A beamy 23 ft sailboat idea

In American Sailing Craft, Howard Chapelle makes clear that Cape Cod Cats were working boats, although they did also become popular with yachtsmen. There's a drawing of one built in 1895 by Manley H. Crosby* for commercial fishing. It's 23'4" long and 11'2" wide! The large cockpits on Cape Cod Cats are nothing new.

*The Crosby's were famous builders of catboats.

 

You are comparing a design that was loaded with fish and oysters. They were mostly operated is shallow waters too. Apples and bananas.

 

They weren't loaded with fish and oysters on the way out. I'll continue to believe what Howard Chapelle wrote.

 

I also believe his statement that they were workboats.