Herreshoff America Buyer's Guide
The Herreshoff America 18 is a fiberglass catboat derived from a 1904 Nathanael Herreshoff hull form and reworked by Halsey Herreshoff in the early 1970s. Owners have reported examples built in 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1976, and more than a hundred were molded in the 1970s and into the 1980s, with the same tooling later spawning the Eagle sloop and other variants. For a shopper, she presents as a beamy, 2,500-pound shallow-draft weekender with a single sail and a large cockpit.
Layouts on the Used Market
On the used market you will find the standard centerboard catboat with a two-berth cabin and Porta Potti below a cockpit that owners describe as larger than that on a Catalina 25. The beam runs close to half the 18-foot length, so the cabin and cockpit feel generous for the size. An outboard sits in a well in the cockpit for easy access, and the boat carries a single gaff or marconi main on a mast stepped either through the deck or, on some boats, on a tabernacle.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
With no factory-fitted options showing as standard across the class, upgrades are best read as owner-driven. The most consequential theme is power and energy: the cockpit outboard well invites repowering with an electric-start outboard to charge a small house battery. Sail-handling refits cluster around the rig, where owners have sleeved the original aluminum mast with Schedule 40 marine aluminum pipe to build a wooden tabernacle. Comfort items are mostly cosmetic—the large teak cockpit seats, coaming cap, and hatch trim are frequently weathered and get refinished or covered.
What to Inspect
The one documented structural concern is the centerboard trunk, which an owner identified as the only plausible entry point for a bad leak in an otherwise sound hull anchor. On any candidate, check the trunk joint and surrounding bilge for moisture. Also examine the exterior teak—seats, coaming cap, hatch doors, and trim—since these are known to peel, discolor, and wear, and confirm the condition of the large fiberglass rudder and the through-deck or tabernacle mast step.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short:
- Verify centerboard trunk is dry and leak-free
- Inspect teak cockpit wood for peeling or rot
- Confirm mast step type (through-deck vs tabernacle)
- Test outboard well fit for modern electric-start repower
- Look for original aluminum spar stock and sound hull gelcoat
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Herreshoff America. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $7,500 | — |
| May 26 | 2 | $10,950 | +46.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $9,500 | -13.2% |
Where they're listed
Herreshoff America listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 4.
Country view
4 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $9,500 | 4 | 2 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Horizon Cat 20 | 20' | $ 29,500 | 19 | 4 |
| Herreshoff 12 1/2 | 15.83' | $ 28,700 | 18 | 3 |
| Nauset AmericaYou are here | — | $ 9,500 | 5 | 2 |