Design Brief & Intent 6
The Paceship 29 was envisioned as an accessible, stable, and forgiving cruiser for families and club racers. In a market saturated with heavy, deep-draft traditionalists and overly light, tender daysailers, C&C sought to strike a middle path. By utilizing a hybrid keel-centerboard arrangement, the boat could offer the shallow-draft capability necessary for exploring tidal creeks or trailering, while retaining the deep-water capability of a true keelboat.
Compared to C&C’s own standalone models of the era—such as the later, more race-oriented C&C 29—the Paceship variant prioritized accommodation volume and versatility over pure speed. It went head-to-head with iconic competitors like the Pearson 26, the Grampian 28, and the Columbia 28, distinguishing itself through its high-ballast construction and superior finish quality.
The interior reflects Paceship's dedication to robust craftsmanship. Inside, owners are greeted by a warm blend of teak trim and classic marine bulkheads. A major design feature is the molded fiberglass headliner, which gives the cabin a bright, clean, and low-maintenance feel. However, it does restrict direct access to the deck hardware backing plates, which can be a challenge during modern refits. The standard layout optimizes its interior volume with a traditional V-berth forward, a compact marine head and hanging locker, convertible saloon settees, and an aft galley positioned near the companionway for optimal ventilation.
Variations & Configurations
While often grouped under the generic Paceship 29 moniker, the design was built and marketed under two primary labels: the Paceship 29 and the Paceship Northwind 29. These variants are structurally identical in hull form, though the Northwind 29 name was frequently used for the earlier production run. Minor variations over the production history include subtle changes to the interior woodwork, cockpit seating, and transom shapes.
The defining technical feature of the hull is its centerboard configuration. It employs a shallow, fixed fiberglass stub keel that houses a heavy, retractable centerboard. With the board up, the draft is a remarkably shallow 3.08 feet, making it incredibly versatile for thin-water coastal cruising and easing the process of launching or winterizing. Extending the board drops the draft to 6.75 feet, transforming the boat's windward pointing capability and lateral stability. The rig is a standard masthead sloop, engineered to carry a generous headsail inventory that drives the boat efficiently in light air.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The sailing characteristics of the Paceship 29 are fundamentally shaped by its unique design ratios. The most remarkable metric is its ballast-to-displacement ratio of 48.62 percent—representing over 3,100 pounds of lead ballast packed into a 6,500-pound displacement. This makes the boat exceptionally stiff and resistant to heeling under canvas. It holds its sail plan well into a blow, providing a reassuringly upright and stable platform for the crew.
This stability is complemented by a displacement-to-length ratio of 272.52. This moderate-to-heavy displacement profile prevents the boat from being easily tossed about in a seaway. It slices through choppy coastal waters with a predictable, comfortable motion rather than bouncing over the waves. With a comfort ratio of 21.34, the hull provides a smooth and dry ride that minimizes crew fatigue over long passages.
Its sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.67 reveals that despite its heavy-displacement feel, the boat remains surprisingly nimble in light-to-moderate air, especially when utilizing a large genoa. At the helm, the balanced spade rudder provides responsive steering, though the boat is ultimately designed for safety and predictable tracking over athletic agility 6. The capsize screening value of 2.0 indicates a seaworthy hull form that sits directly on the boundary of modern ocean-racing standards, confirming that while its primary mission is coastal cruising, the boat is built to withstand occasional severe conditions.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Today, the Paceship 29 occupies a highly respectable position on the vintage brokerage market. It is widely considered an excellent, low-cost entry point for sailors seeking a robust, go-anywhere pocket cruiser. Because they were built in moderate numbers, finding a clean example on the market can require some patience, but they regularly trade at a highly accessible value compared to more modern, production-line 29-footers.
When considering a purchase, the economics of the refit are the primary factor. Because these boats are half a century old, the cost of sails, rigging, and electronics can quickly exceed the purchase price of the vessel itself. However, the sheer thickness of the hand-laid fiberglass hull means the core structure is almost indestructible, making it a highly rewarding platform for long-term restoration. The boat does not command the collector premium of some classic yawls, but it holds its value exceptionally well once modernized.
Known Issues & Triage
Maintaining a vintage fiberglass sailboat of this era requires an understanding of its specific structural weak points. The foremost issue for the Paceship 29 is deck core saturation. Like most builders of the 1970s, Paceship utilized a balsa-cored deck. Over decades, water can compromise the seal around stanchion bases, chainplates, handrails, and the companionway hatch. Any prospective buyer must perform a thorough moisture inspection. Triage involves drilling, drying out the core, or in severe cases, cutting away the top fiberglass laminate to replace rotted balsa with modern marine plywood or closed-cell foam.
The centerboard mechanism is another area requiring diligent inspection. The pivot pin, lifting wire, and cockpit winch are subject to significant wear and marine fouling. A worn pivot pin can cause the board to clank in its trunk or jam, while a frayed cable poses a risk of losing the board entirely. Triage requires hauled-out inspections to replace the wire cable and service the pivot bushings.
Finally, the original auxiliary power source, the four-cylinder Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, is a frequent source of maintenance issues. Many original engines suffer from manifold corrosion, cracked blocks due to improper winterization, or unsafe, outdated fuel systems. Direct raw-water cooling can also cause significant internal rust buildup over decades of use.
Modernization & Upgrades
Many veteran owners have chosen to execute key modernization projects to bring the Paceship 29 up to contemporary standards. Replacing the aging Atomic 4 with a small, lightweight two- or three-cylinder diesel engine is a common upgrade that drastically improves reliability and range. Alternatively, because the boat’s mission profile is primarily coastal day-sailing and weekend cruising, electric propulsion conversions have become increasingly popular, offering silent operation and low maintenance.
To support upgraded electric motors or modern house loads, owners are converting original lead-acid battery compartments to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) systems. The weight savings of lithium batteries can offset the heavy displacement of the hull while providing enough power to run modern conveniences like refrigeration, high-draw chartplotters, and electric windlasses.
Other common structural upgrades include re-bedding all deck hardware using oversized backing plates, swapping out the original bronze propeller for a modern, low-drag Indigo prop to improve motoring efficiency, and installing modern line clutches on the cabin top to allow halyards to be led aft to the cockpit for single-handed safety.
The Verdict
The Paceship 29 designed by C&C is a stellar example of robust, early fiberglass yacht construction. Its incredibly high ballast ratio, forgiving hull shape, and versatile centerboard draft make it an outstanding choice for coastal sailors who need a boat that can slip into shallow anchorages but still handle a sudden blow with confidence. While it requires the typical vigilance associated with any fifty-year-old balsa-cored deck and vintage auxiliary engine, it rewards its owner with timeless lines, predictable handling, and an incredibly solid ride.
Pros
- Outstanding stability and stiffness due to a high ballast ratio.
- Highly versatile draft configuration allows shallow-water exploration and easy trailering.
- Reassuring, predictable motion in choppy coastal waters.
- High-quality, solid fiberglass hull construction built to last.
- Comfortable, bright interior with generous headroom for its size class.
Cons
- Vulnerable to balsa deck core saturation and soft spots around hardware.
- Centerboard pivot pin and lifting cable require regular underwater maintenance.
- Original Atomic 4 gasoline engines present ongoing maintenance and safety liabilities.
- Fiberglass cabin headliner complicates access to deck hardware backing plates.
- Interior space is slightly tighter and more traditional than modern, beamier designs.
