Sailfish 218 CC 2011 vs Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 or the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

The Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,3 feet overall. The Sailfish 218 CC 2011 comes in at 21,3 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 or the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

For trailering, the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 has the edge at 272 lbs dry weight versus 445 lbs for the Sailfish 218 CC 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Sailfish 218 CC 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 95 gallons and 95 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 are built by Sailfish. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Sailfish 218 CC 2011 vs Sailfish 2180 CC 2012

Sailfish

Sailfish 218 CC 2011

2011

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Sailfish

Sailfish 2180 CC 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sailfish 218 CC 2011 vs Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Sailfish 218 CC 2011 against a deep vee Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sailfish 218 CC 2011 at 21,3 ft versus Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 at 21,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 tips the scales at 445 lbs — 173 lbs more than the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 at 272 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 250 hp for the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and 250 hp for the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 95 gal and 95 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 21,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sailfish 218 CC 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeSailfish

Model218 CC

Model2180 CC

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Bridge clearance - Detail8 ft. 4 in. (2.5 m) (with T-top)

Bridge clearance - Detail8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m) with T-top

Bridge clearance - Meters2.54

Bridge clearance - Inches1

Deadrise22 - 24℃ (multi-angle)

Deadrise22 - 24° (multi angle)

Depth - DetailFront: 32 in. (81.3 cm) Rear: 26 in. (66 cm)

Depth - DetailCockpit Rear: 26 in. (66.04 cm) Cockpit Front: 32 in. (81.28 cm)

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inches32

Draft [max] - Detail18 in. (45.7 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail18 in. (45.72 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.46

Draft [max] - Inches18

Weight - Detail2,720 lbs. (1,233.8 kg) (dry, hull only) 4,450 lbs. (2,018.5 kg) (wet)

Weight - DetailHull Only: 2,720 lbs. (1,233.77 kg)

Weight - kg2018.48

Weight - kg1233.77

Weight - lbs.445

Weight - lbs.272

Length - Feet21.25

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 3 in. (6.5 m)

Length overall - DetailHull Only: 21 ft. 3 in. (6.48 m) Rigged: 23 ft. 3 in. (7.09 m)

Length overall - Meters6.48

Length overall - Meters7.09

Length overall - Inches255

Length overall - Inches279

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeYamaha

Engine modelF150TXR, 4-stroke

Engine modelnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail95 gal. (360 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters359.61

Fuel tank capacity - Gal95

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max250 hp (186.4 kW) (single)

Engine max250 hp (186.42 kW)

BatteryCapacity: 2

Batterynot available

Sailfish 218 CC 2011 vs Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 or the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

The Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,3 feet overall. The Sailfish 218 CC 2011 comes in at 21,3 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 or the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

For trailering, the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 has the edge at 272 lbs dry weight versus 445 lbs for the Sailfish 218 CC 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Sailfish 218 CC 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 95 gallons and 95 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sailfish 218 CC 2011 and the Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 are built by Sailfish. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Sailfish 218 CC 2011 full specs ← Sailfish 2180 CC 2012 full specs