sakonnet 23 sailboat review

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Two Great Keel-Centerboard Options

Alerion class sloop and the sakonnet 23.

Most sailors agree that some of the prettiest and most interesting places to sail are shallow waters, way up in the headwaters of bays or on pine-fringed lakes, which are inviting, although often fringed with rocks and not deep. The ideal boat for this sort of exploration should combine at least some of the safe stability of a keel with the shallow-water accessibility of a centerboard—if you do hit bottom, the centerboard can pop up and diminish the impact, if you’re lucky.

Although a daysailer with a centerboard benefits from shallow draft, it also suffers from the resulting reduced stability—nothing enhances stability in a monohull more than depth of keel, which places ballast where gravity can maximize its effect. For that reason, successful keel-centerboarders are rare, and only the very best of them perform well. In this article, I will look at two of my favorites: Alfred Sanford’s Alerion Class Sloop and Joel White’s Sakonnet 23—chosen because extra effort has been applied to overcome the inherent limitations, and both have connections to Maine.

Alerion Class Sloop

Nearly every sailor knows the name Alerion, even if hardly anybody knows its meaning (a stylized eagle used in heraldry). Nathanael Herreshoff designed his Alerion for sailing around Tuckers Town, Bermuda. The waters there were shallow, but midocean breezes could be strong, so he carved a model for a keel-centerboarder. His first version was too tender and hard to steer, so he tinkered with it and built another. And when that persisted in annoying his sense of perfection, he built one five inches wider and drew the bow out an extra foot in order to reduce weather helm. That boat was called Sadie , but over the years the many variations of this basic design have retained the appellation “Alerion.”

Herreshoff’s first Alerion was eventually restored and put on display at Mystic Seaport. The design, one of the first that exhibited his famous “hollow bow,” has a compelling shape. It may pique some Herreshoff sycophants when I contend that the generic Alerion, although improved over time in stages, had some issues, including excessive weather helm, and a wide turning radius.

Then along came a genius MIT-trained architect named Alfred Sanford in the early 1970s who succeeded in minimizing the Herreshoff Alerion’s bad habits, and, simultaneously rendered the boat a lot easier and faster to build. The end result was so successful that many boats were built in the unique Sanford manner. Nantucket has a one-design fleet nearing 35. Demand elsewhere looks promising—as long as the fast building process can render the boat affordable. Just this year, Brooklin Boat Yard has taken on production rights and is in the process of creating a “mini–factory” where the cold-molded hulls will be assembled.

What Sanford did was comprehensive. First he designed a separate, balanced rudder, which reduced the weather helm and cut the turning radius in half. Then he tackled ways to cut the construction time. He designed a unique centerline keel built of fiberglass. This fiberglass centerline unit is molded to fit the twisted inboard terminus of the cold-molded hull halves, eliminating one of the hardest fits that challenge a boatbuilder. It also formed the basis of a seamless centerboard case, which otherwise can leak and be difficult to build. This molded part provided an easy way to install the ballast lead, and it incorporated a shaft tube for the shallow balanced rudder. This unique “chassis” cut labor time by perhaps 20 percent, and was strong and light enough so that extra lead could be placed down low.

As he built new boats, Sanford continued to innovate, coming up with a super-efficient way to plank the boats, cold-molding mahogany and cedar so that both the insides and the outsides reveal beautifully spiled planking. All planks are pre-shaped to precise patterns, vastly simplifying installation. He reconsidered the deck with a view toward easier construction and a lessening of weight, using a few longitudinal stringers for deck reinforcement rather than multiple cambered beams.

The first boat Sanford built took over 3,500 person-hours to build. Thirty-five launches later, that figure was reduced to 1,400 hours. Brooklin Boat Yard’s Steve White said he may even be able to shave a bit more time off the cold-molding process. White plans to build the boats in a dedicated space in the town’s former Odd Fellows Hall.

Alerions are a contender for the most beautiful small sailboats in the world. If White and his crew can succeed in building them quickly and efficiently, the world may soon be beating a path to his door.

The Sakonnet 23

My other favorite keel-centerboarder is a design by Steve White’s father, Joel White, for a double-ended boat that was originally named Lala and is now known as the Sakonnet 23.

Joel had plenty of experience putting centerboards into established Herreshoff keel boats, including the Herreshoff 12½ and the Fish. In the Lala ’s design, he pulled out all the stops. The shallow lead keel has a full-length bulb along the bottom, which lowers center of gravity to the maximum. The centerboard is a proper airfoil shape. And the rudder, though tiny, is separate from the keel, and balanced. Joel achieved stability by putting a chunk of lead in the bottom of his centerboard; a six-to-one tackle system pulls the board up. The hull in this 23-footer has very low freeboard and thus a very low deck. Because she’s fairly narrow, the lee rail doesn’t dip below the water very often. Probably the center of gravity of this design is as low as, or lower than, any keel-centerboarder in existence. The prototype boat was built plank on frame, to very light scantlings.

Lala was speedy and could sail in less than two feet of water. She steered nicely despite the small rudder. And like the Fish and Haven 12½, Lala benefited from Joel White’s artistic eye, which I put right up there with Herreshoff’s. The double-endedness is an unusual surprise. This is both a unique and extremely beautiful design.

The design’s excellence didn’t go unnoticed; the building rights were picked up by Edey and Duff down on windy Buzzards Bay, and renamed the Sakonnet 23. Eventually Marshall Marine took over the design. Upward of 100 fiberglass Sakonnet 23s have been launched. As was the case with the Alerion, the builders paid attention to high-quality molding techniques. Hulls and decks utilized a foam sandwich layup. The aluminum masts are lightweight and tapered at the top. The rig is tall and high aspect ratio. As a result, it’s hard to beat a well-sailed Sakonnet 23.

This boat shares a feature of the Herreshoff 12½ in that it has a comfortable cockpit, although I suspect that the crew will want to sit on the rail in breezes over 17 knots. And although I’ve sailed one in moderate airs and enjoyed that cockpit, there is nothing in the high thin cockpit coaming and narrow side deck that speaks to my backsides about comfort. That minor consideration aside, the Sakonnet 23 is a great boat. I love to go fast. I love a beautiful boat. I admire Joel White’s beautiful designs and professional quality drawings. A bonus is that a boat of under two feet draft that weighs only a ton can be trailered to those saltwater bays and those shallow Maine lakes by a used car that I can afford.

Both these boats are a home run for those who want stylish sailing in a cupful of water.  

Contributing Author Art Paine is a boat designer, fine artist, freelance writer, aesthete, and photographer who lives in Bernard, Maine.

Sakonnet 23

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Sakonnet 23

The sakonnet 23 is a 23.17ft fractional sloop designed by joel white and built in fiberglass by marshall marine corp. since 1997., 85 units have been built..

The Sakonnet 23 is a light sailboat which is a good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.

Sakonnet 23 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Review of Sakonnet 23

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Sakonnet 23 is 1.93, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 5.8 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Sakonnet 23 is about 70 kg/cm, alternatively 394 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 70 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 394 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio) Indicates how fast the boat is in light wind: - Cruising Boats have ratios 10-15 - Cruiser-Racers have ratios 16-20 - Racers have ratios above 20 - High-Performance Racers have ratios above 24 Sail-area/displacement ratio (SA/D ratio): 19.46

Maintenance

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Sakonnet 23 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Joel White Designed Sakonnet 23′

Marshall Marine has acquired the molds and building rights to the Sakonnet 23, formerly built by Edey & Duff out of Mattapoisett. This is a classic Joel White designed daysailer, with a shoal draft similar to Marshall’s catboats. Her unique double ended design and graceful shear will surely be the envy of any harbor. She sails effortlessly in virtually any breeze, barely leaving a wake. There are approximately 85 Sakonnets spread out across the United States, being enjoyed for family daysailing, singlehanding and racing.

General Specifications

LOA: 23’ 2” LWL: 18’ 8” Beam: 6’ 1” Draft: 1’ 10” & 5’ 2” Sail Area: 193 sq. ft. Displacement: 2,000 lbs.

Standard Features

Molded Cockpit Liner with Storage Lockers and Drains Full Flotation 920 lb. Lead Keel Ballasted Pivoting Centerboard Fiberglass Rudder with Stainless Steel Post Varnished Ash Tiller Flush-Mounted Manual Bilge Pump Teak Trim Bronze Bow and Stern Hardware Castings Half-Oval Brass Rail Guards at Bow Chocks Tapered Anodized Aluminum Mast and Boom with Vang Stainless Steel Wire for Standard Rigging Harken Deck and Rigging Hardware Mainsail with Single Reef 100% Hank-on JIb Hull, with integral centerboard trunk, deck and cockpit liner are one piece molded fiberglass. Hull and deck are reinforced with closed cell foam. White hull and cockpit, with deck color choices of sand, bone, white or gray. Bottom painted with two coats anti-fouling paint.

Marshall Marine Shipyard Lane PO Box P-266 South Dartmouth, MA 02748730

508.994.0414

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Sakonnet 23 – 23' Double Ended Sailboat (LaLa)

Thi sis LaLa – the original Sakonnet 23. Designed by Joel White and built by Joe Norton III. We built the original boat that became the mold for the fiberglass Sakonnet 23 now manufactured by Edey and Duff. This is a time-proven design that we love dearly. Probably our most "famous" project, it has been featured in many articles and publications. Wooden Boat Magazine #126, Small Craft Advisor, Harken Bearings (Fall 1996), just to name a few, as well as countless other pages on the internet. There are even small-scale models based on this boat! Click the links below to read the articles. When you're done, give us a call. We'd love to build one for you!

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This 2005 Sakonnet 23 has only been used a handful of times since being built in 2005. She is in absolute pristine condition under her custom full Sunbrella cover. “Katsmur” is so nice and has so many options that the boat builder put her in the Maine Boats & Harbors Show when she was new. She was outfitted with every available extra when built new by Edey & Duff. Some of her extra’s include custom trailer, electric motor, and an electronic package. The Sakonnet 23 is built one boat at a time ensuring exceptional craftmanship, attention to detail and the best materials in every boat. Her hull has a foam-core and is built using hand-laid unidirectional E-glass with polyster resin. This method of build makes for an extremely stiff and light yacht. The Sakonnet 23 is a simple sailing yacht to to sail and enjoy. MAKE AN OFFER ON THIS BEAUTIFUL EAST COAST DAY SAILOR

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1998 23' Edey & Duff Sakonnet 23

• Description

Seller's Description

Classic Day sailer! This beautiful Sakonnet 23 has been very well maintained over the years and boasts new sails in 2016, Awlgrip of hull in 2018, new cockpit cover in 2019 and refinished woodwork in Spring 2020. Keel centerboard 1’10” board up, 5’1” board down. Surprising sailing capability with board up. She is in fantastic shape! Torqueedo outboard barely used. Trailer needs a few small repairs but overall very road worthy. 2016 Torqeedo electric outboard with side mounted bracket (mounting plate on both sides)Teak cockpit seats and floorboards. Elliot Patterson sails (new 2016 and cleaned winter 2020): main, head sails: 105% & 135% Recessed roller furling. Spinnaker set up with pole (sail in great shape)Cockpit cover (2019)Triad Trailer. Anchor with 150 of rode Windex, Ensign with socket on aft deck3 fenders, paddle, boat hook, whisker pole, hanging storage bags, custom outboard storage bracket on cockpit sole.

Equipment: - Manual bilge pump, - Anchor, 150 ft or road - Torqueedo Electric Outboard - Outboard bracket on port and starboard - Roller Fuller - Recessed roller furling drum - Boom Vang - 3 fenders

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Let's connect, why it's important to partner with a designer on your sakonnet 23 sail.

The design is the most critical part of your new sail. Ensuring the sail fits and performs its best is a must for our crew. The Precision Sails Design team are experts at their craft. Unlike other sail lofts all of our sailors work one-on-one with a designer to perfect their Sakonnet 23 sail.

No Two Sakonnet 23 Sails Are Alike

There are many factors that affect the performance and design of your sails. Location, sailing experience, and weather conditions all come into play when picking the perfect sail. Two mainsails made for two Sakonnet 23’s in California and Florida will have different designs, sailcloth, and options based on what is best for the sailor.

Taking measurements is easy. All sailors work alongside our measurement team to measure and confirm their rig specs. This helps ensure your design is flawless and allows us to extend our Perfect Fit Guarantee to all of our sailors.

Discover the best cloth for your sailing needs, our sail details, or more about how Precision Sails is leading the sail-making industry with innovative new practices.

Proudly offering the largest selection of sailcloth in the industry, our team is always available to help you find your perfect sail. Whether you're a weekend sailor, coastal cruiser, or club racer our team is ready to walk you through the process.

Types of Sails

Precision Sail Loft specializes in producing headsails, mainsails, spinnakers, gennakers, and code zeros. So no matter the type of sail you’re looking for, we can help. Our sails are trusted by cruisers and racers alike from around the globe. Review the sail options and craftsmanship available to customize your dream sail.

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Every sail we craft is produced to the highest standards with the best hardware, craftsmanship, and skill-set in the industry. Pair that with Precision Sails' approach to communication and your sailboat will be ready to set sail before you know it.

Unparalleled Commitment To Helping Sailors

As experts in design, communication, and production our team is ready to take on the task of making sails for your boat. Give us a call to get started.

“ I just received my asymmetrical spinnaker, with sock and turtle bag, along with a new 135 Genoa. The entire process was simple and both sales and the design team were in regular contact if there were any questions. The customer portal was easy to use and lets you keep track of where in the process your sails are. Great sails, great service -Graham Edwards (Facebook)

“ The whole team at Precision Sails was fantastic from start to finish. We’ve had a laminate main and genoa made so far and have a spinnaker on the way. They listened carefully to our needs and recommended a great sail cloth. We couldn’t have gotten more bang for our buck! -Noah Regelous (Google)

“ We received our spinnaker and launched it yesterday and I just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with it. The service we received from your company was exceptional and the quality of your product is second to none. We will certainly be return customers in the next few months to replace our main and jib sails and will recommend your company to all our sailing buddies. Once again-thank you.” -Daniel Jackson (Google)

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“ Our new furling jib for a Corsair 27 Had to be specially designed due to the height of the furler, but this was accomplished quickly and in short order we had our sail which fits beautifully and has a great shape. It’s everything we could have wanted, high tech design, thoughtfully executed and affordable.” -Nancy Y. (Yelp)

Request a Sakonnet 23 Quote

Looking to buy a new headsail or mainsail for your Sakonnet 23? Request a free quote from Precision Sails for a new custom sail. Our team will work with you to design the perfect sail for you.

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