| The standard for Maritime's dry riding, stable, seaworthy, fuel-efficient hulls, the 18 Defiant makes available all the features wanted by the avid fisherman with the comforts necessary for family fun while still remaining true to Maritime's philosophy that "the height of sophistication is simplicity.” Starting with the hull of the versatile Maritime 1890, the company's most popular model since its introduction in 1992, the design team improved this "big" 18-footer with its well-proportioned center console and comfortable leaning post by adding a stylish wraparound deck and moving the fuel tank below the floor, providing increased storage space. These changes and others now allow the easy addition of Maritime's 32-gallon Kodiak livewell/baitwell and raw water washdown systems. And an even longer list of rail, cushion, canvas, and fishing options are also available to further customize your Maritime to meet your individual needs. Typical of Maritime's entire product line, the 18 Defiant planes easily with modest horsepower. Though the boat can be powered with 115HP to achieve top speeds in the 42-45 mph range, more typical would be a 90HP or even a 70HP engine where the boat still planes cleanly at just 12-14 mph. The reputation for fuel efficiency is maintained with average economy of over 6.5 mpg and less than 4.0 gph at average cruising speeds of 24-26 mph. Importantly, this superior performance, made possible by the hull's 35º bow deadrise, the wide chines, perfectly positioned lifting strakes, and relatively shallow 10º aft deadrise, also comes with an ability to comfortably take on choppy seas and rough weather while still sneaking through shallow water due to the boat's minimal 9" draft. This model exemplifies the Maritime tradition of rugged durability and ease of maintenance. Starting with premium raw materials, the solid fiberglass hulls are further reinforced with a molded fiberglass grid system bonded to the hull for strength and rigidity which is then fully foamed for flotation, making the Maritime hull "unsinkable". Combine these features with a solid composite cored transom, which has never experienced a failure since the first Maritime was built, and you start to appreciate the strength, safety, and reliability of these boats. |
