Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Coaster 23 was to maximize internal volume and cockpit space within a footprint that could still be legally trailered without special permits. While many pocket cruisers of the early 1970s felt cramped and fragile, the Coaster 23 sought to project a miniature yachtsman's aesthetic. Inside, the cabin layout is surprisingly functional for a boat with a length overall of just 22.58 feet. Lindh designed an open arrangement that features a forward V-berth, two long salon settees that double as berths, and a small quarter-berth. While it was originally marketed to sleep five adults, four is the practical limit for a comfortable weekend cruise.
The interior finish speaks directly to the manufacturing philosophies of the 1970s. Kells utilized a molded fiberglass interior pan to provide structural rigidity and a clean, low-maintenance look. This off-white liner is accented by teak-veneered bulkheads and wood trim, which provide a warmer feel than many of its contemporaries. However, because it was built as a budget-conscious vessel, the joinery is basic, and buyers of the era accepted a "no-frills" finish. Unlike its sibling model, which frequently featured a pop-top to improve headroom, the Coaster 23 was designed with a fixed cabin top. This limits headroom inside to a sitting posture, but it ensures a structurally drier and stiffer deck cabin structure. It offered an appealing alternative to the O'Day 22, which relied on a more flexible hull-to-deck joint, and presented a more solid, if less refined, alternative to the ubiquitous Catalina 22.
Variations & Configurations
The distinction between the standard Kells 23 and the Coaster 23 is central to understanding the model's history. While both vessels shared the same overall hull mold, they target entirely different sailing profiles through their keel configurations. The standard Kells 23 was equipped with a cast-iron swing keel that retracted completely into the hull, allowing for a draft of under one foot for easy beaching and ramp launching. In contrast, the Coaster 23 was configured as a fixed, shoal-draft keel boat.
This fixed shoal keel draws just 2.33 feet, striking a delicate balance between sailing performance and trailerability. By glassing the ballast directly into the keel stub, Kells eliminated the mechanical complexity, cable winches, pivot pins, and potential trunk leaks associated with swing-keel models. The Coaster 23 features 750 pounds of fixed ballast (yielding a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 31.91%), which is permanently located lower than the retracted swing keel of its sister ship. This design choice provides a permanent, reliable righting moment that cannot be compromised by mechanical failure. While launching a Coaster 23 requires a deeper ramp or a trailer with a tongue extension compared to the swing-keel version, the trade-off is a vastly simplified maintenance schedule and peace of mind on the water.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under sail, the Coaster 23 behaves as a predictable, light-displacement pocket cruiser. With a displacement of 2,350 pounds and a displacement-to-length ratio of 126.34, the boat sits firmly in the light-displacement category. On a technical level, its waterline length of 20.25 feet is notably longer than the 18-foot waterline of its swing-keel sibling, which gives the Coaster 23 a higher theoretical hull speed and better light-air glide. It is easily driven in light to moderate breezes, responding quickly to puffs and accelerating with minimal drag. Its masthead sloop rig provides a versatile sail plan that is easy to manage short-handed. However, with a comfort ratio of 11.18, the boat is active in a seaway. In choppy coastal conditions, crew members will experience a quick, motion-heavy ride, as the hull lacks the displacement and momentum to punch smoothly through steep waves.
With a capsize screening ratio of 2.36, the Coaster 23 is statistically vulnerable to capsize if exposed to breaking waves in open ocean conditions. This ratio reinforces its design brief as a coastal cruiser and inland lake day-sailer; it is not a bluewater passagemaker. At the helm, the shoal draft presents specific handling characteristics. The fixed keel provides decent tracking, but its shallow profile offers limited lateral resistance compared to deep-draft vessels. Consequently, windward performance suffers, and the boat will make noticeable leeway when pinching too close to the wind. Furthermore, because of the shallow keel and a traditional "barn-door" transom-hung rudder, owners frequently report a neutral to slight lee helm in light air. To maintain balance, sailing the boat requires keeping the sail plan balanced, often utilizing a slightly larger genoa to maintain slot-effect efficiency and keep the bow tracking cleanly upwind.
Known Issues & Triage
For prospective buyers and current restorers, the age of the Coaster 23 means that structural inspection is paramount. The most prevalent issue is deck coring rot. Like most builders of the era, Kells used end-grain balsa wood core sandwiched between layers of fiberglass for the deck and cabin top. Over decades, original deck hardware—including chainplates, bow cleats, stanchions, and handrails—inevitably leaks if the original bedding compound dries out. Water migrating into the balsa core causes widespread rot, leading to soft spots, flexing decks, and eventually structural failure under rig tension. Triage requires tapping the deck with a plastic mallet to listen for dull thuds, followed by moisture meter testing.
An even more insidious construction quirk of the Kells design is the extensive use of glassed-over plywood sub-layers inside the cabin 4. To construct flat interior surfaces for the galley, dinette, and sole, Kells laid down plywood panels and glassed directly over them. When window gaskets or the companionway hatch leak, water pools beneath the fiberglass cabin liner. This water has nowhere to escape and saturates the encapsulated plywood, causing it to rot entirely. Over time, the fiberglass skin delaminates from the rotted wood beneath, leading to bouncy cabin soles and sagging interior bulkheads. Repairing this "sole rot" requires cutting away the affected fiberglass skins, excavating the rotted wood, and rebuilding the sub-structures.
Finally, the encapsulated ballast of the Coaster 23 demands close examination. The 750 pounds of cast iron and concrete ballast are sealed within the fiberglass keel cavity. If the boat has suffered severe groundings, the outer fiberglass skin of the keel can crack, allowing water to enter the ballast chamber. In freezing climates, this trapped water expands, which can split the keel envelope open from the inside out.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners committed to keeping these vintage pocket cruisers afloat have developed effective strategies for modernization. In the deck and cabin sole, many DIY restorers have abandoned wood entirely during recoring projects. Instead, they utilize high-density closed-cell polyurethane foam or composite boards, which are immune to future water rot and offer superior compressive strength.
Auxiliary propulsion is another common target for upgrades. The Coaster 23 was designed to utilize a small outboard engine mounted on a transom bracket. While vintage two-stroke outboards were noisy and heavy, modern owners are shifting toward lightweight four-stroke engines in the four-to-six horsepower range, which provide more than enough thrust to reach hull speed. For those sailing on inland lakes, electric outboards have become highly popular. Because of the boat's light 2,350-pound displacement, a modern electric outboard paired with a lithium battery pack provides an exceptionally quiet, low-maintenance propulsion system that eliminates the weight and fuel-handling issues of gasoline engines.
Electrical modernization is similarly straightforward due to the boat’s simple needs. Replacing the sparse, corroded original copper wiring with marine-grade tinned wire and adding a basic electrical panel is a standard project. By installing a single 50-to-100 amp-hour lithium iron phosphate battery and a small, deck-mounted solar panel, owners can easily run modern LED cabin lights, running lights, a VHF radio, and basic navigation instruments indefinitely without needing shore power or engine charging.
The Verdict
The Kells Coaster 23 is a rugged, no-nonsense pocket cruiser that offers an incredibly affordable entry point into the world of sailing. While it lacks the refined finish of a modern production boat and the sailing performance of a deep-draft racer, it compensates with simplicity, ease of trailering, and a highly functional layout. It is best suited for families, budget-conscious day-sailors, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy the process of restoring a classic piece of fiberglass history. For those who stay within protected coastal waters or inland lakes, the Coaster 23 remains a charming, honest boat that delivers genuine sailing pleasure for pennies on the dollar.
Pros:
- Highly accessible and affordable entry-level pocket cruiser
- Fixed shoal draft keel eliminates swing-keel winch, pivot pin, and trunk leaks
- Light displacement makes it easy to tow and launch with a standard vehicle
- Generous cockpit and functional cabin layout for its length
- Simple masthead rig is easy to handle short-handed
Cons:
- Highly active and motion-heavy ride in choppy conditions due to low comfort ratio
- Prone to serious deck and cabin sole rot from legacy plywood and balsa coring issues
- Limited upwind performance and potential for lee helm due to shallow draft
- Restricted interior headroom requires a sitting-only posture inside the cabin
- Capsize screening ratio limits safe operation to protected bays and inland waters
