. Originally constructed in wood and later adapted to fiberglass, the Geary 18 showcases Ted Geary's renowned design philosophy of creating boats that are both fast and seaworthy. The relatively high capsize screening value of 2.71 suggests this is best suited for protected waters and experienced crews who can handle its spirited nature. This boat appeals to sailors seeking a classic design with modern performance characteristics, whether for club racing, sailing instruction, or simply enjoying the pure sailing experience that only a well-designed dinghy can provide.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 18.16 ft / 5.54 m
Beam 5.46 ft / 1.66 m
Max Draft 3.75 ft / 1.14 m
Min Draft 1.92 ft / 0.59 m
Displacement 525.00 lb / 238 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 200.00 ft² / 18.58 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood or FG
Designer L. E Ted Geary
Builder Blanchard Boat Co. (USA)
First Built 1928
Number Built 1500
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
49.24
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
63.72
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
5.17
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.26 kn
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. 1.81 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Alden O Class Mk Ii, Duxbury Duck, Goldeneye Herreshoff, Marlin 18 Rhodes, Rhodes 18

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Geary 18 ★
18.2 ft
Alden O Class Mk Ii
18.2 ft
Duxbury Duck
18.0 ft
Goldeneye Herreshoff
18.3 ft
Marlin 18 Rhodes
18.1 ft
Rhodes 18
18.0 ft
LWL
Geary 18 ★
Alden O Class Mk Ii
15.4 ft
Duxbury Duck
15.1 ft
Goldeneye Herreshoff
15.8 ft
Marlin 18 Rhodes
12.3 ft
Rhodes 18
17.0 ft
Beam
Geary 18 ★
5.5 ft
Alden O Class Mk Ii
6.7 ft
Duxbury Duck
6.3 ft
Goldeneye Herreshoff
6.3 ft
Marlin 18 Rhodes
5.3 ft
Rhodes 18
6.3 ft
Displacement
Geary 18 ★
525 lbs
Alden O Class Mk Ii
2 lbs
Duxbury Duck
700 lbs
Goldeneye Herreshoff
2 lbs
Marlin 18 Rhodes
1 lbs
Rhodes 18
1 lbs
Ballast
Geary 18 ★
Alden O Class Mk Ii
550 lbs
Duxbury Duck
Goldeneye Herreshoff
1 lbs
Marlin 18 Rhodes
430 lbs
Rhodes 18
Sail Area
Geary 18 ★
200 sq ft
Alden O Class Mk Ii
192 sq ft
Duxbury Duck
342 sq ft
Goldeneye Herreshoff
Marlin 18 Rhodes
Rhodes 18
162 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Geary 18 ★
49.2
Alden O Class Mk Ii
19.4
Duxbury Duck
69.5
Goldeneye Herreshoff
Marlin 18 Rhodes
Rhodes 18
25.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Geary 18 ★
Alden O Class Mk Ii
27.5 %
Duxbury Duck
Goldeneye Herreshoff
52.8 %
Marlin 18 Rhodes
34.4 %
Rhodes 18
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Geary 18 ★
5.2
Alden O Class Mk Ii
15.2
Duxbury Duck
5.8
Goldeneye Herreshoff
Marlin 18 Rhodes
Rhodes 18
8.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Geary 18 ★
Alden O Class Mk Ii
2.12
Duxbury Duck
2.85
Goldeneye Herreshoff
Marlin 18 Rhodes
Rhodes 18
2.46
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Geary 18 ★
63
Alden O Class Mk Ii
243
Duxbury Duck
91
Goldeneye Herreshoff
281
Marlin 18 Rhodes
303
Rhodes 18
Hull Speed
Geary 18 ★
5.3 kts
Alden O Class Mk Ii
5.3 kts
Duxbury Duck
5.2 kts
Goldeneye Herreshoff
Marlin 18 Rhodes
Rhodes 18
5.5 kts
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