Pearson 23C / 23 Cat
Description
The Pearson 23C, also known as the Pearson 23 Cat, is a compact, trailerable fiberglass daysailer and cruiser designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, from 1983 to 1985. Only a handful were produced (exact number unknown, but under 100 based on production records), as it was a niche variant of the standard Pearson 23 sloop. The "C" denotes its distinctive unstayed cat rig, which simplifies sail handling for solo sailors or quick outings, drawing from catboat traditions for power and ease. With a raked stem, plumb transom, and transom-hung rudder, it emphasizes portability (under 3,000 lb displacement) and fun on the water, making it ideal for lakes, bays, or weekend escapes. Owners appreciate its responsive feel and no-fuss setup, though it's less common than the sloop version due to the unconventional rig.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 23.000 ft |
| LOA | 23.000 ft |
| LWL | 20.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.000 ft |
| Displacement | 3000 lb |
| Ballast | 1200 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1983 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | 30 ft |
| e | 14 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 30 ft | 14 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 23C / 23 Cat - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
| Leech | * 32.37 ft - (9866 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 32.66 ft - (9955 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 216.49 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.