Small by Choice, Able by Design, Page 5 |
SOVEREIGN 18
Scheduling complications caused by the Miami International Boat Show prevented us from testing a Sovereign 18 with the other boats, but we did examine and sail a Sovereign a few weeks later.
This shoal-draft, fixed-keel cruiser’s traditional design causes it to look and sail like a larger boat. A bowsprit, high cabin trunk, deep cockpit, attractive tumblehome, and 8 1/2-foot-long keel contribute to this feeling. According to Robbie Bowen, owner of Custom Fiberglass, “This is an in-house design first introduced in 1982. We wanted a small trailerable boat, and we put all we could into a boat that size.”
The hull, deck, and liner are joined with DuPont PL5200 and rivets spaced 3 3/4 inches apart. The hull is stiff and fair, but the deck and cockpit sole showed a little flexibility and the hull
liner a bit more.
Overall safety is good. A 20-inch bow pulpit is standard, but it is pop riveted together, making it feel less sturdy than a one-piece model. The same is true of the 18-inch stern pulpit.
Although the side decks are narrow, a good toerail, pebble grain non-skid, and grab rails mounted on the cabin make it easy to go forward.
A high and wide (17 1/2 inches) bridgedeck reduces cockpit space but is a plus for a small boat in open water. Unfortunately, there is only one screened 1 3/4-inch scupper, and that is mounted in the forward end of the cockpit and drains through a hose to the transom. When sailing in 20 to 25 knots of wind, the cockpit quickly collected a couple of inches of water in the leeward side, wetting the crew’s feet. Two straight-through scuppers would be a big help.
A small, three-rung swim ladder is standard, as is foam flotation. Larger running lights would show up better than the standard lighting.
A fixed pin in the mast base that slips into the tabernacle makes rigging easy. A unique mast carrier, with integral roller, fits into two stanchion bases mounted on the stern. Rigging time
was about 20 minutes, but could be halved with practice. Launching was simple and uneventful.
The deep cockpit gives a secure feeling, but comfort could be increased by adding more rake to the seat backs. There is a large gas tank storage locker to port, but no other locker for gear.
The companionway is to starboard and features a bi-fold door that opens to port and hooks to a bulkhead. Below, the cabin is open and bright thanks to four screened, opening ports and a forward hatch, which needs some hardware to keep it open.
Our boat had the "B" interior plan that includes a V-berth, port quarterberth, and a galley with two large storage bins, a molded ice box, sink with tankage, and space for an optional stove. The small, teak-lidded ice box doubles as a step.
Two items below need attention. First, the through-deck fasteners are uncapped and some have sharp edges. Second, the chain locker in the forepeak is small, mostly open, and doesn’t drain.
Good Tracking
Topside, the Sovereign has a fractional rig with external halyards. When rigging the boat, we noticed that the spreaders lack end caps; they are merely notched for the single shrouds,
which are then wired on. Also, the rig lacks both backstay and topping lift. While the main halyard can be used as a topping lift, the boom will thump down when the main is dropped.
A roller reefing main is standard, but a jiffy reefing system would be quicker and give better sail shape. Our test boat was also equipped with Ronstan roller furling.
The halyards run aft through standup blocks on the cabin to clam cleats, which would accidentally recleat the halyards when the sails were being dropped. We’re told the current models will be equipped with conventional cleats instead.
The jib sheets run through fairleads to Ronstan cam cleats. Our boat had the optional Maxwell #14 sheet winches and standard cleats—which we think is overkill and more awkward to use than cam cleats on a boat this size.
The deck gear includes a teak bow sprit with anchor roller, a 1 3/4-inch rope pipe, and three mooring cleats.
The weather was challenging for an 18-foot boat: northerly 20 mph winds with gusts to 25 and a chop on Sarasota Bay. Though we tucked a reef in the main and were handicapped by a sagging jib and furling line wrapped around the tack, the Sovereign capably bandied wind and sea.
The Sovereign felt like a much larger and secure boat, both from its forgiving manner and depth of cockpit, although some people may have a difficult time seeing over the trunk cabin.
The boat was responsive to the helm, coming about without hesitation. When I had to go forward to drop the jib, which wouldn’t furl (The gear on the Ronstan roller furler wouldn’t rotate), the boat self-steered while running downwind with the main sheeted out and the tiller unlashed. This good tracking is a credit to the boat’s long keel.
As with the other boats, a few complications were noticed in the heavier winds. Water collected in the lee side of the cockpit, and the folding cabin door had an annoying tendency to
swing open when on a starboard tack. But overall, this 18-footer was stiff, capable, and predictable, showing a good turn of speed.
