Designed by Nick Hake, the boat was built in the United States by Hake Yachts from 1984 to 2002 and is now out of production. At 24.5 feet overall, with an 8.33-foot beam, it sits at the compact end of the cruising spectrum. Even so, it comes across as a thoughtfully resolved little yacht rather than a stripped-down trainer.
Design and Construction
The Seaward 23 displaces 2,700 pounds and carries 900 pounds of ballast. Its hull is a solid fiberglass layup of cloth and resin, reinforced with foam-cored stringers and a series of fiberglass liners. Seaward used no plywood or balsa in the structure, substituting PVC foam core where local stiffness was needed.
The hull and deck meet at an outward flange bonded with adhesive sealant and fastened with stainless steel bolts on six-inch centers. Wood trim provides accents amid the predominantly fiberglass construction. The stainless steel opening ports were also a step above the plastic units common among boats of this size and price. Early boats have round ports; later models have rectangular ones.
The hull has a nearly plumb bow, a noticeable but restrained sweep to the sheer, a touch of classic tumblehome at the transom, and an outboard rudder. Period reviews described the proportions favorably and judged the overall package a handsome little boat.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The standard rig is a fractional sloop carrying 264 square feet of sail. A free-standing catboat rig on a carbon fiber mast was a factory option. Testers noted a choice between that fully battened cat rig, with its large roach, and a conventional sloop rig with a self-tacking jib.
With a displacement-length ratio of 131 and a moderate sail-area-displacement ratio of 19.7, the Seaward 23 doesn’t need a whole gale to get moving. Reaching is its strongest point of sail, and it will sail quite well to windward if it isn’t overpowered. The wing keel draws just over two feet, though reviewers felt that this shallow draft was unlikely to make the boat very close-winded.
A PHRF handicap of 285 and a hull speed near 5.8 knots place the Seaward fairly among modest cruisers. At 2,700 pounds, it is also light enough to tow behind a full-size car or small pickup—a practical quality in a trailerable coastal cruiser.
Accommodations
The cabin sleeps four. Forward is a double V-berth behind a solid door, providing genuine privacy for changing. Two straight settees serve as berths in the main cabin, while an aft double cabin lies to port.
Cabin headroom is 54 inches, although there is ample sitting headroom at the settees. A table folds down from the forward bulkhead, and reviewers noted good storage below for a boat of this size. The later rectangular ports also admit more light than the round opening ports fitted to early boats.
The galley is to starboard, just forward of the companionway, and includes a single-burner stove and sink. A second sink is next to the head, which is tucked below the V-berth. The icebox is on the port side beneath the cockpit.
Auxiliary Power and Deck Layout
Standard auxiliary power came from an outboard mounted on a transom bracket. A nine-horsepower, single-cylinder Yanmar inboard diesel was optional and was often chosen by original buyers. Buyers could also specify a pedestal wheel in place of the tiller, and wheel steering is commonly found on used boats.
Deck hardware includes welded stainless steel bow and stern rails, lifelines on stanchions, and a secure bulwark around the foredeck. Hawse pipes, rather than chocks, lead mooring lines to the deck cleats. The stern pulpit incorporates catbird seats at the quarters.
Early boats lack the 18-inch bow pulpit added to 1989 and later models. The later pulpit adds a storage point and shields the plumb bow when raising anchor.
Verdict
The Seaward 23 is a compact, well-built cruiser that combines Nick Hake’s eye for proportion with shallow draft and trailerable weight. Its solid fiberglass hull, foam-cored reinforcement, and bolted outward-flange deck joint make for durable, straightforward construction. Below, the private forward berth and two sinks are useful features for weekends aboard.
The wing keel limits the boat’s windward bite, but the Seaward reaches willingly and is light enough to tow easily.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with no balsa or plywood, plus PVC-foam reinforcement for stiffness
- Private V-berth behind a solid door
- Sleeps four and includes two sinks and an icebox
- Shoal 2.08-foot wing keel
- Easily towed by a full-size car or small pickup
- Optional Yanmar inboard diesel and pedestal wheel were available from the factory
Cons
- Wing keel is unlikely to be very close-winded
- Early models lack the bow pulpit and have round ports rather than the later rectangular ones
- 54-inch cabin headroom limits standing room
