Back to Search
Balboa 23
Designer: Peter Barrett  ·  Builder: Coastal Recreation Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1969
+ Add to Compare
About the Balboa 23

Designed by Peter Barrett and first launched in 1969, this compact cruiser from Coastal Recreation represents classic American small boat design from the height of the fiberglass boom. The Balboa 23's most distinctive feature is its swing keel configuration, which reduces draft significantly when retracted, making it ideal for exploring shallow bays, beaching, and trailering to different sailing venues. With a displacement of 2,500 pounds and 815 pounds of ballast, the boat strikes a reasonable balance between stability and performance for its size. The fractional sloop rig carries 220 square feet of sail area, providing adequate power for coastal cruising and day sailing. Her SA/Displacement ratio of 19.16 suggests moderate performance characteristics well-suited to recreational sailing rather than competitive racing. The swing keel design makes this boat particularly appealing to sailors seeking versatility in their cruising grounds. When the keel is retracted, shallow water exploration becomes possible, while the full 4.58-foot draft provides decent stability and windward performance in deeper waters. The comfortable 11.35 comfort ratio and moderate capsize screening value of 2.34 indicate she's best suited for protected coastal waters and day sailing rather than extended offshore passages. A practical choice for small boat cruising with trailer-sailing flexibility.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.67 ft / 6.91 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.17 ft / 6.45 m
Beam 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
Max Draft 4.58 ft / 1.40 m
Min Draft 1.08 ft / 0.33 m
Displacement 2,500.00 lb / 1,134 kg
Ballast 815.00 lb / 370 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 220.00 ft² / 20.44 m²
Headroom 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Peter Barrett
Builder Coastal Recreation Inc. (USA)
First Built 1969
Related Sailboats ["Aquarius 23" · "Olympic Dolphin 23" · "Venture Of Newport 23" · "Kells 23" · "Coronado 23"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Balboa 23? Submit a known issue

Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 19.16
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 32.6
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 117.63
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 11.35
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.34
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.17 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 4.2
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 599.09 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 18.96
Rig Dimensions
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
SA Fore 95.70 ft² / 8.89 m²
SA Main 122.06 ft² / 11.34 m²
SA Total (100%) 217.76 ft² / 20.23 m²
Est. Forestay Length 23.66 ft / 7.21 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Type Outboard
Horsepower 10
How It Compares

vs. Kells 23, Olympic Dolphin 23, Venture Of Newport 23

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Balboa 23 ★
22.7 ft
Kells 23
22.6 ft
Olympic Dolphin 23
22.8 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
22.6 ft
LWL
Balboa 23 ★
21.2 ft
Kells 23
18.0 ft
Olympic Dolphin 23
20.5 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
19.5 ft
Beam
Balboa 23 ★
7.9 ft
Kells 23
7.8 ft
Olympic Dolphin 23
7.3 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
7.2 ft
Displacement
Balboa 23 ★
2 lbs
Kells 23
1 lbs
Olympic Dolphin 23
2 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
2 lbs
Ballast
Balboa 23 ★
815 lbs
Kells 23
525 lbs
Olympic Dolphin 23
1 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
600 lbs
Sail Area
Balboa 23 ★
220 sq ft
Kells 23
198 sq ft
Olympic Dolphin 23
211 sq ft
Venture Of Newport 23
195 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Balboa 23 ★
19.2
Kells 23
20.1
Olympic Dolphin 23
20.0
Venture Of Newport 23
19.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Balboa 23 ★
32.6 %
Kells 23
26.5 %
Olympic Dolphin 23
45.5 %
Venture Of Newport 23
30.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Balboa 23 ★
11.4
Kells 23
10.3
Olympic Dolphin 23
11.5
Venture Of Newport 23
11.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Balboa 23 ★
2.34
Kells 23
2.47
Olympic Dolphin 23
2.23
Venture Of Newport 23
2.28
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Balboa 23 ★
117
Kells 23
151
Olympic Dolphin 23
114
Venture Of Newport 23
120
Hull Speed
Balboa 23 ★
6.2 kts
Kells 23
5.7 kts
Olympic Dolphin 23
6.1 kts
Venture Of Newport 23
5.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Balboa 23 ★
4.2
Kells 23
3.8
Olympic Dolphin 23
4.4
Venture Of Newport 23
5.1
Find a Balboa 23 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace