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Salty Pup 23
Designer: Peter Milne  ·  Builder: Salty Yachts Ltd. /Colvic Craft  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Salty Pup 23

A compact and characterful small cruiser, the Salty Pup 23 occupies that appealing niche of boats designed to offer genuine sailing enjoyment without demanding a large budget or an experienced crew. Built with accessible coastal sailing in mind, this little vessel suits weekend explorers, new sailors building confidence, and those seeking a manageable trailerable option that can be launched from a variety of ramps and harbors. While detailed specifications remain limited in wider documentation, the Salty Pup 23 reflects the practical philosophy common to small cruisers of its era — prioritizing ease of handling, stability, and enough cabin space to make overnight passages a realistic proposition. Its modest size makes it well suited to protected waters, inland lakes, and coastal day sailing, though its enclosed accommodation gives it versatility beyond pure daysailing. For buyers researching affordable entry points into keelboat sailing, the Salty Pup 23 deserves consideration as a low-maintenance, approachable platform. Finding one in good condition could represent excellent value for a sailor eager to spend more time on the water than in the workshop.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
Beam 9.19 ft / 2.80 m
Max Draft 3.61 ft / 1.10 m
Displacement 4,667.00 lb / 2,117 kg
Ballast 1,603.00 lb / 727 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Peter Milne
Builder Salty Yachts Ltd. /Colvic Craft
First Built 1978
Last Built 1986
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Performance Ratios
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
34.35
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
214.69
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. 4.2 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 12.87
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.73 ft / 2.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 224.00 ft² / 20.81 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 214.69
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