Design and Construction
The 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 anywhere in the structure; where local stiffness was needed, a PVC foam core was substituted. The hull and deck meet on an outward flange, bonded with adhesive sealant and secured by stainless steel bolts on six-inch centers. Visually the boat carries a nearly plumb bow with an apparent but not exaggerated sweep to the sheer, a bit of classic tumblehome at the transom, and an outboard rudder. Period reviews called the shape well-proportioned and judged the overall package a handsome little boat. Wood trim accents the predominantly fiberglass construction, and the stainless opening ports—rectangular on later boats, round on early ones—were a step above the plastic units common in this size and price band.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a fractional sloop with a total sail area of 264 square feet, and 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 a big roach and a conventional sloop rig featuring a self-tacking jib. With a displacement-length ratio of 131 and a moderate sail-area-displacement ratio of 19.7, the 23 does not need a whole gale to get moving; reaching is her strong point of sail, and she will sail to windward quite well if not overpowered. The wing keel draws just over two feet, which reviewers felt was unlikely to make her very close-winded. A PHRF handicap of 285 and a hull speed near 5.8 knots place her fairly among modest cruisers. At 2,700 pounds she is light enough to be towed behind a full-size car or small pickup, a practical trait for a trailerable coastal cruiser.
Accommodations
Below, the design sleeps four: a double V-berth forward behind a solid door that gives genuine privacy for changing, two straight settee berths in the main cabin, and an aft cabin double to port. Cabin headroom is 54 inches, though there is ample sitting headroom at the settees. The galley sits to starboard just forward of the companionway with a single-burner stove and sink; a second sink sits adjacent to the head, which is tucked below the V-berth. An icebox lives on the port side under the cockpit. A table drops down from the forward bulkhead, and reviewers noted good storage below for a boat this size. Rectangular ports on later models replaced the round opening ports of early boats, bringing more light below.
Equipment and Deck Layout
Standard auxiliary power was an outboard on a transom bracket, with a nine-horsepower single-cylinder Yanmar inboard diesel offered as an option often chosen by original buyers. A pedestal wheel was available in place of the tiller and is commonly seen on used boats. The deck carries welded stainless steel bow and stern rails, a lifeline on stanchions, and a secure bulwark around the foredeck. Hawse pipes rather than chocks fairlead mooring lines to deck cleats. The stern pulpit includes catbird stern seats on the quarters. Early boats lack the 18-inch bow pulpit added for 1989 and later models, which both adds a storage point and shields the plumb bow when raising anchor.
The Verdict
The Seaward 23 is a compact, well-built cruiser that distills Nick Hake's eye for proportion and shallow draft into a trailerable package. Its solid fiberglass hull with foam-cored reinforcement and bolted outward-flange deck joint speak to durable, straightforward construction, while the privacy-forward cabin and dual sinks suit weekending. The wing keel limits windward bite, but the boat reaches willingly and tows easily.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with no balsa or plywood and PVC-foam stiffness reinforcement
- Genuine private V-berth via solid door; sleeps four with two sinks and icebox
- Shoal 2.08-foot wing keel; easily towed by a car or small pickup
- Optional inboard Yanmar diesel and pedestal wheel available from the factory
Cons
- Wing keel is not likely to be very close-winded upwind
- Early models lack bow pulpit and carry round ports instead of later rectangular ones
- 54-inch cabin headroom limits standing room
