[1][2][3] The design was built by Ontario Yachts in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and also by Shumway Marine in Rochester, New York, United States, where production continues.
It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars and swept spreaders.
The hull has a raked stem, a walk-through reverse transom, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wooden tiller and a fixed fin keel.
[3] In a 1994 review, Richard Sherwood described the Ideal 18 as, "a strong little keelboat designed for club racing, with rigid rules, such as only one set of sails a year, and no hiking.
The jib barely overlaps, is a decksweeper, is self-tacking, and has roller furling.