The cubic 73 phase of NaClO3 can be obtained from melt growth using low-temperature phase seed crystals although sodium chlorate undergoes a phase transition from a high-temperature monoclinic phase to the cubic one at 230 degreesC. Optical quality crystals of several cm in length were obtained by Czochralski growth using an afterheater and an excess air/O-2 pressure of 3-6 atm. The thermal decomposition behaviour at the melting temperature was reinvestigated. Intense stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) was observed up to the 15th anti-Stokes line shifted down to the UV wavelength region. NaClO3 is considered as a promising SRS laser material in order to generate lambda approximate to 1.182 mum pulses, using a Nd:YAG laser pump source and the first Stokes line.