Santana 2023 A Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The boat traces its hull directly to W. Shad Turner’s 1978 Santana 23 D. For the 1990s, Schock retained that design’s underbody but gave it a new deck, mast, and interior. The Santana 2023 A is now out of production.

Design and Construction

The 2023 A is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass, with a solid-fiberglass hull and deck. Its connection to the Santana 23 D is structural as well as visual: both boats use the same hull design, and the 2023 A retains the earlier design’s underbody. The A therefore carries forward the earlier boat’s trailerable platform while adding a distinct deck and cabin arrangement through its development from the 1978 Santana 23 D hull.

All three Santana 2023 models have raked stems, two-angled open reverse transoms, transom-hung rudders controlled by tillers, and retractable centerboards. The A is specifically described as having a transom-mounted rudder and centerboard keel.

Period testers considered the hull well designed. The boat measures 23 feet 4 inches overall, with a waterline length of 20 feet 6 inches, a beam of 8 feet 6 inches, and a displacement of 2,880 pounds. Those dimensions make it a manageable trailerable cruiser.

Rig, Ballast, and Handling

The A has a fractional sloop rig without a mast backstay. It also has mainsail boom roller furling, a combination intended to simplify short-handed operation. Schock’s decision to omit the backstay on the standard-cabin model, together with the roller-furling main, keeps the rig approachable.

Testers found the boat easy to rig and launch. They also noted that its straightforward operation shouldn’t confound beginners or sailors moving up from daysailing.

The boat carries 1,300 pounds of water ballast, which provides stiffness under sail and can be drained for road transport. Its centerboard retracts to give a minimum draft of 1 foot 2 inches for trailering and shallow-water sailing. With the board lowered, maximum draft is 5 feet 4 inches.

The 2023 A has an average PHRF handicap of 224, well behind the R model’s rating of 174. This marks the A as the more sedate, cruising-oriented member of the family.

Accommodations and Intended Use

Within the Santana 2023 range, the A fills the cruiser role. Its standard cabin and different interior reflect that purpose while retaining the Santana 23 D hull; the updated design also received a new deck and mast.

Testers considered the Santana 2023 generally a reasonable introduction to cruising on lakes and protected waters. That positions the A as a trailerable weekender for sheltered regions rather than an offshore boat. Its fractional rig, tiller steering, and open reverse transom suit a boat intended to be launched, sailed, and retrieved by a small crew without undue complication.

Known Issues

Early Santana 2023s suffered gear failures. On those boats, Schock also used plywood on the interior of the water-ballast tanks; beginning in 1996, the builder switched to fiberglass tanks.

A separate, persistent concern is the builder’s continued use of brittle caulking around the joints at the top of the water-ballast tank. Owners report that this material has often led to leaks. On pre-1996 hulls, buyers and owners should treat the tank interiors and tank-top seals as the primary wear points.

Verdict

The Santana 2023 A is a thoughtfully developed trailerable cruiser. It combines the Santana 23 D’s capable hull with a beginner-friendly package that includes mainsail boom roller furling and no backstay. Its drainable water ballast and retractable centerboard make it a practical tow-and-sail proposition.

The drawbacks are the gear failures found on early boats and the known water-ballast tank concerns, particularly plywood tank interiors before 1996 and reported leaks around the tank-top joints. These issues are bounded, well understood, and concentrated in specific build periods. For sheltered-water cruising and sailors stepping up from daysailing, the A remains a coherent, light-footed design.

Pros