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Cruisette 20 Paceship
Designer: G. William Mcvay  ·  Builder: Paceship Yachts  ·  First built: 1963
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About the Cruisette 20 Paceship

Designed as an accessible entry point into sailing, this compact cruiser from the Paceship yard represents thoughtful engineering scaled for smaller waters and modest budgets. The Cruisette 20 emerged during an era when builders focused on creating seaworthy pocket cruisers that could offer genuine sailing experiences without the complexity of larger vessels. Built with a traditional approach to small boat design, the hull strikes a balance between stability and performance that makes her suitable for coastal day sailing and weekend adventures. Her modest dimensions don't compromise her ability to handle typical coastal conditions, though she's clearly intended for protected waters rather than offshore passages. The cockpit and cabin arrangement prioritize functionality over luxury, providing essential amenities for short-term cruising while maintaining the boat's role as primarily a day sailer. Her design reflects the practical Canadian boatbuilding philosophy that Paceship was known for during their production years. For sailors seeking an affordable introduction to cruising or a simple coastal companion, the Cruisette 20 offers honest sailing characteristics without pretension. She represents the kind of straightforward, well-built small cruiser that can provide years of reliable service for those who appreciate traditional sailing values.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.50 ft / 5.94 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.17 ft / 5.54 m
Beam 6.83 ft / 2.08 m
Max Draft 3.42 ft / 1.04 m
Displacement 1,100.00 lb / 499 kg
Ballast 325.00 lb / 147 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 185.00 ft² / 17.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer G. William McVay
Builder Paceship Yachts
First Built 1963
Last Built 1970
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
27.83
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
7.08
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.65
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.71
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 443.43
How It Compares

vs. Corinthian 19 Alberg, Montego 20, Nordica 20

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
19.5 ft
Corinthian 19 Alberg
19.5 ft
Montego 20
19.5 ft
Nordica 20
19.5 ft
LWL
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
18.2 ft
Corinthian 19 Alberg
14.5 ft
Montego 20
17.8 ft
Nordica 20
16.5 ft
Beam
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
6.8 ft
Corinthian 19 Alberg
6.5 ft
Montego 20
7.2 ft
Nordica 20
7.7 ft
Displacement
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
1 lbs
Corinthian 19 Alberg
2 lbs
Montego 20
1 lbs
Nordica 20
2 lbs
Ballast
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
325 lbs
Corinthian 19 Alberg
1 lbs
Montego 20
600 lbs
Nordica 20
1 lbs
Sail Area
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
185 sq ft
Corinthian 19 Alberg
193 sq ft
Montego 20
189 sq ft
Nordica 20
188 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
27.8
Corinthian 19 Alberg
15.9
Montego 20
21.3
Nordica 20
16.3
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
7.1
Corinthian 19 Alberg
21.7
Montego 20
10.4
Nordica 20
14.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
2.65
Corinthian 19 Alberg
1.86
Montego 20
2.41
Nordica 20
2.26
Hull Speed
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
5.7 kts
Corinthian 19 Alberg
5.1 kts
Montego 20
5.7 kts
Nordica 20
5.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cruisette 20 Paceship ★
Corinthian 19 Alberg
1.1
Montego 20
3.8
Nordica 20
2.1
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