Sailfish 18 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Sailfish 18 means looking at a trailer sailer of 18 ft 6 in length and 7 ft 2 in beam, built as a light, lifting-keel pocket cruiser by Maxim Marine, Skellon Yachts, and Victoria Rampart. She is a class with an active owners’ association, which helps a buyer find support and fellow sailors after purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
The defining layout feature is the vertically lifting keel whose case runs up through the cabin middle and doubles as a table base. Below you get a light, spacious cabin for the length with large windows and an all-round view; up top is a good-sized cockpit that drains from the benches but not from the sole, plus a cockpit locker some owners use for an outboard. The foredeck is generous for anchoring and mooring work.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most consequential for a buyer is the keel lifting system: the original handle-wound gear should be checked for the common owner modification that stops the keel from dropping out if wound too far. Propulsion is typically a small outboard on an easily accessible bracket, with a 4 hp unit adequate for most situations. Sailwise, expect a large roller jib and modest mainsail, with some boats carrying a cruising chute for extra speed.
What to Inspect
The key known defect is the keel lifting arrangement: without modification, winding the keel down too far can let it drop out of the bottom. Confirm a stop or retrofit is present. Also check that the cockpit drains from the benches as designed and that the non-self-draining sole has not led to standing-water damage. Verify the transom-hung rudder and outboard bracket are sound and removable.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability follows the boat’s typical markets. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm keel-drop modification, test sole and bench drainage, inspect rudder and outboard mount, and join the owners’ association for events and advice.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sailfish 18. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | 1 | $2,310 | — |
Where they're listed
Sailfish 18 listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $2,310 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Craft 18 | 18' | $ 3,788 | 11 | 5 |
| Sailfish 18You are here | — | $ 2,310 | 1 | 0 |