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Glander Cay 23
Designer: Herreshoff/Harold Glander  ·  Builder: Glander Boats Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1960
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About the Glander Cay 23

Built from 1960 to 1985 with 112 hulls produced, this classic fiberglass sailboat represents a fascinating collaboration between legendary designer Nathanael Herreshoff's original concepts and Harold Glander's practical interpretation. The Cay 23's traditional long keel configuration with transom-hung rudder delivers exceptional directional stability and seaworthiness that made it popular among coastal cruisers seeking reliable passage-making ability. At 27 feet overall with a masthead sloop rig carrying 350 square feet of sail area, this design strikes an appealing balance between manageable size and cruising comfort. The substantial 6,800-pound displacement, backed by 2,200 pounds of ballast, creates a notably stiff and stable platform that inspires confidence in challenging conditions. Her impressive comfort ratio of 29.96 reflects the boat's motion characteristics, while the moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio suggests steady performance rather than racing speed. The Glander Cay 23 particularly excels at coastal cruising and weekend adventures, where her forgiving handling characteristics and solid construction shine. While not designed for competitive racing, she rewards patient sailors with predictable behavior and the ability to carry sail well in fresh conditions, making her an excellent choice for those prioritizing safety and comfort over pure speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.17 ft / 8.28 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.75 ft / 6.02 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Displacement 6,800.00 lb / 3,084 kg
Ballast 2,200.00 lb / 998 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 350.00 ft² / 32.52 m²
Headroom 5.83 ft / 1.78 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Herreshoff/Harold Glander
Builder Glander Boats Inc. (USA)
First Built 1960
Last Built 1985
Number Built 112
Related Sailboats Cape Dory 27 · Bristol 27 · Vega 27 Albin · Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft · Cape Dory 270
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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
 246
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
 15.65
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
 32.35
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
 394.06
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
 29.96
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
 1.69
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. 5.96 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
 1.08
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. 564.55 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. 15.48
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.80 ft / 8.47 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
SA Fore 172.50 ft² / 16.03 m²
SA Main 173.75 ft² / 16.14 m²
SA Total (100%) 346.25 ft² / 32.17 m²
Est. Forestay Length 32.13 ft / 9.79 m
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 27, Cape Dory 27, Cape Dory 270, Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft, Vega 27 Albin

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Glander Cay 23 ★
27.2 ft
Bristol 27
27.2 ft
Cape Dory 27
27.1 ft
Cape Dory 270
27.3 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
27.3 ft
Vega 27 Albin
27.1 ft
LWL
Glander Cay 23 ★
19.8 ft
Bristol 27
19.8 ft
Cape Dory 27
20.0 ft
Cape Dory 270
20.8 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
21.4 ft
Vega 27 Albin
23.0 ft
Beam
Glander Cay 23 ★
8.0 ft
Bristol 27
8.0 ft
Cape Dory 27
8.5 ft
Cape Dory 270
9.4 ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
8.6 ft
Vega 27 Albin
8.1 ft
Displacement
Glander Cay 23 ★
6 lbs
Bristol 27
6 lbs
Cape Dory 27
7 lbs
Cape Dory 270
8 lbs
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
8 lbs
Vega 27 Albin
5 lbs
Ballast
Glander Cay 23 ★
2 lbs
Bristol 27
2 lbs
Cape Dory 27
3 lbs
Cape Dory 270
3 lbs
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
3 lbs
Vega 27 Albin
2 lbs
Sail Area
Glander Cay 23 ★
350 sq ft
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
365 sq ft
Cape Dory 270
398 sq ft
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
296 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Glander Cay 23 ★
246 s/nm
Bristol 27
186 s/nm
Cape Dory 27
222 s/nm
Cape Dory 270
219 s/nm
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Glander Cay 23 ★
15.7
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
15.3
Cape Dory 270
15.5
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
16.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Glander Cay 23 ★
32.4 %
Bristol 27
39.0 %
Cape Dory 27
40.0 %
Cape Dory 270
—
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
40.0 %
Vega 27 Albin
39.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Glander Cay 23 ★
30.0
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
30.3
Cape Dory 270
28.8
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
20.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Glander Cay 23 ★
1.69
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
1.74
Cape Dory 270
1.86
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
1.88
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Glander Cay 23 ★
394
Bristol 27
382
Cape Dory 27
418
Cape Dory 270
—
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
363
Vega 27 Albin
186
Hull Speed
Glander Cay 23 ★
6.0 kts
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
6.0 kts
Cape Dory 270
6.1 kts
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
6.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Glander Cay 23 ★
1.1
Bristol 27
—
Cape Dory 27
0.9
Cape Dory 270
1.0
Dana 24 Pacific Seacraft
—
Vega 27 Albin
2.8
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