Dix Explorer 18 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Gunter

LOA

18.04' · 5.5 m

First year

1992

Designed by the renowned South African naval architect Dudley Dix, the Explorer 18 was originally commissioned for series production in fiberglass by Sentinel Boats in Cape Town. Intended to fill the niche for a robust, traditionallooking family daysailer, the design has since evolved to include a lapstrake plywood version tailored for amateur boatbuilders. Measuring 18'1" (5.50m) in length with a beam of 6'4" (1.90m), the boat balances the aesthetics of a classic working craft with modern hull efficiencies. While the hull shape is fullbodied to provide the stability required for family outings and sail training, its underwater lines allow for surprising performance in a variety of conditions. The design is a notable sibling to other Dixdesigned pocket cruisers like the Cape Cutter 19 and the Cape Henry 21, though it remains more focused on opencockpit day sailing than its cabinequipped counterparts.