Blazer 23 Explained

Blazer 23
Designer:Bruce Kirby
Location:Canada
Year:1988
Builder:Ontario Yachts
Role:Racer-Cruiser
Draft:3.75feet
Displacement:22000NaN0
Hull Type:monohull
Construction:fibreglass
Loa:23feet
Lwl:18.75feet
Beam:7.92feet
Engine:outboard motor
Keel Type:fin keel
Ballast:9000NaN0
Rudder Type:skeg-mounted rudder
Rig Type:Bermuda rig
I:25.75feet
J:8.9feet
P:26feet
E:11.18feet
Sailplan:fractional rigged sloop
Sailarea Main:145.34square feet
Sailarea Headsail:114.59square feet
Sailarea Total:259.93square feet
Phrf:180
Previous:Sonar (keelboat)

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]

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

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

Design

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 22000NaN0 and carries 9000NaN0 of lead ballast.[1] [3]

The boat has a draft of 3.75feet with the standard keel.[1] [3]

The boat is normally fitted with a small 3to 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 42inches.[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 5.8kn.[3]

Operational history

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

Related development

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blazer 23 (Kirby) sailboat. 13 January 2021. McArthur. Bruce. sailboatdata.com. 2020. https://archive.today/20210113215327/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/blazer-23-kirby. 13 January 2021. live.
  2. Web site: Bruce Kirby. 13 January 2021. McArthur. Bruce. sailboatdata.com. 2020. https://archive.today/20200825141144/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/kirby-bruce. 25 August 2020. live.
  3. Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page XX. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010.
  4. Web site: Ontario Yachts. 13 January 2021. McArthur. Bruce. sailboatdata.com. 2020. https://archive.today/20201006232449/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/ontario-yachts. 6 October 2020. live.