Carolina Cat 23 SD Review

Every boater has his or her own ideas of what makes a terrific boat. But we all agree on some basics – we want lots of interior space, we want stability, and we want a smooth, dry ride. Those were the starting blocks for World Cat when the company hit the drawing board and began creating what would become the Carolina Cat 23SD.

Easy to tow but made for big water, the new 23SD is Carolina Cat’s first model designed specifically for the ski, deck and fun boat market. Though made as a family boat, it has the pedigree to handle much bigger, more open waters than most families are likely to venture to with their kids aboard. As a member of the World Cat group (which also includes the World Cat, Glacier Bay and Livingston brands) Carolina Cat uses the same catamaran hull design that saltwater anglers in the southeast trust to fish up to 50 miles offshore.

The massive, wide bow easily seats four adults. Or, add the available filler cushion and turn this area into one enormous sun pad.

The cat hull design brings numerous benefits and is a great choice for a multi-use family runabout. The massive, wide bow easily seats four adults (or a whole lot of kids) and accommodates an available filler cushion to turn this area into one enormous sun pad. The bow deck also conceals a retractable boarding ladder, a great feature when you beach the boat for a picnic. And the boat draws just 11 inches of water, allowing it to travel, dock or launch just about anywhere.

Thanks to the deep Catamaran hull, the head compartment is particularly spacious, with plenty of head room.

Since cat hulls are deepest at the gunnels, the storage beneath the twin consoles is substantial enough to easily house a walk-in head with standard electric-flush toilet. The head compartment isn’t just spacious, it’s tall – thanks to the Cat hull, there’s no need to crouch like Quasimodo on your way to making use of the facilities.

Versatile seating in the aft cockpit allows for forward-facing or rear-facing lounging.

The Cat layout also allows for a number of extra-deep storage compartments to surround the deck, allowing the 23SD to easily accommodate a wide range of bulky or oversized toys like wakeboards or wakerskis. It also provides room for a massive 89-gallon fuel tank, giving the boat tremendous range between fill-ups.

A standard entertainment center includes a Corian countertop, a deep sink and faucet, and a storage nook for a large 48-quart cooler beneath.

The roomy helm has captain’s and companion seats that sit on sliding bases; they also swivel, so they can be spun around to face the main cockpit lounge seating for conversation. The helm console is neatly laid out, with space to accommodate a flush-mount display screen of up to 12 inches and the primary gauges mounted up high where they’re clearly visible.

A standard entertainment center includes a Corian countertop, a deep sink and faucet, and a storage nook for a large 48-quart cooler beneath.

In the aft cockpit the 23SD includes a standard entertainment center to starboard, complete with a deep sink and faucet, a storage nook for a 48-quart cooler beneath, Corian counters and integrated beverage holders. There’s even space for an optional grill.

A retractable bow boarding ladder is a great feature for those times when you beach the boat for a picnic.

Step through the starboard-side transom entry gate to access the big rear swim platform. A fold-down ladder between the engines offers easy water access.

With its great styling and generous interior space, the Carolina Cat 23SD is a versatile family boat.

Rated to handle up to 230 horsepower, the Carolina Cat 23SD will reach more than 40 mph when rigged with twin 115s. And if you’re not in a hurry, it will cruise very economically at just over 20 mph.

Carolina Cat 23 SD

LOA: 22’ 7”

Beam: 8’ 6”

Draft: 11”

Dry weight: 4,400 lbs. (w. engines)

Fuel capacity: 93 gals.

Passenger capacity: 10

Maximum power: 230 hp (2 x 115 hp)

Info: carolinacatboats.com