Aquarius 23

Aquarius 23

A 23
Development
Designer	Peter Barrett & Stan Miller
Location	United States
Year	1969
Builder(s)	Coastal Recreation, Inc
Role	Cruiser
Name	Aquarius 23
Boat
Boat weight	2,280 lb (1,034 kg)
Draft	4.58 ft (1.40 m) with swing keel down
Hull
Type	monohull
Construction	fiberglass
LOA	22.67 ft (6.91 m)
LWL	21.17 ft (6.45 m)
Beam	7.92 ft (2.41 m)
Engine type	outboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	swing keel
Ballast	815 lb (370 kg)
Rudder(s)	internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
Rig type	Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height	22.00 ft (6.71 m)
J foretriangle base	8.70 ft (2.65 m)
P mainsail luff	23.70 ft (7.22 m)
E mainsail foot	10.30 ft (3.14 m)
Sails
Sailplan	fractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area	122.06 sq ft (11.340 m2)
Jib/genoa area	95.70 sq ft (8.891 m2)
Total sail area	217.76 sq ft (20.231 m2)
Racing
PHRF	282

The Aquarius 23 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Peter Barrett and Stan Miller as a cruiser and first built in 1969. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The design was developed into several derivative models, the Aquarius 23-2, the Aquarius 7.0 and the Balboa 23. ^{[1] [3] [4] [5]}

Production

The family of designs was built by Coastal Recreation, Inc in the United States from 1969 to 1981, when the company went out of business. ^{[1] [3] [6]}

Design

The Aquarius 23 family are all recreational keelboats, built predominantly of fiberglass, with balsa-cored decks. The hulls all have a slightly raked stems, slightly angled transoms, rudders controlled by a tiller and cabin "pop-tops". ^{[1] [3]}

The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering. ^{[1] [3]}

The design has sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin. The starboard settee is almost 14 ft (4.3 m) long and can accommodate two people. There is a drop leaf table located at the long berth. The galley is located on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on the port side. Cabin headroom is 59 in (150 cm) or 71 in (180 cm) with the pop-top up. ^{[1] [3]}

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 282 and a hull speed of 6.2 kn (11.5 km/h). ^[3]

Variants

Aquarius 23

This base model was introduced in 1969 and produced until 1976. It has a swing keel, a fractional sloop, tall rig or optional masthead sloop rig. It has a length overall of 22.67 ft (6.9 m), a waterline length of 21.17 ft (6.5 m), displaces 2,280 lb (1,034 kg) and carries 815 lb (370 kg) of lead ballast, including 165 lb (75 kg) in the keel. The rudder is a retractable spade-type. The boat has a draft of 4.58 ft (1.40 m) with the keel down and 1.08 ft (0.33 m) with the keel up. ^{[1] [3]}

Balboa 23

This model was introduced in 1969. It has a swing keel and a fractional rig. It has a length overall of 22.67 ft (6.9 m), a waterline length of 21.17 ft (6.5 m), displaces 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) and carries 815 lb (370 kg) of lead ballast. The boat has a draft of 4.58 ft (1.40 m) with the keel down and 1.08 ft (0.33 m) with the keel up. ^[5]

Aquarius 23-2

This model was introduced in 1970, was produced until 1977. It has fixed fin keel, fractional rig, or optional masthead sloop rig. It has a length overall of 22.67 ft (6.9 m), a waterline length of 21.17 ft (6.5 m), displaces 2,580 lb (1,170 kg). The rudder is a spade-type. The boat has a draft of 3.70 ft (1.13 m) with the standard fin keel. ^[4]

Aquarius 7.0

This model was introduced in 1976 and production had ended by the time the company went out of business in 1981. This version brought a number of modifications, including a transom-mounted rudder. ^{[1] [6]}

Operational history

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel faulted the boat's aesthetics, writing, "because the freeboard is very high, partly to provide more than usual headroom for a 23-foot boat, she looks high and boxy." ^[3]

See also

• List of sailing boat types

Related development

• Aquarius 21
• Balboa 16
• Balboa 20
• Balboa 21
• Balboa 22
• Balboa 24

References

1. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Aquarius 23 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
2. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Peter Barrett 1935 - 2000". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
3. Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 219. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN   978-0-07-163652-0
4. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Aquarius 23-2 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
5. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Balboa 23 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
6. McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Coastal Recreation Inc. 1968 - 1981". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.