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, traditional-looking family day-sailer, 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 full-bodied 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 Dix-designed pocket cruisers like the Cape Cutter 19 and the Cape Henry 21, though it remains more focused on open-cockpit day sailing than its cabin-equipped counterparts.
Dix Explorer 18 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview
- Make
- Dix
- Model
- Explorer 18
- Builder
- Sentinel Boats
- Designer
- Dudley Dix
- Number Built
- Production Year(s)
- 1992 - ??
Below are the most recent Dix Explorer 18 sailboat listings (up to 10).
Standard listing sites miss the technical details sailors need. Our database of 10,000+ models unlocks advanced filtering so you can search by keel type, rig configuration, and performance ratios—even when the seller forgot to include them.
Search across multiple sailboat listing websites at once, and get notified of new listings!
Example: Daily emails for "40 ft fin keel fractional sloops under $200k in Canada"Start Searching Now
| Source | Year | Make | Model | Price | Cabins | Heads | City | Country | Listing Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISCLAIMER: We are not affiliated with any external listing websites in any way. We simply aggregate publicly available listings to make it easier for buyers to find sailboats for sale. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listings, so please verify all information with the seller before making any decisions.
Market Overview
Price & Volume Trends
Monthly breakdown
| Month | Listings | Median Asking Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 1 | $12,995 |
| Model | LOA | Median Price (USD) | Listings | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 18 SE | 18.21' | $32,000 | 19 | 10 |
| Seascape 18 | 18.04' | $26,978 | 15 | 3 |
| Cape Cutter 19 | 23.62' | $17,962 | 14 | 9 |
| Com-Pac Sun Cat 17-2 | 17.33' | $18,450 | 13 | 3 |
| Catalina Capri 14.2 | 14.17' | $4,000 | 10 | 2 |
| Norfolk Gypsy | 23.83' | $21,641 | 9 | 3 |
| Dufour 1800/25 | 25.1' | $10,485 | 7 | 3 |
| Precision 18 | 17.42' | $6,250 | 6 | 4 |
| Montgomery 17 | 17.08' | $5,750 | 6 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are similar sailboats to the Dix Explorer 18?
- Comparable models include the Beneteau First 18 SE, Seascape 18, Cape Cutter 19. See the comparison table above for pricing and availability.