Hunter 18.5 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · wing

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

18.42' · 5.61 m

Disp.

1,600 lbs · 726 kg

First year

1987

The Hunter 18.5 emerged in the late 1980s as a strategic entry in the "pocket cruiser" market, designed by the Hunter Design Team to provide a transition for sailors moving from open dinghies to ballasted keelboats. Produced between 1988 and 1991, the model was a direct successor to the Hunter 17 and served as a smaller, more manageable sibling to the popular Hunter 23. It was engineered specifically for the trailersailing enthusiast, prioritizing ease of rigging and a shallow draft. The design features a modernforitstime fractional rig and a choice of keels, though the fixed wing keel became the most prevalent configuration, allowing the boat to be launched in relatively shallow water while maintaining a low center of gravity for stability.