Hunter 23 is mainly used as a recreational keelboat, and it is built primarily of fiberglass and has wood trim. The build consists of a raked stem, reverse transom, fractional sloop rig, and a transom hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed-wing keel or centerboard.

This centered board equipped version has a draft of 4.90 ft (1.49m) with centerboard extended and 2.0 ft (0.61 m) with it retraced. The wing keel equipped version of the boat has a draft of 2.25 ft (0.69 m), and it allows the ground transportation on a trailer. The Hunter 23 displaces 800 lb (363 kg). It has a mainsail area of 125.14 sq ft (11.626 m2), and jib/genoa area of 110.50 sq ft (10.266 m2).

An outboard motor is usually fitted in the boat for maneuvering and docking. The wing keel version of Hunter 23 has a PHRF racing average handicap of 237 with a high of 258 and a low of 226. The centerboard version has a PHRF racing average handicap of 237 with a high till 219 and lows till 276. The hull speed of Hunter 23 is 5.93 kn (10.98 km/h).