Bradwell 18 Buyer's Guide
The Bradwell 18 is an 18 foot cruising yacht built by Trident Laminates Ltd from 1973 in two versions, the Mark I and Mark II. On the brokerage market she draws interest as a trailerable lifting-keel sloop with a mast that stows for towing, suited to both newcomers and experienced cruisers. Knowing the version differences and the one structural access quirk will shape any purchase decision.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Mark I and Mark II share an LOA of 5.71m, beam of 1.90m, and displacement of 544kg, with the Mark II adding 1.3m of headroom below. The Mark I raises its wing keel via a handle protruding through the cockpit floor, while the second version employs rope or wire for the same job. Cabin space is reported as more generous than typical for boats of this size, making the Mark II the more livable trailer sailer and the Mark I the simpler mechanically accessed layout.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Market inventory for this model is not separately catalogued here, so buyers should evaluate each listing on its own rig and trailer. The lifting keel and stowed-mast towing setup are standard; the meaningful version difference is the keel-raising method, which affects what gear a seller may have fitted. Otherwise, assess sails, trailer condition, and ground tackle per individual boat rather than expected packages.
What to Inspect
The keel is mounted on a bolt, and in the Mark I that bolt is glassed in under the cabin floor and difficult to reach for survey or service. The Mark II should make the bolt easier to locate. On any example, prioritize keel-bolt access and evidence of previous keel-ground contact, since the lifting arrangement is central to trailering and grounding loads.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not specified in the available market summary. For a purchase checklist: confirm whether the hull is Mark I or Mark II, test the keel-raising method, inspect the keel bolt per version, verify mast-stow and trailer gear, and judge cabin condition against the Mark II headroom figure. The Bradwell 18 remains a sensible used trailer sailer once the keel-bolt access is understood.