Design and Construction
The Paceship 23 was built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim, including a full-length wooden rub rail. The solid fiberglass hull and deck carry 1,200 pounds of iron ballast within a displacement of 2,800 pounds.
The boat measures 22.75 feet overall, with a 19-foot waterline and a 7.5-foot beam. Her fin keel draws 3.5 feet, and steering is through a transom-hung rudder.
Rig and Handling
The Paceship 23 carries a masthead sloop rig with 225 square feet of sail and a fixed fin keel. A small outboard motor is normally fitted for docking and maneuvering rather than an inboard, keeping the stern simple. The transom-hung rudder also provides accessible steering for a small crew.
Accommodations
The Paceship 23 is classified as a small recreational keelboat. Its 7.5-foot beam and 2,800-pound displacement imply a compact cabin suited to two or three people. Inside and out, the wood trim and full-length rub rail give the fiberglass boat a period look.
Ownership, Support, and Refit Considerations
The boat was once supported by an active class club, The Paceship, but the club is currently inactive. Owners therefore can’t rely on an organized network for parts leads or shared knowledge.
The outboard-powered configuration avoids the need for inboard-engine rebuilds. With solid fiberglass construction and wood trim, refits center on cosmetic wood renewal and rig inspection. Given the 240-boat production run and inactive class club, the Paceship 23 has a modest presence but straightforward systems.
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 and simple outboard propulsion
- Beamy, fin-keel layout with a transom-hung rudder
Cons
- Inactive class club means there’s no organized owner-support network
- Limited production of 240 boats reduces fleet-wide familiarity with parts
