Design and Construction
The Bluejacket's hull is solid fiberglass, but the deck is reinforced with plywood sandwiched into the laminate, and all deck hardware is either bolted through or tapped into metal bonded into the layup rather than relying on the gelcoat alone. The fin keel is cast iron with a double resin coating against corrosion and a hydrodynamic section meant to supply maximum lift with good stability, while a separate molded keel grid adds local strength where the keel meets the hull. Factory keel mounting used a silicone marine sealer between the well-matched surfaces, with no gasket required. The spade rudder is fiberglass around a brass stock turning in a bronze port tube with bushings top and bottom, and the tiller is straight-grained ash on a cast-bronze head pinned to the stock — a setup that lets the rudder rotate a full 360 degrees if it must. Positive flotation comes from large foam blocks inside the cockpit seats and in the bow, a detail that separates the MORC boat from the open daysailer.
Rig and Handling
The Bluejacket steps an anodized aluminum mast of 6351 alloy on deck, with integral sail slots and non-geared roller reefing, and the fractional sloop plan carries 201 square feet of sail. Halyards are stainless steel with dacron tails; running rigging is Samson braid. Two No. 1 snubbing winches on fiberglass bases handle headsail sheeting. Canadian Boating credited the design with stability and good sailing qualities, and the 243 PHRF rating places her among the quicker small racers of her era. The outboard sits in a self-draining, non-filling well bulkheaded off from the main hull, with a recommended 3 to 6 horsepower and a fairing plug for racing.
Accommodations
The original daysailer offered a roomy cockpit and an open cuddy, while the 1970 MORCEE version enclosed the cabin to meet MORC rules, adding a self-bailing cockpit and a small enclosed cuddy. The racing cabin is fully enclosed with two fixed lights in the cabintop, teak slide companionway, and a double V-berth raised above the sole on 3-inch foam. A standard port galley has a sink and integral water tank filled through a corner plug; starboard is prepped for an optional marine head. Forward utility shelves are molded above the berths, and a small sole hatch reaches the bilge.
Known Issues
The one documented vulnerability is the outboard well, which can take on water in some conditions. The builder advised keeping the motor out of the well when not in use and inserting the drain plug under way to minimize intrusion — a simple habit that matters on a boat whose well is otherwise sealed from the hull.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping the used fleet will find two distinct layouts sharing the same hull, so matching the version to intended use is the first decision. The deck-stepped mast, bronze-and-ash steering gear, and through-bolted hardware are durable, but the plywood-reinforced deck and the keel sealer joint are worth a close look for age-related softening or weeping. A few boats were built in Ontario to the same basic design — the Classic 22 and Viking 22 — but the Paceship name and Mahone Bay origin are the ones to verify on the hull card.
The Verdict
The Bluejacket 23 is a thoughtfully engineered small racer-cruiser that punches above its length: proper keel-grid structure, sealed flotation, and a deck layout that still reads as modern. The well-water caveat is minor and manageable, and the two-version flexibility keeps her relevant whether the buyer wants a daysailer or a pocket racer.
Pros
- Fin-keel/spade-rudder hull with hydrodynamic lift and molded keel grid
- Positive foam flotation and self-bailing MORC cockpit
- Deck-stepped fractional rig with durable bronze-and-ash steering
Cons
- Outboard well can take on water in some conditions
- Plywood-reinforced deck demands inspection for age
- MORC and daysailer versions differ enough to require careful matching
