Re: 18kt crosswind component on a 3800\' runway pushing it?
Not a problem ... keep in mind that wing-low may not work in heavy crosswinds as you will "run out" of rudder. A "kickout" method may be used instead. Barry Schiff did an article about kickouts a year or two ago in AOPA Pilot; if you can find it, read it. If not, the basic deal is to stay in your crab, tracking the centerline, all the way in to the flare. Just before touchdown, "kick" the rudder to straighten the nose and use the ailerons to force the upwind wheel on to the runway, then down comes the downwind wheel and finally the nose. Example: left crosswind. Stay in the crab through the flare ... within a foot or so of the ground, kick in right rudder and straighten the nose, then promptly roll in aileron to the left (fairly aggressively) to firmly plant the left main on the runway. Give it a little aileron to the right to set the right main down, lower the nose and roll in left aileron for crosswind correction as you roll out.
Using this technique, it is possible to land an airplane well in excess of its "demonstrated" crosswind component. Try it with a good CFI before doing it on your own, of course, but it is a good technique to use in high crosswinds when wing-low might result in your running out of rudder effectiveness.
Runway length is not a major consideration, width may be ... just remember that once you kick out, the rest of the steps need to happen in fairly rapid succession to prevent excessive drift from the runway centerline.
Good luck and fly safe!
FL270