Catalina Capri 18 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · wing

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

18' · 5.49 m

Disp.

1,500 lbs · 680 kg

First year

1985

The Catalina Capri 18 represents a pivotal design in the evolution of American trailersailers, bridging the gap between a performance daysailer and a dedicated pocket cruiser. Introduced in the mid1980s and designed by Frank Butler, the model was intended to offer a "big boat" feel within an 18foot footprint. Unlike many of its contemporaries that utilized centerboards to achieve shallow drafts, the Capri 18 utilized a fixed wing keel, a design choice that provided exceptional stability and a consistent twofoot draft without the mechanical complexity or interior intrusion of a centerboard trunk. The boat was so successful in its niche that Catalina later rebranded it as the Catalina 18, marketing it alongside its larger cruising sisters to emphasize its coastal capabilities.