Northwest 18
Description
The Northwest 18 is a rare, compact fiberglass daysailer built by Northwest Yachts in the United States during the 1970s (likely 1976 onward, with production details scarce—estimated fewer than 50 units). Designed for trailerable coastal or lake sailing, it features a dory-inspired hull with lapstrake appearance for stability and shallow draft, paired with a retractable centerboard for easy beaching and gunkholing. The masthead sloop rig offers simple, single-handed handling, while the open cockpit with small foredeck seats 3-4 comfortably for day trips. Minimalist layout prioritizes fun over accommodations, with no enclosed cabin—auxiliary power via a small outboard (typically 4-6 hp).
Construction Details
| Designer | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Builder | Northwest Yacht Constructors Ltd. |
| Length | 18.000 ft |
| Displacement | 800 lb |
| Ballast | 400 lb |
| Year Built | 1976 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 16 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 6.50 ft |
| p | 21 ft |
| e | 8 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 ft | 6.50 ft | 21 ft | 8 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Northwest 18 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 8 ft - (2438 mm) |
| Leech | * 22.11 ft - (6739 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 22.21 ft - (6770 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 3.5 in - (89 mm) |
| Area | 83.9 ft² |
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Northwest 18 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 13.82 ft - (4212 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9.03 ft - (2752 mm) |
| Leech | * 11.51 ft - (3508 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 7.48 ft - (2280 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 51.65 ft² |
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Northwest 18 - GENOA
| Luff | * 16.41 ft - (5002 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.86 ft - (3310 mm) |
| Leech | * 15.18 ft - (4627 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.75 ft - (2972 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 80.02 ft² |
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Northwest 18 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 16.41 ft - (5002 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 11.7 ft - (3566 mm) |
| Foot | * 11.7 ft - (3566 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 163.2 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.