Mercury 18 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

18' · 5.49 m

Displ.

1,100 lbs · 499 kg

First year

1939

The Mercury 18 is a classic onedesign keelboat that represents a pivotal intersection between traditional naval architecture and the modern fiberglass revolution. Originally designed by Ernest Nunn in 1939, the boat found its spiritual and manufacturing home on the West Coast of the United States. While early iterations were crafted from wood, it was the involvement of builders like Moore Sailboats in Watsonville, California, that transitioned the class into the fiberglass era, ensuring its longevity and competitive parity. As an 18foot vessel with a substantial lead keel, the Mercury occupies a unique space in the sailing world—offering the tactical complexity of a larger yacht with the responsiveness and accessibility of a small daysailer. It remains a staple of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay racing scenes, supported by the Mercury Class Yacht Association, which maintains strict onedesign rules to preserve the boat's heritage.