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Gulf Coast 18
Designer: Martin Bludworth  ·  Builder: Maudlin And Son Manufacturing (Usa)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Gulf Coast 18

Designed by Martin Bludworth and built by Maudlin And Son Manufacturing from 1970 to 1978, this compact fiberglass sloop represents solid American small boat craftsmanship from the era. The swing keel configuration makes it particularly attractive for shallow water sailing and easy trailering, allowing owners to explore protected bays, lakes, and coastal areas that might challenge deeper-draft vessels. With its fractional sloop rig and 163 square feet of sail area pushing 900 pounds of displacement, the Gulf Coast 18 offers sprightly performance for day sailing and weekend adventures. The 325-pound ballast provides adequate stability for a boat of this size, while the swing keel design allows for beaching and launching from shallow ramps. The 6.17-foot beam creates a reasonably roomy cockpit for an 18-footer, making it comfortable for small crews. This design suits coastal cruising, lake sailing, and casual racing, though its light displacement and moderate comfort ratio of 7.67 indicate it's best kept in protected waters. The capsize screening formula of 2.56 suggests reasonable seaworthiness for near-shore conditions. For sailors seeking an affordable, trailerable boat that combines decent performance with shallow-water capability, the Gulf Coast 18 delivers vintage charm with practical versatility.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 15.20 ft / 4.63 m
Beam 6.17 ft / 1.88 m
Max Draft 3.83 ft / 1.17 m
Min Draft 0.75 ft / 0.23 m
Displacement 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Ballast 325.00 lb / 147 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 163.00 ft² / 15.14 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Martin Bludworth
Builder Maudlin and Son Manufacturing (USA)
First Built 1970
Last Built 1978
Owner Reviews

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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
 28.03
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 36.11
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
 114.41
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
 7.67
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.56
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. 5.22 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. 335.10 pounds/inch
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