KIRBY 23

About the KIRBY 23

The KIRBY 23 is a cruising version of the SONAR (One-design). Similar to BLAZER 23.

The Kirby 23 is a compact fractional sloop designed by Bruce Kirby and built by Ross Marine, with production limited to a single year in 1985 resulting in only 6 hulls built. Its lightweight displacement of 2400.0 lb and high SA/D ratio of 24.25 reflect its origins as a performance-oriented daysailer rather than a heavy cruiser.

Best for:

This boat is best suited for coastal cruising and daysailing, particularly for single-handers or couples seeking a trailerable package with strong windward performance. Its low D/L ratio of 161.25 makes it highly responsive, though its limited interior volume restricts extended liveaboard comfort.

Bluewater capability:

With a capsize ratio of 2.32 and a comfort ratio of 12.08, the Kirby 23 is not recommended for offshore bluewater cruising due to its light displacement and narrow beam of 7.75 ft. Its design is optimized for protected waters and short coastal hops rather than open ocean passages.

Comparables:

Comparable boats include the O'Day 23 and Pearson 23, which share similar fractional sloop rigs and trailerable footprints from the same era. However, the Kirby 23 distinguishes itself with a significantly lighter displacement and higher sail area-to-displacement ratio, prioritizing speed over stability.