NACRA 5.5 (18 SQ. METER)

About the NACRA 5.5 (18 SQ. METER)

Also called NACRA 18M2. Designed for maximum length, beam (11') and SA allowed by the single handed 18 Sq. Meter 'box' rule which had been recently established at the time. (NACRA's version was introduced first using the standard hulls of the NACRA 5.2. Later (1983?, updated with a new, full length, hull design.(18') Another NACRA 5.5 (non-18SM) was available with the same hulls, less beam and a sloop rig. The NACRA 5.5 (18sm) shown here has the boom (gooseneck) attached to forward beam. This was replaced in the mid 1980's with a newer NACRA 18sm with the updated 5.5m hulls and boomless rig.

The Nacra 5.5 is a high-performance racing catamaran designed by Tom Roland and the Nacra Design Group, with production records indicating a build year of 1979. As a lightweight vessel with a displacement of 330.0 lb and a beam of 11.0 ft, it is engineered for speed rather than heavy cruising comfort.

Best for:

This boat is best suited for experienced sailors seeking a pure racing platform or light coastal day-sailing, given its extreme light displacement and high sail area-to-displacement ratio of 64.74.

Bluewater capability:

With a capsize ratio of 6.37 and a maximum draft of only 2.83 ft, this boat is not suitable for offshore bluewater cruising due to its low stability margin and lack of heavy displacement.

Comparables:

Comparable vessels include other 18-foot racing catamarans from the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as the Hobie 16 or early Prindle models, which share similar lightweight construction and performance-oriented hull forms.