Leisure 23 SL Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The result is a modest, purposeful pocket cruiser whose design still makes sense today.

Design and Construction

The SL shares the Leisure 23’s one-piece moulded fibreglass hull. Interior mouldings and bulkheads are bonded in for exceptional stiffness and rigidity, while the balsa-sandwich deck adds strength and insulation against temperature and noise.

Buyers could choose either fin or twin cast-iron keels, both with a hydrofoil section. The rudder and skeg are moulded in GRP around a steel framework. A teak rubbing strake protects the topsides as standard, and moulded non-slip areas provide secure footing on the foredeck.

The boat displaces 4,050 lbs, with 1,950 lbs in the keels. The resulting 48% ballast ratio was credited by the owners’ association with making the L23 a notably seaworthy yacht. The SL’s length-to-beam ratio is 2.89, and its wetted surface is near 172 square feet. Those figures place it among moderate racers rather than loafing daysailers.

Rig and Sail Plan

Both the Leisure 23 and 23 SL carry a masthead sloop rig on aluminium-alloy spars. These were originally gold anodized, with later examples finished in black or silver. All standing rigging and rigging screws are stainless steel, and the halyards run internally.

The sail wardrobe is generous for a boat of this size:

90 sq ft mainsail
104 sq ft working jib
158 sq ft genoa
350 sq ft spinnaker

The original specifications also give sheet lengths and specify 3/8-inch diameters. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of around 17, the SL is lively without being twitchy. Its theoretical hull speed is roughly 6 knots.

Yachtdatabase reviewers put the capsize screening value at 2.08, which would bar the boat from organized ocean races. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 16.3, however, was judged more comfortable than 62% of comparable designs.

Accommodation

Below, the Leisure 23 and 23 SL make good use of their 7-foot-10-inch beam. The main saloon has a dinette arrangement opposite a large forecabin. The standard galley includes a two-burner gas stove and a sink with a freshwater pump. Teak and teak veneers throughout give the cabin a warm feel.

The quoted capacity is five berths, although buyers should note that the separate forecabin toilet compartment specified on some boats makes one berth very short.

According to the owners’ association, ample deck space and the deep, cushioned cockpit were the first features to impress visitors. The SL’s extra inch of headroom is also a quiet bonus aboard a 23-footer.

Engine and Auxiliary Power

The standard auxiliary was an 8–10 hp outboard, but many examples were fitted instead with a 10 hp inboard diesel, usually a Volvo Penta Saildrive unit. The inboard option provides quieter docking and better trim than a bracketed outboard, although the truncated factory note leaves the full diesel description open.

Either arrangement provides modest power suited to a boat of this displacement and keel profile.

Ownership and Refit Notes

The fibreglass hull and deck require routine care. The bonded interior should mean fewer loose-joinery concerns than a framed boat, although the teak rubbing strake and cabin trim need periodic oiling or varnishing to stay fair.

The spars and stainless-steel rigging are durable, but the internal halyards merit inspection for masthead seepage. Because the SL uses the same hull as the Leisure 23, either the fin or twin iron keels should be checked for rust pitting at the flange.

The Verdict

The Leisure 23 SL is a thoughtfully updated pocket cruiser. It combines the same proven Pryor hull with Meerloo’s cleaner deck moulding and a little more headroom. Its deep cockpit, useful accommodation and high ballast ratio help it punch above its length for comfort and sea-kindliness, though its size and screening figures still define it as a coastal boat.

Pros