Sailfish 18 Day Sailer Small Yacht Sailing Boat

The Sailfish 18 is a popular small trailer sailer with an enthusiastic band of owners and handles much like a large dinghy but with the convenience of an enclosed cabin. It's not unusual for some owners to trail to and cruise an area for a week, generally making use of local marina facilities, sleeping and often dining aboard. It is a well balanced sailing vessel. I have sailed her from Glenarm across to Scotland, and back. The keel is retractable – lifted by a winding mechanism which as with any lift keel mechanism is wise to inspect and maintain occasionally.

Although not essential, many sailfish 18 boats have been modified by making the top of the keel case itself removable to enable this work to be carried out with the boat on its trailer. As an additional and recommended precaution many have also been fitted with either chain, webbing or rope to prevent loss of the keel if the winding mechanism were to fail (now a rare occurrence). Evidence of these improvements can generally be seen if the outer cover of the keel case in the cabin is lifted off (some are secured with a number of screws). Association members have access to a section of the website which has an information base of maintenance & improvements that have been carried out by owners over the years, there is also a Spares Secretary to consult for advice and a Forum where advice is often sought from more experienced members. The modification to the keel case described above has been carried out.

Some Sailfish have a problem of the front hull deck parting from the hull; no sign of that on this boat which I have owned for 10 years. The boat has a remade (marine grade ply) tiller rudder in good condition. It has a spinnaker, new foresail genoa and a main sail is in good condition. It has a 4hp Mercury 2 stoke outboard. The lead keel underwent a complete strip out and has a new bronze bush and bottom nut/split pin.

The original top plate on which the keel hangs was mild steel now replaced with stainless steel. It has a trailer but in poor state and needs replacement. I have not had time to put the keel back in the boat. To effect repairs to the lifting mechanism the fibreglass case was split and while still there needs repair, a glassing job for a professional I think about a days work. I am selling this as a going concern if not will sadly have to sell for parts.

The boat is lying near Cargan, Ballymena, Glenariff Co Antrim Comment by a new association member (in 2005) WOW! I am so impressed with the Sailfish...It exceeded every pre-conception I had! It is fast, agile and comfortable. I felt totally safe in a force 5 (after launching into a force 3-4 a couple of hours earlier).