BoatsAquarius 23

Aquarius 23

Fractional Sloop · Swing Keel · 1969–1976

A swing-keel fractional sloop featuring a high 20.16 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited light-air performance

Designed by Peter Barrett & Stan Miller, built by Coastal Recreation Inc.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Swing Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 2.41 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,034 kg of hull, so roughly 1,650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 1,034 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.33 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 10 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 10
CoastalBluewater

At 2.41 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.41
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 107
EasygoingPowered-up

20.2 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 20.2
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
20.2
Displacement / length
107.3
Comfort ratio
10.3
Capsize screening
2.41
Hull speed
6.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
599
Hull
Hull type
Swing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1969–1976
Designer
Peter Barrett, Stan Miller
Builder
Coastal Recreation Inc

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.

Catalina Yachts 227.26 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA prolific masthead sloop with 15,000 built, offering a versatile swing-keel design for trailerable coastal cruising
O'day 226.61 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA prolific production success with over 3,000 hulls built, offering a nimble fractional rig for coastal daysailing
Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull family1.4 m shorterA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family1.4 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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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