BoatsEricson Yachts 23-1

Ericson Yachts 23-1

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1969–1971

A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, built for performance in a compact hull

Designed by Bruce King.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 2.29 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,225 kg of hull, so roughly 1,800 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draughtDraws 1.12 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 14 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 14
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.16
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 171
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.8
TenderStiff

48% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 48%

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

  • Narrower than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1061 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
48.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.8
Displacement / length
171.1
Comfort ratio
14.1
Capsize screening
2.16
Hull speed
5.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
514
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1969–1971
Units built
140
Designer
Bruce King
Builder
Ericson 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.

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA legendary Rodney Johnstone design that defined the modern one-design racer with its high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
The Scariest Dangers at Sea (And How to Survive Them)31:46from The Sailing Doodles Podcast
Sirius 7277.27 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA development of the Sirius 24, this fractional sloop features a fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder for balanced handling
Two Different Ways Sailing Changes Lives | #SAL #2510:15from Hashtag Sal
Bavaria Yachts 6066.50 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA lightweight 6.5-metre fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing
How He Survived a Tropical Storm at Sea14:25from Be The Captain
Halcyon 236.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA triple-keeled masthead sloop by Alan H. Buchanan, offering shallow-draft versatility based on the earlier Crystal 23
Zero Dollar Cruising Dream | Halcyon 23from Practical Sailor
Dehler Yachts 25CR7.50 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA Van de Stadt-designed fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited performance
Don't Make The Same MISTAKE We Did [Ep.28]9:27from Sailing Oceanaire | Wik & Rox
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24.27.30 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Jacques Fauroux-designed fractional sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin-and-bulb keel
Sailing under asymmetric spinnaker with a Sun Odyssey1:24from VOILIER ODIN

The family

Boats like this

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

Ericson Yachts 23-2A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop featuring a higher aspect rig and a low-profile coach roof for improved performanceEricson Yachts 25A 1973-1978 masthead sloop with a transom-hung rudder and a 1.16-meter draft for versatile coastal explorationEricson Yachts 30-1A 1967-1971 production masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, offering a balanced 1.47-metre draftEricson Yachts 25+A Bruce King-designed fractional sloop balancing a 40% ballast ratio with a nimble fin keel for coastal performanceEricson Yachts 29A 1970s masthead sloop with a 1.32-meter draft and a 45% ballast ratio, balancing coastal stability with shoal access

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Ericson Yachts 23-1

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