Mast And Standing Rigging; History - Leisure L23 Owner's Manual

Issue 5
April 2012
LEISURE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
L23 and 23SL Owners Manual
Section 1
Introduction
Purpose and Structure
The purpose of this Manual is to provide a comprehensive reference for these boats, including
descriptions of repairs, modifications etc that owners have carried out.
Although the two boats are considerably different in appearance, this is largely because of the
design of the topsides. The hull, rudder, skeg, mast rig etc are identical, although the internal fit
out differs slightly.
The Manual is structured in a series of Sections, each dealing with a different aspect of the boat,
eg Mast & Standing Rigging. Inevitably, there is a degree of overlap between sections, eg in
which should go methods of turning lines back to the cockpit. Each Section opens with a
description and pictures of the original arrangements – where possible – then continues with
information about repair, modification etc. The latter material has been culled from a variety of
sources, and much editing, particularly of the material extracted from the two old Forums, has
been necessary. No material from the Forum opened in March 2012 is included. It has been
produced only in an electronic form, partly because of the sheer volume of material, but mostly
because this approach allows for updated versions readily to be produced. Individual pages can
be printed as hard copies eg, to take to the boat for a particular project.
History of the Boats
Production of the original design (OD) Leisure 23 was started by Cobramold in about 1972 at their
factory in Stansted. This model was replaced by the 23SL, with its characteristic 'sharpie' look, in
about 1978, still being manufactured by Cobramold. But by the early 1980s, production had
passed into the hands of Brinecraft, at their Brightlingsea facility – and they changed the colour
of the below–decks mouldings from brown to white, thus providing a ready means of identifying
the builder of any one boat. Production continued until around 1986/7, when a major fire brought
things to a halt. A few boats were subsequently produced in Germany, but effectively, Leisure
yachts were no longer being made. The moulds are believed now to be in Poland.
Specifications
L23 and SL23.
The original brochure for both boats can be found on our main website: Most boats
were built as twin keel versions, but some were fin keeled.
Acknowledgements
This manual has not been produced by the 'Association'. It is a compendium of some factual
information, but it primarily reflects the advice and experience of individual members, who have
taken the time, over the years, to commit these to paper. We are extremely grateful to these folk.
Most of the material has been extracted from the Forum on the old website, and from the Forum
and the Library on the new site. If YOU have something which YOU could contribute, then please
send this to the me for inclusion in the Reference Library.
Barri Hopkins
Editor
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