Design and Construction
The Paceship 23 was built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, including a full-length wooden rub rail built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. The solid fiberglass hull and deck carry a 1,200-pound iron ballast inside a 2,800-pound displacement. With a 7.5-foot beam and a 19-foot waterline inside a 22.75-foot length, the hull is a fin-keeled monohull drawing 3.5 feet with a transom-hung rudder.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a masthead sloop rig with a 225-square-foot sail plan and a fixed fin keel. She is normally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering rather than an inboard, keeping the stern simple. The transom-hung rudder gives accessible steering for a small crew.
Accommodations
The boat is classified as a small recreational keelboat. The 7.5-foot beam and 2,800-pound displacement imply a compact cabin for two or three. Wood trim and the full-length rub rail give a period aesthetic against the fiberglass structure.
Known Issues
The boat was at one time supported by an active class club, The Paceship, but that club is currently inactive, so an owner today cannot rely on an organized network for parts leads or shared knowledge.
Refits and Ownership
The outboard-driven configuration avoids inboard engine rebuilds, and the solid fiberglass with wood trim means refits center on cosmetic wood renewal and rig inspection. With 240 built and the class club inactive, the model is a modest-presence design with straightforward systems.
The Verdict
The Paceship 23 is a tidy, limited-production C&C-designed keelboat with uncomplicated systems and a coherent design.
Pros
- Cuthbertson & Cassian design in a compact 23-foot package
- Solid fiberglass hull with simple outboard propulsion
- Beamy fin-keel layout with transom-hung rudder
Cons
- Inactive class club leaves no organized owner support network
- Limited production of 240 boats reduces fleet-wide parts familiarity
