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Nacra 55 18 Sq Meter
Designer: Tom Roland/Nacra Design Group  ·  Builder: Performance Catamarans, Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Nacra 55 18 Sq Meter

Designed by Tom Roland and the Nacra Design Group, this performance catamaran emerged in 1979 as part of Nacra's influential lineup of beach-launched multihulls. Built by Performance Catamarans, Inc., the Nacra 55 represents the brand's commitment to accessible high-performance sailing with its fiberglass construction and twin daggerboard configuration. At 18 feet overall with an 11-foot beam, this cat delivers impressive stability and speed potential while remaining manageable for recreational sailors. The rotating mast rig optimizes sail efficiency, while the modest 330-pound displacement and shallow 2.83-foot draft make beach launching and retrieval straightforward. With 193 square feet of sail area, the boat offers spirited performance without becoming overwhelming for intermediate sailors. The exceptional sail area-to-displacement ratio of 64.74 reveals this catamaran's true nature as a performance-oriented vessel suited for coastal sailing, club racing, and recreational day sailing. The twin daggerboard setup provides excellent upwind performance while allowing the shallow draft necessary for beach access. This Nacra excels in moderate to fresh conditions where its light weight and efficient rig design can showcase the exhilarating speed potential that made the brand synonymous with accessible catamaran performance during the late 1970s sailing boom.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 2.83 ft / 0.86 m
Min Draft 0.42 ft / 0.13 m
Displacement 330.00 lb / 150 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 193.00 ft² / 17.93 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Dbrd.
Rigging Type Cat (rotating spar)
Construction FG
Designer Tom Roland/NACRA Design Group
Builder Performance Catamarans, Inc. (USA)
First Built 1979
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Performance Ratios
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
 41.13
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
 1.29
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
 6.37
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. 5.24 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. 3.61 pounds/inch
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