This is a solid 18 foot daysailor/pocket cruiser that was donated by a family whose teenage sons moved on to other things.

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The Catalina Capri 18, today known as the Catalina 18, is a sturdy boat that features a roomy cockpit, four berths below, and the convenience and economy of a trailerable boat.  The mast is hinged on deck, so it can be raised by two people without paying for a boatyard to do it.

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As a testament to the boat’s seaworthiness, a sailor named Shane St. Clair sailed his Capri 18 2500 miles from California to Hawaii in the mid-1980s. Google this up; it’s an interesting story!

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Below we have reprinted an article from sailing magazine that does a better job than we can of describing the features of  the Capri 18..

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Here are the details:

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Year:               1986

HIN:                CPSJ0062D686

Engine:            Mercury 6hp four stroke

 

• 425 pound shoal draft keel

• Boom cover

• Sleeps four-V birth forward, and two quarterberths

• Cushions in excellent shape

• Mast is hinged on deck

• Adjustable outboard bracket

• Galvanized trailer included

 

 

Here is An interesting review of this boat . . . .

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Catalina Capri 18

From Sailing Magazine

2010 January 16

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With some TLC, a sturdy pocket cruiser becomes the perfect first boat.

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When my husband Richard and I decided to move to rural Door County, Wisconsin, we swore that our time had come at last-we were going to become boat owners. The Door Peninsula has approximately 300 miles of harbor-scalloped shoreline to explore, as well as a tantalizing scattering of islands across its western Green Bay waters and off its rugged northern tip. From our Forestville home, we'd be just a few miles from Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan, with a variety of launch ramps and marinas from which to choose.

This was a no-brainer. We simply had to have a boat.

Our ideal boat would have to be trailerable, giving us access to more distant ports of call when our time off work was limited. It would have to be user-friendly for singlehanded sailing; while we hoped to spend many hours on the water together, neither one of us wanted to forgo a great sail if the other were out of town. And it would have to be stable and solid, a reliable boat on a temperamental lake.

As we started our boat search, another criterion reared its head: budget. We didn't have much of one, and this clearly was going to be a problem.

It seemed we would never find a boat that could meet all our needs, and we debated worthwhile compromises. Then we discovered a 1986 Catalina Capri 18 named Karma and fell in love at first sight.

Catalina Yachts, founded in 1969 by Frank Butler in North Hollywood, California, is one of the world's largest boat manufacturers. The company is recognized for its Fordlike role in bringing sailing to the masses. In fact, in 1995, Butler received a sailing industry leadership award for building boats that are "straightforward, offer price for value (and) are solid and honest."

We also knew Catalina had impressive numbers of repeat customers. It clearly was doing something right.

In the mid-1980s, Catalina sought to produce a pocket cruiser that would provide the features of a larger yacht in a compact, trailerable and affordable boat. It introduced the Capri 18 in early 1986, and to underscore the effectiveness of the little boat's seaworthy hull and solid performance in both light and heavy wind, singlehanded sailor Shane St. Clair embarked on a 28-day, 2,500-mile voyage from Oxnard, California, to Hawaii aboard his Capri 18 later that year.

The message was clear: The Capri 18 may not be the fastest 18-footer out there, but she'll get you there comfortably. We were planning harbor-hopping, sail-camping cruises rather than ocean voyages, but that's what we wanted to hear.

The Capri 18's stability comes from its respectable 7-foot, 7-inch beam, relatively hefty 1,500-pound weight and its 425-pound, low-aspect-ratio, internal-ballast lead keel. This keel draws just 2 feet, allowing access to all but the thinnest waters. It also makes launch and haul-out much easier for trailer-sailors than the word "keelboat" implies.

The Capri 18's cruising comfort is built into the details: an extra-long cockpit with 6-foot, 10-inch contoured seats; a forward V-berth and two 7-1/2-foot-long quarterberths that can convert to a single large bunk; large portlights and forward hatch; a complete electrical system, including cabin lights; plenty of storage above and belowdecks, including a molded-in fuel tank locker; a 48-quart portable cooler that doubles as a companionway step and space for a portable toilet under the V-berth. A previous owner added that important optional item for us.

While the boat originally came from the factory with a main and jib, we also were pleased to see that a previous owner had added a genoa, spinnaker and small storm jib to Karma's suit. They weren't new sails, but they held their shape reasonably well and would get the job done. The running rigging was in good shape too, and the 6-horsepower Johnson outboard was no crankier than any other 20-year-old Johnson outboard.

Our Internet research indicated that other Capri 18s across the country were selling for $2,300 to $7,500, with models available from 1987 through the mid-1990s. (The Capri 18 became the Catalina 18 in 2000.) We felt that Karma's asking price of $3,000 was more than fair, given her good condition, number of amenities and the fact she'd spent her life in fresh water.

Research also revealed glowing endorsements. From owners' groups and sailing-related discussion forums, we learned that a singlehander can easily manage stepping the mast, launching the boat and sailing her. We learned that, due to her size and simplicity, hidden maintenance problems are unlikely to rear their ugly heads.

One skipper noted she is "well balanced and light on the helm," making her forgiving and kind to less-seasoned sailors. Another observed that the lack of a bulkhead makes belowdecks maneuvering much easier than aboard other pocket cruisers, and still another touted the maximization of storage space and airy feel in the cabin.

Karma was just the right boat for us.

 

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As a non-profit, our policy is to sell below market price so as to move donated boats quickly.  You can confirm this by looking at Yachtworld, Craigslist, and other online sources.  Please contact us with all your questions.