Sunbeam 23 Buyer's Guide
The Sunbeam 23 is a 22.8-foot fractional-sloop cruiser designed by Manfred Schöchl and produced by Sunbeam Yachts – Schöchl Yachtbau from 1979 to 2003, with 279 hulls completed. A solid-fiberglass pocket cruiser with bulb fin keel and spade rudder, offering two cabins and five berths, it makes a practical target for a first-time buyer who wants real accommodations without a larger boat's overhead. The solid fiberglass hull and deck mean there is no core to saturate, a point worth noting when comparing against cored rivals of the era.
What to Inspect
A buyer's inspection should confirm the boat matches her design limits rather than hunt for endemic faults. Verify the draft at her current load: the design draws 3.94 to 4.24 feet depending on stores and crew, so a boat sitting unusually deep may be overloaded or have ballast issues anchor. Check the bulb keel attachment and the spade rudder stock for impact damage, since shallow-draft trailering boats are often launched on ramps. Confirm the rigging matches the 10 mm sheet spec — jib, genoa, mainsheet, and spinnaker sheets should all be 3/8 inch diameter, with the mainsheet running 57 feet anchor. The capsize screening value of 2.28 means she is not an offshore boat; inspect her primarily as a coastal and sheltered-water cruiser and judge gear accordingly anchor. Also confirm the beamy hull's stated roominess translates to usable space for your crew of five.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
With 279 hulls built across a 24-year production run, Sunbeam 23 boats are a findable presence on the used market, and the trailerable length keeps storage costs modest. For a viewing, run this short checklist:
- Confirm loaded draft against the 3.94–4.24 foot range
- Inspect bulb keel and spade rudder for ramp impact
- Verify all sheets are 10 mm (3/8 inch) diameter
- Check the solid deck for stress cracks, not core moisture
- Match accommodations to your crew: two cabins, five berths
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sunbeam 23. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $20,414 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $6,220 | -69.5% |
Where they're listed
Sunbeam 23 listings appear across 3 countries. Switzerland has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by Germany and United Kingdom.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $6,220 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Germany | $13,973 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| United Kingdom | $26,854 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanneau Tonic 23 | 23.94' | $ 11,536 | 17 | 6 |
| Precision 23 | 23.42' | $ 8,500 | 15 | 6 |
| Sunbeam 23You are here | — | $ 13,971 | 3 | 0 |