C&C Paceship 23 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Paceship 23 was conceived as a competitive club racer and spirited coastal cruiser. With a ballast-to-displacement ratio of roughly 39% (900 lbs of ballast on a 2,300 lb displacement), the vessel is notably stiff for its size. This stability is largely attributed to its fixed fin keel, which draws 3.83 feet, providing significantly more lift and tracking ability than the shoal-draft centerboard models popular in the 1970s. According to technical entries at Wikipedia, the masthead sloop rig carries 225 square feet of sail area, giving it a balanced and responsive feel in light to moderate air.

Anecdotal reports from historical PHRF listings suggest the boat remains competitive against modern equivalents like the Catalina 22, often rating significantly faster due to its deeper keel and efficient C&C hull form. While it lacks the "point-and-shoot" simplicity of a dinghy, its transom-mounted rudder provides direct feedback, making it an excellent platform for sailors looking to master the nuances of sail trim and heel control.

Interior Comfort & Variations

Despite its performance leanings, the Paceship 23 offers a functional interior suited for weekend pocket cruising. The layout is traditional: a V-berth forward followed by a main salon with two longitudinal settees. The use of a bulkhead-mounted folding table—rather than a fixed dinette—maximizes floor space, a design choice highlighted in retrospective reviews from Good Old Boat. While the cabin lacks standing headroom, the beam of 8 feet prevents the space from feeling overly confined.

Variations of the 23-foot hull were largely limited to trim levels, though early Canadian-built models are prized for their extensive use of teak and mahogany interior joinery. The boat's evolution eventually saw the introduction of the "Bluejacket" line, which shared some production DNA but focused on even simpler day-sailing configurations.

Popular Mentions & Media

The Paceship 23 holds a nostalgic place in the "Good Old Boat" community, often cited as a prime example of the 1970s "trailer-sailer" boom, though its fixed keel makes it more of a "dry-sail" or slip-resident vessel than its centerboard cousins. The model has been featured in several regional Canadian sailing publications and was the subject of an editorial retrospective in Good Old Boat Magazine, which compared the C&C design's sleek lines to the more "modern-looking" but slower Hunt designs that followed.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers should focus on the following high-signal areas during inspection:

• Deck Core Integrity: Like many boats of this era, Paceship utilized balsa-cored decks. Soft spots are common around the chainplates, mast step, and stanchion bases where hardware seals may have failed over decades.
• Keel-to-Hull Joint: The "smile" or hairline cracking at the leading edge of the fin keel should be inspected. While often just a cosmetic gelcoat issue, significant weeping can indicate loose keel bolts or compression fatigue in the hull grid.
• Rudder Gudgeons: The transom-mounted rudder puts considerable stress on the pintles and gudgeons. Check for elongated holes in the fiberglass or play in the metal fittings, which can lead to vibration at speed.
• Chainplate Leaks: Water ingress through the deck-mounted chainplates is the primary cause of interior bulkhead rot. Inspect the wood where the chainplates bolt through for staining or softness.

Community & Resources

The primary hub for technical support and historical documentation is the Paceship Owners Site. This volunteer-run organization maintains a repository of original brochures, sail plans, and a dedicated forum where owners discuss specific restoration projects for the C&C-designed P23.

The Verdict

The Paceship 23 (C&C) is a refined, performance-first pocket cruiser that offers more "big boat" feel than typical 22-footers of its generation.

Pros:

• Superior upwind performance and tracking compared to centerboard competitors.
• Robust construction with hand-laid fiberglass.
• Timeless C&C aesthetics and high-quality wood trim.
• Active and supportive owner community.

Cons:

• Fixed fin keel limits gunkholing and requires a deeper trailer or crane launch.
• Lack of standing headroom may be restrictive for extended cruising.
• Prone to balsa core delamination if deck hardware was not re-bedded.