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Mark 23
Designer: John S. Letcher Jr.  ·  Builder: Mark Marine Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Mark 23

Built during the 1970s, this compact trailerable sailboat represents an era when simple, affordable sailing was the priority for many manufacturers. The Mark 23 emerged from a period of rapid growth in recreational boating, designed to offer weekend sailors an accessible entry into the sport. With its modest size, this boat suits coastal cruising and day sailing rather than extended offshore passages. The design reflects typical characteristics of its era, featuring a relatively simple hull form and straightforward rigging system that keeps maintenance requirements manageable for owner-operators. The boat's proportions suggest it was intended primarily for protected waters and near-shore sailing. Like many boats from this period, the Mark 23 likely appeals most to sailors seeking an uncomplicated sailing experience without the complexity of larger vessels. Its trailerable nature makes it attractive to those without permanent marina slips or who prefer exploring different sailing venues. While not widely known in today's used boat market, the Mark 23 represents solid 1970s construction methods and design philosophy. Prospective buyers should expect the typical maintenance considerations of any vessel from this era, including potential updates to electrical systems and through-hull fittings, while appreciating the simplicity that made these boats popular with recreational sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
Max Draft 5.08 ft / 1.55 m
Displacement 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Ballast 1,180.00 lb / 535 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG/Balsa hull, airex deck
Designer John S. Letcher Jr.
Builder Mark Marine Inc. (USA)
First Built 1979
Related Sailboats Pandora 700 · Pearson 23C · Yamaha 24 · Ds 22 · Starwind 22 Mh
Owner Reviews

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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
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
39.33
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
167.41
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. 3.39 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 2.17 ft / 0.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 234.00 ft² / 21.74 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 167.41
How It Compares

vs. Ds 22, Pandora 700, Pearson 23C, Starwind 22 Mh, Yamaha 24

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Mark 23 ★
23.0 ft
Ds 22
21.7 ft
Pandora 700
23.0 ft
Pearson 23C
23.0 ft
Starwind 22 Mh
22.0 ft
Yamaha 24
24.3 ft
LWL
Mark 23 ★
20.0 ft
Ds 22
18.5 ft
Pandora 700
18.8 ft
Pearson 23C
20.0 ft
Starwind 22 Mh
19.0 ft
Yamaha 24
21.3 ft
Beam
Mark 23 ★
7.9 ft
Ds 22
8.0 ft
Pandora 700
6.9 ft
Pearson 23C
8.0 ft
Starwind 22 Mh
7.8 ft
Yamaha 24
8.5 ft
Displacement
Mark 23 ★
3 lbs
Ds 22
2 lbs
Pandora 700
2 lbs
Pearson 23C
3 lbs
Starwind 22 Mh
2 lbs
Yamaha 24
3 lbs
Ballast
Mark 23 ★
1 lbs
Ds 22
890 lbs
Pandora 700
980 lbs
Pearson 23C
1 lbs
Starwind 22 Mh
775 lbs
Yamaha 24
1 lbs
Sail Area
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
214 sq ft
Pandora 700
173 sq ft
Pearson 23C
210 sq ft
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Mark 23 ★
246 s/nm
Ds 22
255 s/nm
Pandora 700
Pearson 23C
240 s/nm
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
186 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
19.2
Pandora 700
15.1
Pearson 23C
16.2
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Mark 23 ★
39.3 %
Ds 22
37.1 %
Pandora 700
39.2 %
Pearson 23C
40.0 %
Starwind 22 Mh
29.8 %
Yamaha 24
39.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
12.0
Pandora 700
14.7
Pearson 23C
13.9
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
2.39
Pandora 700
2.04
Pearson 23C
2.22
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Mark 23 ★
167
Ds 22
169
Pandora 700
169
Pearson 23C
167
Starwind 22 Mh
169
Yamaha 24
167
Hull Speed
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
5.8 kts
Pandora 700
5.8 kts
Pearson 23C
6.0 kts
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Mark 23 ★
Ds 22
3.4
Pandora 700
2.8
Pearson 23C
3.0
Starwind 22 Mh
Yamaha 24
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