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Charger 23
Designer: Alan Payne  ·  Builder: Charger, Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Charger 23

Designed by renowned Australian naval architect Alan Payne and built by Charger, Inc. beginning in 1982, this 23-footer represents solid American small boat construction from the era. The fiberglass hull incorporates a keel/centerboard configuration that provides versatility for exploring shallow waters while maintaining good sailing performance in deeper conditions. With a masthead sloop rig and 219 square feet of sail area, the Charger 23 delivers respectable performance for coastal cruising and day sailing. The boat's moderate displacement of 2,300 pounds and substantial ballast ratio contribute to stable sailing characteristics, while the 20-foot waterline length helps generate decent hull speed potential of nearly 6 knots. The design strikes a practical balance between performance and comfort, evidenced by the reasonable comfort ratio of 10.86 that suggests adequate interior volume for weekend cruising. The capsize screening value of 2.4 indicates this boat is best suited for protected waters and coastal sailing rather than offshore passages. Alan Payne's influence brings thoughtful proportions to this compact cruiser, making it an appealing choice for sailors seeking a manageable boat for exploring harbors, bays, and nearshore waters. The shoal-draft capability opens up gunkholes and beaches that deeper-draft boats cannot access.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.58 ft / 6.88 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
Max Draft 1.92 ft / 0.59 m
Displacement 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast 810.00 lb / 367 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 219.00 ft² / 20.35 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alan Payne
Builder Charger, Inc. (USA)
First Built 1982
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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
20.16
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
35.22
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
128.35
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
10.86
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
2.4
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. 5.99 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
4.19
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. 565.98 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. 20.17
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 25.80 ft / 7.86 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.20 ft / 2.80 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 21.60 ft / 6.58 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.30 ft / 2.83 m
SA Fore 118.68 ft² / 11.03 m²
SA Main 100.44 ft² / 9.33 m²
SA Total (100%) 219.12 ft² / 20.36 m²
Est. Forestay Length 27.39 ft / 8.35 m
How It Compares

vs. Ranger 22, Tanzer 22, Venture Of Newport 23

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Charger 23 ★
22.6 ft
Ranger 22
22.5 ft
Tanzer 22
22.5 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
22.6 ft
LWL
Charger 23 ★
20.0 ft
Ranger 22
17.6 ft
Tanzer 22
19.8 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
19.5 ft
Beam
Charger 23 ★
7.9 ft
Ranger 22
7.8 ft
Tanzer 22
7.8 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
7.2 ft
Displacement
Charger 23 ★
2 lbs
Ranger 22
2 lbs
Tanzer 22
2 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
2 lbs
Ballast
Charger 23 ★
810 lbs
Ranger 22
900 lbs
Tanzer 22
1 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
600 lbs
Sail Area
Charger 23 ★
219 sq ft
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
195 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Charger 23 ★
Ranger 22
222 s/nm
Tanzer 22
246 s/nm
Venture Of Newport 23
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Charger 23 ★
20.2
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
19.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Charger 23 ★
35.2 %
Ranger 22
41.2 %
Tanzer 22
43.1 %
Venture Of Newport 23
30.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Charger 23 ★
10.9
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
11.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Charger 23 ★
2.40
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
2.28
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Charger 23 ★
128
Ranger 22
179
Tanzer 22
168
Venture Of Newport 23
120
Hull Speed
Charger 23 ★
6.0 kts
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
5.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Charger 23 ★
4.2
Ranger 22
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
5.1
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