Design
Laguna Madre 18
Designed by Jacques Mertens
An 18 ft poling skiff for the flats by Jacques Mertens, sold by Bateau / Boat Builder Central as the LM18. It is the Flats Stalker 18 idea made 10 in wider, 64 in in all, so it carries more, takes a bigger motor and has room for an optional tunnel, while still floating in about 3 in. It is named for the Texas flats. Tiller steering is standard and power is 25 hp recommended, 40 maximum.
Stitch and glue composite built upside down on a pair of 2x4s, with glass splices instead of scarfs. The designer says no woodworking skills are needed and gives an average of 70 hours for the hull ready for sanding. Budget 200 to 350 hours complete. Measured medians from build logs appear below.
What building a Laguna Madre 18 actually takes
Medians from the build logs kept on this site, not the designer’s estimate. Nobody has logged this boat here yet, so they are empty until the first builder does.
Those medians firm up as more people log this boat.
Builds of this boat
Nobody has logged a Laguna Madre 18 here yet.
If you are building one, yours becomes the reference: the page the next person building this boat finds when they search for it. One photo and one line is a valid first entry.
Start the first log of this boatBoats like this one
Same type, closest in length.
| Design | Plans from | LOA | Logs |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF4 | Jim Michalak | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |
| Bay Pilot 18 | Arch Davis Design | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |
| Desperado | Glen-L Marine | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |
| Flats Stalker 18 | Bateau | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |
| Houseboat 18 | Bateau | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |
| Jetabout 18 | Bateau | 18′ 0″ (5.49 m) | 0 |