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Creekmore 23
Designer: Lee Creekmore  ·  Builder: Valmark (Usa)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Creekmore 23

Built during a brief production run from 1973 to 1977, this compact fractional sloop represents Lee Creekmore's vision for a capable small cruiser with surprising versatility. Valmark's fiberglass construction created a sturdy platform that balances moderate displacement with practical accommodations for weekend getaways and coastal exploration. The design's most distinctive feature is its keel/centerboard configuration, offering the best of both worlds: reasonable stability from the fixed keel portion while maintaining shoal-water capability when the centerboard is raised. This flexibility makes her particularly appealing for sailors who want to explore shallow anchorages and creeks that would be off-limits to deeper-draft vessels. With a comfort ratio of 13.74, she falls into the lighter displacement category, contributing to livelier sailing characteristics and easier handling for small crews. The fractional rig provides good sail control and reduces weather helm, while the generous sail area relative to displacement suggests decent performance in light to moderate conditions. Her moderate beam and proportions create a seaworthy hull form well-suited to coastal cruising and day sailing. While not designed for extended offshore passages, the Creekmore 23 offers an honest blend of sailing ability and practicality that appealed to sailors seeking an affordable entry into cruising during the mid-1970s.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
Beam 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Min Draft 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
Displacement 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 242.00 ft² / 22.48 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lee Creekmore
Builder Valmark (USA)
First Built 1973
Last Built 1977
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
207
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
18.66
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
229.64
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
13.74
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
2.36
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. 5.69 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
2.54
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. 546.69 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. 18.63
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 26.30 ft / 8.02 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.30 ft / 2.53 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.30 ft / 8.32 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.70 ft / 2.96 m
SA Fore 109.15 ft² / 10.14 m²
SA Main 132.41 ft² / 12.30 m²
SA Total (100%) 241.56 ft² / 22.44 m²
Est. Forestay Length 27.58 ft / 8.41 m
How It Compares

vs. North American 23, Paceship 23 Cc, Pearson 23

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Creekmore 23 ★
23.0 ft
North American 23
23.0 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
23.0 ft
Pearson 23
23.0 ft
LWL
Creekmore 23 ★
18.0 ft
North American 23
20.0 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
19.0 ft
Pearson 23
20.0 ft
Beam
Creekmore 23 ★
8.5 ft
North American 23
7.9 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
8.0 ft
Pearson 23
8.0 ft
Displacement
Creekmore 23 ★
3 lbs
North American 23
2 lbs
Paceship 23 Cc
2 lbs
Pearson 23
3 lbs
Ballast
Creekmore 23 ★
North American 23
800 lbs
Paceship 23 Cc
900 lbs
Pearson 23
1 lbs
Sail Area
Creekmore 23 ★
242 sq ft
North American 23
215 sq ft
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
238 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Creekmore 23 ★
207 s/nm
North American 23
249 s/nm
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
240 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Creekmore 23 ★
18.7
North American 23
17.4
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
16.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Creekmore 23 ★
North American 23
28.6 %
Paceship 23 Cc
39.1 %
Pearson 23
37.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Creekmore 23 ★
13.7
North American 23
13.2
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
16.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Creekmore 23 ★
2.36
North American 23
2.25
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
2.11
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Creekmore 23 ★
229
North American 23
156
Paceship 23 Cc
149
Pearson 23
195
Hull Speed
Creekmore 23 ★
5.7 kts
North American 23
6.0 kts
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Creekmore 23 ★
2.5
North American 23
3.3
Paceship 23 Cc
Pearson 23
2.6
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