Design
Runabout 18
Designed by Jacques Mertens
An 18 ft outboard runabout with classic looks by Jacques Mertens for Bateau, built in modern epoxy, fiberglass and plywood composite. Beam is 6 ft 2 in, displacement at the designed waterline 1,500 lb, draft 6 in, fuel capacity 20 gallons and recommended power 90 hp. The study plans mention that the design also exists as an inboard jet-drive version.
Plywood panels are planked over MDF molds on a strongback, glassed outside, then turned over and glassed inside. The designer says no woodworking skill is needed, but calls it a moderately large project best tackled after a small boat. Designer's figures: 90 hours for the hull shell and 190 to 800 hours finished. The medians below come from builders who logged this boat here.
What building a Runabout 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 Runabout 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 |