Conceived as both a daysailer and a Midget Ocean Racing Club contender, the Bluejacket has a fractional sloop rig, fin keel, and spade rudder. It displaces 2,000 pounds and carries iron ballast, giving this small boat a serious racing pedigree.
Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, while the deck is reinforced with plywood sandwiched into the laminate. Deck hardware is either through-bolted or tapped into metal bonded into the layup rather than relying on the gelcoat alone.
The cast-iron fin keel has a double resin coating to protect against corrosion. Its hydrodynamic section is intended to provide maximum lift with good stability, and a separate molded keel grid adds local strength where the keel meets the hull. At the factory, the keel was mounted with silicone marine sealer between the well-matched surfaces; no gasket was required.
The spade rudder is fiberglass around a brass stock, which turns in a bronze port tube with bushings at the top and bottom. A straight-grained ash tiller attaches to a cast-bronze head pinned to the stock. This arrangement allows the rudder to rotate through a full 360 degrees if necessary.
Large foam blocks inside the cockpit seats and in the bow provide positive flotation. This feature distinguishes the MORC boat from the open daysailer.
Rig, Handling, and Auxiliary Power
The Bluejacket carries 201 square feet of sail on a fractional sloop rig. Its deck-stepped, anodized aluminum mast is made from 6351 alloy and has integral sail slots and non-geared roller reefing. The halyards are stainless steel with dacron tails, while the running rigging is Samson braid. Two No. 1 snubbing winches, mounted on fiberglass bases, handle the headsail sheets.
Canadian Boating credited the design with stability and good sailing qualities. Its 243 PHRF rating places it among the quicker small racers of its era.
The recommended outboard power is 3 to 6 horsepower. The motor sits in a self-draining, non-filling well that is bulkheaded off from the main hull, and a fairing plug is provided for racing.
Layout and Accommodations
Two distinct layouts share the same hull. The original daysailer has a roomy cockpit and an open cuddy. Introduced in 1970, the MORCEE version enclosed the cabin to meet MORC rules and added a self-bailing cockpit and small enclosed cuddy.
The racing cabin is fully enclosed, with two fixed lights in the cabintop and a teak sliding companionway. A double V-berth, fitted with 3-inch foam, is raised above the sole. The standard port-side galley has a sink and an integral water tank filled through a corner plug. The starboard side is prepared for an optional marine head. Molded utility shelves sit above the berths forward, and a small hatch in the sole provides access to the bilge.
Known Issues
The one documented vulnerability is the outboard well, which can take on water in some conditions. The builder advised removing the motor from the well when it wasn’t in use and inserting the drain plug while under way to minimize water intrusion. It’s a simple precaution, but an important one on a boat whose outboard well is otherwise sealed from the hull.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
Used-boat buyers will encounter two substantially different layouts, so the first step is to match the version to the intended use. The deck-stepped mast, bronze-and-ash steering gear, and through-bolted hardware are durable. However, the plywood-reinforced deck and the sealed keel joint deserve close inspection for age-related softening or weeping.
A few boats were also built in Ontario to the same basic design under the Classic 22 and Viking 22 names. Buyers seeking a Bluejacket should verify the Paceship name and Mahone Bay origin on the hull card.
The Verdict
The Bluejacket 23 is a thoughtfully engineered small racer-cruiser that offers more than its length might suggest. It has a proper molded keel grid, sealed flotation, and a deck layout that still looks modern. The outboard-well issue is minor and manageable, while the choice between daysailer and MORC versions keeps the design relevant for buyers seeking either an open daysailer or a pocket racer.
Pros
- Fin-keel and spade-rudder hull, with a hydrodynamic keel section and molded keel grid
- Positive foam flotation and a self-bailing cockpit on the MORC version
- Deck-stepped fractional rig with durable bronze-and-ash steering gear
Cons
- Outboard well can take on water in some conditions
- Plywood-reinforced deck requires careful inspection as boats age
- MORC and daysailer versions differ enough that buyers must choose carefully
