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Sovereign 18
Designer: Sovereign Design Group  ·  Builder: Custom Fiberglass Products (Usa)  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Sovereign 18

Built between 1982 and 1998 by Custom Fiberglass Products, this compact fractional sloop represents a well-balanced approach to small boat design from the Sovereign Design Group. At 18 feet overall with a 14.5-foot waterline, the boat offers surprisingly good interior volume thanks to its 7-foot beam, making it suitable for weekend coastal cruising or as a capable day sailor. The fiberglass construction features a fin keel with transom-hung rudder configuration, providing responsive handling characteristics that make this boat enjoyable for both novice and experienced sailors. With 540 pounds of ballast in a 1,350-pound displacement, the design achieves a reasonable balance between stability and performance. The 123 square feet of sail area delivers adequate power for coastal conditions while remaining manageable for single-handed sailing. The boat's moderate draft of 1.83 feet opens up shallow anchorages and launch ramp accessibility, expanding cruising options considerably. Its comfort ratio of 10.04 indicates a relatively stiff, quick motion in waves, which suits active sailing but may be less forgiving in rough conditions. This makes the Sovereign 18 an excellent choice for protected waters, coastal day sailing, and learning advanced sailing techniques in a responsive platform.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$8,250 – $8,250
typical asking price
Median $8,250  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$8,250 – $8,250 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
Beam 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Max Draft 1.83 ft / 0.56 m
Displacement 1,350.00 lb / 612 kg
Ballast 540.00 lb / 245 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 123.00 ft² / 11.43 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sovereign Design Group
Builder Custom Fiberglass Products (USA)
First Built 1982
Last Built 1998
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
16.14
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
40
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
197.69
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
10.04
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
2.54
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. 5.10 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.63
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. 362.67 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.15
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.16 ft / 5.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 6.16 ft / 1.88 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 17.33 ft / 5.28 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 7.75 ft / 2.36 m
SA Fore 55.93 ft² / 5.20 m²
SA Main 67.15 ft² / 6.24 m²
SA Total (100%) 123.08 ft² / 11.43 m²
Est. Forestay Length 19.18 ft / 5.85 m
Mast Height (DWL) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
How It Compares

vs. Capri 18 Catalina, Catalina 18, Laguna 18

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sovereign 18 ★
18.0 ft
Capri 18 Catalina
18.0 ft
Catalina 18
18.0 ft
Laguna 18
18.0 ft
LWL
Sovereign 18 ★
14.5 ft
Capri 18 Catalina
16.3 ft
Catalina 18
15.8 ft
Laguna 18
14.7 ft
Beam
Sovereign 18 ★
7.0 ft
Capri 18 Catalina
7.6 ft
Catalina 18
7.8 ft
Laguna 18
8.0 ft
Displacement
Sovereign 18 ★
1 lbs
Capri 18 Catalina
1 lbs
Catalina 18
1 lbs
Laguna 18
1 lbs
Ballast
Sovereign 18 ★
540 lbs
Capri 18 Catalina
425 lbs
Catalina 18
500 lbs
Laguna 18
500 lbs
Sail Area
Sovereign 18 ★
123 sq ft
Capri 18 Catalina
155 sq ft
Catalina 18
152 sq ft
Laguna 18
151 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sovereign 18 ★
16.1
Capri 18 Catalina
19.0
Catalina 18
19.9
Laguna 18
18.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sovereign 18 ★
40.0 %
Capri 18 Catalina
28.3 %
Catalina 18
37.0 %
Laguna 18
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sovereign 18 ★
10.0
Capri 18 Catalina
9.3
Catalina 18
8.2
Laguna 18
9.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sovereign 18 ★
2.54
Capri 18 Catalina
2.65
Catalina 18
2.81
Laguna 18
2.80
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sovereign 18 ★
197
Capri 18 Catalina
153
Catalina 18
151
Laguna 18
Hull Speed
Sovereign 18 ★
5.1 kts
Capri 18 Catalina
5.4 kts
Catalina 18
5.3 kts
Laguna 18
5.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sovereign 18 ★
2.6
Capri 18 Catalina
3.5
Catalina 18
Laguna 18
2.7
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