The Blazer 23 is a Canadian trailerable sailboat that was designed by Bruce Kirby as racer-cruiser and first built in 1988.[1][2][3]

Blazer 23
Development
DesignerBruce Kirby
LocationCanada
Year1988
Builder(s)Ontario Yachts
RoleRacer-Cruiser
NameBlazer 23
Boat
Displacement2,200 lb (998 kg)
Draft3.75 ft (1.14 m)
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionfibreglass
LOA23.00 ft (7.01 m)
LWL18.75 ft (5.72 m)
Beam7.92 ft (2.41 m)
Engine typeoutboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel
Ballast900 lb (408 kg)
Rudder(s)skeg-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height25.75 ft (7.85 m)
J foretriangle base8.90 ft (2.71 m)
P mainsail luff26.00 ft (7.92 m)
E mainsail foot11.18 ft (3.41 m)
Sails
Sailplanfractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area145.34 sq ft (13.503 m2)
Jib/genoa area114.59 sq ft (10.646 m2)
Total sail area259.93 sq ft (24.148 m2)
Racing
PHRF180

The Blazer 23 is a cruising development of the Sonar, using the same hull design, but with a larger cabin with ports and a commensurately smaller cockpit, but slightly more sail area. It is very similar to the Kirby 23.[1][3]

Production

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The design was built by Ontario Yachts in Canada, starting in 1988, but it is now out of production.[1][3][4]

Design

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The Blazer 23 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a slightly reverse transom, a skeg-mounted rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 2,200 lb (998 kg) and carries 900 lb (408 kg) of lead ballast.[1][3]

The boat has a draft of 3.75 ft (1.14 m) with the standard keel.[1][3]

The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and manoeuvring.[1][3]

The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin. The galley is located on both sides, just aft of the bow cabin. The galley is equipped with a two-burner stove on the starboard side and a sink on the port side. The head is located under the bow cabin "V"-berth. Cabin headroom is 42 in (110 cm).[1][3]

For safety the design is equipped with foam flotation.[3]

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 180 and a hull speed of 5.8 kn (10.7 km/h).[3]

Operational history

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In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote that the boat provides, "exceptionally spritely performance in light and moderate air. Foam flotation for safety is also a plus. Worst features: Low profile and an extra-long cockpit result in a short, low cabin with significantly less accommodation space than the Blazer's comp[etitor]s. Due to her deep draft and deep, nonfolding rudder, using a hoist rather than a ramp for launching is a virtual necessity."[3]

See also

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Related development

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Blazer 23 (Kirby) sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Bruce Kirby". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page XX. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-163652-0
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Ontario Yachts". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.