The design is understood to be a development of the slightly larger Cal 24-2. It formed part of a broader arrangement under which Calgan Marine produced several Cal Yachts designs under licence.
Design and Construction
Calgan Marine constructed the Crown 23—and therefore the renamed Calgan 23—as a fiberglass recreational keelboat with wood trim. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass. Below the waterline, the boat has a fixed fin keel and an internally mounted spade rudder.
The hull measures 23 feet overall and 19.5 feet at the waterline, with a beam of 7.67 feet. The fin keel draws just over four feet. Displacement is 3,800 pounds, including 1,550 pounds of iron ballast. The resulting ballast-to-displacement ratio is 40.79.
These figures place the Calgan 23 firmly in the light-displacement coastal-cruiser class. Its displacement-to-length ratio is 228.79, while the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.54. Together, they describe a boat intended for responsiveness rather than heavy-load passage work. A capsize ratio of 1.97 and comfort ratio of 18.94 mark it as a sheltered-water coastal design rather than an offshore voyager.
Rig and Handling
The Calgan 23 carries a masthead sloop rig, with 267 square feet of sail area and a hull speed of 5.92 knots. Its light displacement helps it accelerate quickly in the moderate winds commonly found in coastal cruising grounds.
The fixed fin keel and spade rudder give this 23-footer a maneuverable, easily driven footprint and the close-quarters agility expected of a Lapworth design. A small outboard motor is the usual auxiliary, intended for docking and maneuvering rather than sustained propulsion.
Accommodations
The compact fiberglass cabin has wood trim, but the available material doesn’t describe its berth count or specific layout. Interior space is defined by the 23-foot hull and 7.67-foot beam, creating a compact coastal-cabin plan consistent with the boat’s development from the Cal 24-2.
The Verdict
The Calgan 23 is a small, light-displacement coastal cruiser with a clear Lapworth pedigree. Introduced as the Crown 23 in 1969, it was renamed in 1970 and built by Calgan Marine under licence from Cal Yachts. Its main strengths are an easily driven hull, the agility of its spade rudder, and a simple auxiliary arrangement based on an outboard motor.
Pros
- Lapworth-designed masthead sloop developed from the Cal 24-2
- Light 3,800-pound displacement and 1,550 pounds of iron ballast for coastal responsiveness
- Internally mounted spade rudder and fixed fin keel for maneuverability
- Simple outboard auxiliary for docking and maneuvering
Cons
- Available material doesn’t describe the interior layout or berth count
- Comfort and capsize ratios indicate coastal rather than offshore capability
