East Wind 24 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The sailing characteristics of the East Wind 24 are defined by its substantial displacement (approximately 4,800 lbs) and its full keel with a cutaway forefoot. This design choice, a hallmark of early C&C offshore thinking, allows the boat to track exceptionally well, making it a favorite for solo sailors who need a vessel that can "steer itself" for short periods. According to technical documentation and historical brochures preserved by the Paceship Owners Site, the boat was designed to handle the heavy chop of the North Atlantic, providing a dry and predictable ride where lighter boats might be tossed about.

While the East Wind 24 is not a "greyhound" in light winds—due to the significant wetted surface of its long keel—it comes alive when the breeze freshens. It has a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, which translates to a stiff, upright sailing posture. Owners frequently report that the boat can carry full sail long after its lighter competitors have been forced to reef. The cutaway forefoot provides a tighter turning radius than a standard full-keel boat, though it still lacks the nimble "spin-on-a-dime" agility of a modern fin-keel design.

Interior Comfort & Variations

For a 24-foot vessel designed in the 1960s, the East Wind 24 offers a functional and cozy cabin that maximizes its 7'8" beam. The layout is a classic four-berth configuration, featuring a V-berth forward followed by a small head area and two settee berths in the main salon. The headroom is approximately 5'8", which was generous for its era but may feel restrictive to taller modern sailors. The use of a fiberglass interior liner was an innovation at the time, providing a clean finish while structural mahogany bulkheads added warmth and rigidity.

The East Wind 24 saw several evolutionary tweaks during its production run. A notable sibling model is the Paceship Cruisette, which utilized the same hull but featured a different deck mold and cabin trunk. While the East Wind was marketed as a cruiser with a full galley and four berths, the Cruisette was often seen as a more day-sail-oriented variant. Later in Paceship's history, the lessons learned from the East Wind 24 informed the development of the PY23 and the larger Acadian 30, though the East Wind remained the sturdiest of the small keelboat lineup.

Popular Mentions & Media

The East Wind 24 is frequently cited in regional maritime histories of Atlantic Canada as a foundational fiberglass design. It gained a reputation as a "miniature ship," a sentiment echoed in various "Good Old Boat" retrospectives and classic plastic forums. While it does not have a single famous circumnavigator attached to its name, it is a staple of the "pocket cruising" subculture, often appearing in literature regarding capable small boats for coastal exploration.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers of an East Wind 24 should approach the purchase with an awareness of the boat's age, as most hulls are now over 50 years old.

• Deck Delamination: Like many Paceship models of this era, the East Wind 24 used balsa coring in the deck. Over decades, hardware such as stanchions and chainplates may have leaked, leading to soft spots in the core. A thorough "tap test" with a phenolic hammer is essential.
• Iron Ballast Issues: Many East Wind 24s utilized encapsulated iron ballast. If the fiberglass skin of the keel is breached (often through "hard groundings" or freeze-thaw cycles), water can reach the iron, causing it to rust and expand. This "rust jacking" can lead to vertical cracks in the keel's fiberglass.
• Chainplate Integrity: The chainplates are bolted to wooden bulkheads. It is vital to inspect these connection points for rot or "mushing" of the wood, which could lead to a catastrophic rig failure.
• Rudder Gudgeons and Pintles: The heavy rudder is a robust piece of hardware, but the bronze or stainless steel fittings that attach it to the hull often show significant wear or galvanic corrosion after half a century of service.

Community & Resources

The most significant resource for this model is the Paceship Owners Site, an exhaustive repository of historical data, original brochures, and technical wikis maintained by a dedicated group of enthusiasts. This community is instrumental in helping new owners source parts and understand the specific construction techniques used at the Mahone Bay facility.

The Verdict

The East Wind 24 is a "sailor’s sailboat," built with a level of scantling and heft rarely found in modern 24-footers. It is an ideal choice for the traditionalist who prioritizes safety and tracking over interior volume and light-air speed.

Pros:

• Extremely stable and sea-kindly in heavy weather.
• Exceptional tracking ability thanks to the full keel.
• Classic, timeless aesthetic that turns heads in any harbor.
• Strong community support for restoration and history.

Cons:

• Sluggish performance in light air (under 8 knots).
• Limited headroom and narrow interior compared to modern designs.
• Potential for significant "project work" due to the age of the fiberglass and core.
• Full keel makes it difficult to maneuver in tight marinas under power.