BoatsSeafarer Yachts 23 Challenger

Seafarer Yachts 23 Challenger

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1978–1984

A 1978 McCurdy & Rhodes masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and a skeg-mounted rudder for coastal stability

Designed by McCurdy & Rhodes.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.31 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,157 kg of hull, so roughly 1,750 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draftDraws 0.99 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 13 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 13
CoastalBluewater

2.22 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.22
LightHeavy

180 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 180
EasygoingPowered-up

17.8 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.8
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~79% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1078 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.8
Displacement / length
179.8
Comfort ratio
13.4
Capsize screening
2.22
Hull speed
5.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
501
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1978–1984
Designer
McCurdy, Rhodes
Builder
Seafarer Fiberglass Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Gilbert Marine Tequila7.20 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop that claimed the 1971 Quarter Ton Cup with her prototype performance
Ranger Yachts 226.86 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR mini-ton racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, built for competitive performance in a compact hull
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull family0.4 m longerThe world's most popular one-design keelboat, featuring a light 1406kg displacement for responsive, agile handling
Bavaria Yachts 6066.50 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA lightweight 6.5-meter fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing
Beneteau First 2357.11 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a light displacement and high sail area ratio
C&C Yachts 247.32 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA lively 1975 masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for responsive club racing

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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