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Paceship P29 Section |
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Designer: C&C
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Review Submitted by J. Wade Worthylake
of Port Hastings, Nova Scotia
Page Contents:Introduction
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Owners Review (keel CB model / 170 genoa w/ two reef pt main)
Sailing
The majority of sailing has taken place along the East coast
of Nova Scotia and in the Northumberland Strait. We have sailed
this boat in winds up to 45 kts. and steep seas to @ 12-15
feet. (Note these are the extremes, fronts, squalls, and sustained
that we have been caught in with our P29) The boat sails fairly
upright with breezes up to 20 kts. Winds / gusts above 20
require reefing. The boat is a bit wet when going to weather
in a steep 6’ sea as the waves tend to break over the
craft about 1/3 the forward distance putting a fair bit of
wash into the cockpit. In a following sea the craft rides
up the waves nicely and has never shipped a wave over the
stern. A controlled water test has determined the cockpit
drains are NOT of sufficient size to rid the cockpit of any
amount of water that should enter the cockpit quickly.
A normal day in the bay with winds of 15 kts can readily
speed the craft to 6 –6.2 kts. Slightly stronger winds
will push the boat to the low 7’s. Downwind in 35 kts
of wind we have hit as high as 8.6 kts. (speeds determined
by GPS CMG averaging which is close to knot meter displays
at that time).
The P29 has been sailed with its rails in but with a fair
bit of weather helm in doing so. Occasional gusting while
sailing will push the boat to the rail before rounding up
to wind. (You all know this is exciting especially when you
least expect it.) While often uncomfortable for the crew this
boat will see you safely through most weather and sea states
you will encounter. The boat does hove to well with little
drift.
Mechanical
| The Atomic Four is a four cylinder gas
engine. This immediately brings to mind the debate over
diesel or gas power. I will not enter that one! You must
follow the safe practice of checking for fuel vapors before
starting and running the bilge blower 4-5 min before starting
the engine EVERY TIME YOU START THE ENGINE! The A4 consumes approximately ¾ of a gal of fuel per hour at about 1/3 throttle and pushes the P29 along at 5-5.5 kts. It does have the ability to push the boat faster but the noise, fuel consumption and higher revs are thought by the owner to not compensate for the extra knot of speed. The ignition system is simple and easy to work on. Most sailors with little mechanical experience could easily learn to maintain this engine. After market parts like points, condenser, starters, alternators etc. are readily available at most auto parts stores. There are also several Atomic four gurus on the internet who readily dispense free advice and sell remanufactured or new parts for this engine. The biggest problem I have encountered with this engine is the blow by from the engine which enters the cabin. After several hours of motoring the cabin would fill with smoke. This was remedied with an after market PCV valve kit costing $80 and taking one hour of installation time. I no longer have this problem! |
Comfort Level
Cruising with a family of five (mom, daughters 16,14 and son11 and of course the captain..?) for extended periods of up to three weeks we found that we comfortably lived in harmony. A new "privacy door" added to the head area along with an added privacy curtain in the v berth provided space and privacy. Sleeping two in the v berth, one each to the port and starboard settee and one in the highly prized port quarter berth. The cockpit is large enough for all to sit and do lunch or to enjoy the whales and sharks during a cruise. (Oh yes almost forgot, cockpit cushions are a must, the stock fiberglass cockpit seats get hot in the sun!) And while the deck area appears small there is enough space (using the cockpit ) for all to burn to a crisp with a book on a lazy afternoon. The salon area is very spacious with loads of room around the table for our family to do puzzles and have lunch on rainy days. Storage is very adequate for all the clothing two teen daughters MUST carry with them (BUT seldom use!). Lots of room for engine spares, food sails, safety gear, CD’s and a television (5 inch of course!) and all the other necessities. The galley in the P 29 came without a stove. Having seen many different installations we chose to replace the old alcohol pumper (after a sudden loss of all hair!) with a non pressurized alcohol double burner model. All in all the P29 accommodates my family of five quite nicely. |
I WISH the P29….
Every boat has a wish list! Here’s mine.
- was 4 feet longer and 3 feet wider! (Don’t we all!….
Its that "it is" )
- had several opening ports This would improve ventilation
and help dry out the dampness of several days of rainy weather.
We have found that a fabric wind scoop positioned in the
forward hatch aids the drying process and can also be used
as a small spinnaker on really windy days
- had easier access to the ice box The ice box is large
but is deep and trails aft into the lower cockpit area.
(It helps to have really long arms, an assistant or if single
handing you can secure an anchor to your ankles)
- had easier access to the engine As with most boats in
this size range it helps to be a contortionist or a sadist
if you have to tighten a belt, repack the shaft gland or
change the oil. (or for that matter anything you do to the
engine that requires anything more than a simple look!)
- had a navigation area This is the one key item I do wish
was incorporated into the design. There is simply no one
surface large enough to spread an open chart upon. This
would not be a problem for many sailors who navigate by
sight in familiar waters. (Or like the guy I met last summer
who was using a highway map of Nova Scotia as his ONLY reference
for coastal cruising!)
- had a better companionway access to cabin ? that did not
require the crew entering to step on the galley counter.
In this particular model the galley counter doubles as a
step down into the cabin. (I really find it distasteful
to eat sandwiches made of bread displaying the unique imprint
of a Sperry topsider…or worse, toes ! )
- would track better in reverse Leaving the dock in reverse is often a source of great entertainment for onlookers. The P29 does not track well in reverse (of course it was not meant to go backwards!). The debate is on going with captain and crew as to whether it is the boat or the captain who is engineered to perform this task so poorly!
Things that have required attention over the years:
- Regular yearly maintenance for engine re spark plugs,
points, condenser, rotor, cap, fuel filter, regular gas
tank cleaning.
- Delamination of deck areas resulting from the retention
of water in the balsa cored deck. (deck fittings are not
sealed properly) This is not a big problem as it can be
fixed quite easily.
- Windows have been replaced as the original Plexiglas had
become opaque and the gaskets have hardened over the years
and began to leak in a prolonged rain.
- Cutlass bearing replacement, repack packing gland and
replaced packing on the swing keel bolt.
- Check DC wiring for shorts and rot. It is best once you
start to replace several wires and connectors to proceed
with the project and replace the entire wiring system in
the boat. In my case the light sockets were badly corroded
and thus the lights had to be replaced.
- Rudder bushing is brass and tends to wear over the years.
This required a machinist to fashion a bushing as it was
impossible to purchase the proper size and shape with the
correct recess.
- Replace the pendant and swage on the swing keel and check
the point of attachment on the keel.
- The original swages and standing rigging had begun to
show visible signs of wear and cracking after twenty some
years so this is a must do. Take this opportunity to replace
the closed turnbuckles with the open variety. (Owners choice
and suggestion)
- The craft came with gate valves on the through hulls.
It is good practice to examine the Through hull every haul
out and replace those old gate valves. I have had several
that have become inoperable due to internal corrosion yet
their outward appearance was good.
- The hull…..NOTHING… no blistering. The tabbing on the bulkheads and the hull itself is bulletproof (opinion only!)
Would I purchase another P-29?
Without a moments thought. I like the way the vessel sails and have proven time again the engine is worthy of the task with plenty of HP to push through fast ebbs and rip tides in channels. As a coastal cruiser I would feel very safe in this craft as I have been offshore 10 to 15 miles in all manner of sea in all manner of wind, while sometimes uncomfortable the P29 always brought the crew home safely.
I really enjoy the aesthetic concept of the Paceship 29,
being an original Nova Scotia production boat. "built
by men who went to sea" . During the early mornings and
late summer evenings I have been caught looking and marveling
at the magic in those traditional lines of the P29. A vision
brought to life by working men of the ocean from Mahone Bay.
The P-29 has a truly distinctive look and I enjoy the recognition
by many sea salts who recognize the vessel as a Paceship.
In all the ports I’ve entered, I have never heard a
discouraging word, only praise of the workmanship and toughness
of the craft by knowing sailors. It is also fun and easy to
sail, the P29 was our first sail boat and has never been a
disappointment. The P29 is classed as a cruiser but is also
a "sleeper", When the wind brisks up the cruiser
look defies and fools many other vessels that may try to catch
her. With proper set up and sheeting it seems to even defy
even the wind that powers her, almost sailing directly into
it. Would I buy another….. YES!
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