BoatsImperial 23

Imperial 23

Masthead Sloop · Twin keels · First built 1966

A twin-keel masthead sloop designed by L. Wakefield, also marketed in the UK as the Islander 23

Designed by L. Wakefield, built by Russell Marine.

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

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 0.84 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

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

Displacement / length 151
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.6
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

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

  • Draws less than ~89% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1046 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
41.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.6
Displacement / length
150.7
Comfort ratio
13.7
Capsize screening
2.16
Hull speed
6.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
536
Hull
Hull type
Twin Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
First built 1966
Designer
L. Wakefield
Builder
Russell Marine

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.

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
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA legendary Rodney Johnstone design that defined the modern one-design racer with its high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
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
J J/77.04 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 2024 fractional sloop with a shallow 1.16m draft and a high 23.55 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive daysailing
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
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

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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