Laguna Windrose 18 Daysailer

Description

The Laguna 18 was designed by naval architect W. Shad Turner and first built in 1983 by Laguna Yachts, a California-based manufacturer founded by Bill Downing in 1973. Laguna emerged amid the 1980s sailing boom, acquiring molds and assets from Coastal Recreation, Inc. (producers of the Balboa and Aquarius lines), to expand into trailerable cruisers. The Laguna 18 was a direct evolution of the Windrose 18 (or Windrose 5.5), introduced around 1974 by the same builder (then operating as Laguna Yachts in Anaheim, California, before incorporating as Coastal Recreation). Turner's refinements included a wider beam (from 7 ft to 8 ft) for added stability and cabin space, while retaining the original hull's efficient lines for better performance. Production ran from 1983 to 1987, capturing demand for budget-friendly pocket cruisers, but was curtailed by economic factors like the 1986 luxury yacht tax, rising resin costs, and market saturation, leading to Laguna's closure. The design's brief run reflected the era's focus on mass-produced fiberglass boats, with the Laguna 18 marketed as an accessible alternative to larger models like the Laguna 24. Post-closure, molds were partially repurposed under the Classic Yachts banner in Kansas.