Westerly Pageant 23 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Pageant 23 is a quintessential "little big boat," characterized by its high-volume hull and significant displacement-to-length ratio. Weighing in at approximately 4,300 lbs (1,950 kg) with a ballast ratio of around 40%, it is exceptionally stiff for a 23-footer. The vast majority of Pageants were fitted with twin (bilge) keels, a design choice that allows the boat to stand upright in tidal harbors and estuaries. While this configuration increases drag compared to a deep fin keel, it offers the practical advantage of exploring shallow creeks that are inaccessible to many other cruisers.

Under sail, the Pageant is predictable and forgiving. It does not possess the agility of a modern sportboat, but its heavy displacement ensures it carries its momentum well through a chop. According to technical reviews from Practical Boat Owner, the boat feels secure and "big" for its size, though it can be prone to leeway when pinched too close to the wind, a common trait of early bilge-keel designs. The sail area-to-displacement ratio is conservative, meaning it requires a decent breeze to get moving, but it remains remarkably stable when the wind picks up, often allowing the crew to stay on deck long after smaller boats have retreated to the harbor.

Interior Comfort & Variations

One of the Pageant’s greatest selling points is its interior volume, which rivaled many 25-footers of its day. Jack Laurent Giles utilized the boat's 8-foot beam to create a layout that includes a surprising 5’10” of headroom. The standard configuration features five berths: a double V-berth in the forward cabin, a dinette that converts to a double in the main saloon, and a single quarter berth to port.

The galley is usually located to starboard, equipped with a sink and space for a two-burner stove. Materials used were typical of Westerly’s "Gold" standard of the 1970s, featuring teak or sapele veneers and robust fiberglass moldings. The Pageant was part of a tiered family of siblings built on similar design principles; while the Centaur was the flagship, the Pageant shared its DNA with the smaller Westerly Warwick (21 feet) and the larger Westerly Nomad. A rare fin-keel version was produced for those seeking better windward performance, though these are significantly harder to find on the used market than the bilge-keel variant.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

Prospective buyers of a Westerly Pageant 23 should be mindful of several age-related issues common to 1970s Westerly models. The most notorious is the "Westerly Droop," a condition where the foam backing of the interior vinyl headlining degrades, causing the fabric to sag or peel away from the fiberglass deck head. While this is primarily an aesthetic issue, the remediation is labor-intensive.

Mechanically, many Pageants were originally fitted with the Volvo Penta MD1 or MD11C engines. These are now reaching the end of their service lives, and many hulls have been re-powered with modern Betamarine or Yanmar diesels. A survey should also pay close attention to the keel-to-hull joints. While the Pageant is overbuilt, decades of drying out on sandy or hard bottoms can stress the keel bolts and the surrounding laminate, occasionally requiring reinforcement or the replacement of the original mild-steel bolts with stainless steel. Finally, like many boats of this era, osmosis is a potential concern, and any hull should be checked for blistering during a pre-purchase haul-out.

Community & Resources

The Pageant benefits from one of the most robust owner support networks in the sailing world. The Westerly Owners Association provides an extensive archive of technical manuals, original brochures, and a community of thousands of owners who share advice on maintenance and restoration. This collective knowledge makes the Pageant an excellent choice for a first-time owner or a DIY enthusiast looking to restore a classic cruiser.

The Verdict

The Westerly Pageant 23 remains a gold standard for affordable, entry-level cruising. It sacrifices top-end speed for safety, stability, and an interior that punches well above its weight class.

Pros:

• Exceptional headroom and interior volume for its length.
• The bilge-keel configuration is perfect for tidal drying moorings.
• Very strong construction and predictable, seaworthy handling.
• Excellent parts availability and community support through the Westerly Owners Association.

Cons:

• Slow performance in light winds due to heavy displacement.
• "Westerly Droop" (headlining failure) is a common and tedious repair.
• Original engines are often outdated and may require costly replacement.
• Significant leeway when sailing upwind compared to fin-keel rivals.