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Columbia T 23
Designer: Alan Payne  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Columbia T 23

With limited documentation available, the Columbia T 23 represents one of the lesser-known entries in Columbia Yachts' extensive catalog of recreational sailboats. This 23-foot vessel emerged during Columbia's prolific production era when the California-based manufacturer was turning out numerous fiberglass designs for the growing recreational sailing market. Despite scarce specifications, the T 23 likely follows Columbia's traditional approach to small boat design, emphasizing practical sailing characteristics and affordability over cutting-edge performance. The "T" designation in Columbia's naming convention often indicated variations within their model lines, suggesting this boat may have been a specific configuration or evolution of their 23-foot platform. Given its size category, the Columbia T 23 would have been positioned as a capable day sailor and weekend cruiser, suitable for protected coastal waters, lakes, and bays. Columbia's reputation centered on producing solid, if unremarkable, family-oriented sailboats that prioritized stability and ease of handling over racing performance. For prospective buyers researching this model, the limited available information makes thorough inspection particularly important, as individual boat condition will likely matter more than specific model characteristics when evaluating these vessels today.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$2,000 – $2,000
typical asking price
Median $2,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$2,000 – $2,000 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
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 1.93 ft / 0.59 m
Displacement 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast 810.00 lb / 367 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 218.00 ft² / 20.25 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Modified Full Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alan Payne
Builder Columbia Yachts
First Built 1973
Last Built 1977
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

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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
20.07
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
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
4.17
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
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 25.83
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.15
P (Mainsail Luff) 21.58
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.25
SA Fore 118.17
SA Main 99.81
How It Compares

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

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Columbia T 23 ★
22.6 ft
Seafarer 23
22.7 ft
Tanzer 22
22.5 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
22.6 ft
LWL
Columbia T 23 ★
20.0 ft
Seafarer 23
20.0 ft
Tanzer 22
19.8 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
19.5 ft
Beam
Columbia T 23 ★
7.9 ft
Seafarer 23
7.6 ft
Tanzer 22
7.8 ft
Venture Of Newport 23
7.2 ft
Displacement
Columbia T 23 ★
2 lbs
Seafarer 23
2 lbs
Tanzer 22
2 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
2 lbs
Ballast
Columbia T 23 ★
810 lbs
Seafarer 23
1 lbs
Tanzer 22
1 lbs
Venture Of Newport 23
600 lbs
Sail Area
Columbia T 23 ★
218 sq ft
Seafarer 23
219 sq ft
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
195 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Columbia T 23 ★
Seafarer 23
260 s/nm
Tanzer 22
246 s/nm
Venture Of Newport 23
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Columbia T 23 ★
20.1
Seafarer 23
17.9
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
19.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Columbia T 23 ★
Seafarer 23
38.6 %
Tanzer 22
43.1 %
Venture Of Newport 23
30.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Columbia T 23 ★
10.9
Seafarer 23
13.8
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
11.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Columbia T 23 ★
2.40
Seafarer 23
2.17
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
2.28
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Columbia T 23 ★
Seafarer 23
153
Tanzer 22
168
Venture Of Newport 23
120
Hull Speed
Columbia T 23 ★
6.0 kts
Seafarer 23
6.0 kts
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
5.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Columbia T 23 ★
4.2
Seafarer 23
3.3
Tanzer 22
Venture Of Newport 23
5.1
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