pearson 34 sailboatdata

Pearson 34 2

The pearson 34 2 is a 34.5ft masthead sloop designed by william shaw and built in fiberglass by pearson yachts between 1989 and 1997..

The Pearson 34 2 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a short water supply range.

Pearson 34 2 for sale elsewhere on the web:

Main features

Model	Pearson 34 2
Length	34.50 ft
Beam	11.50 ft
Draft	5.75 ft
Country	United states (North America)
Estimated price	$ 0		??

Login or register to personnalize this screen.

You will be able to pin external links of your choice.

See how Sailboatlab works in video

Sail area / displ.	17.33
Ballast / displ.	50.43 %
Displ. / length	229.66
Comfort ratio	22.85
Capsize	2.04

Hull type	Monohull fin keel with spade rudder
Construction	Fiberglass
Waterline length	28.17 ft
Maximum draft	5.75 ft
Displacement	11500 lbs
Ballast	5800 lbs
Hull speed	7.11 knots

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Rigging	Masthead Sloop
Sail area (100%)	550 sq.ft
Air draft	0 ft		??
Sail area fore	309.75 sq.ft
Sail area main	240.63 sq.ft
I	44.25 ft
J	14 ft
P	38.50 ft
E	12.50 ft

Nb engines	1
Total power	0 HP
Fuel capacity	22 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity	70 gals
Headroom	0 ft
Nb of cabins	0
Nb of berths	0
Nb heads	0

Builder data

Builder	Pearson Yachts
Designer	William Shaw
First built	1989
Last built	1997
Number built	0		??

Other photos

Modal Title

The content of your modal.

Personalize your sailboat data sheet

Paste a link here:

Give it a title:

And eventually a link to an image for the thumbnail:

The Pearson 34 sailboat is a popular vessel for both casual cruising and racing enthusiasts. Designed by William Shaw in 1980s, the Pearson 34 is a classic model that has stood the test of time. With a length overall of 33 feet, 8 inches, and a beam of 10 feet, 3 inches, the Pearson 34 has a sleek and stylish design that allows it to move quickly and efficiently through the water. It also features a spacious cockpit and comfortable interior, making it an ideal vessel for extended trips or weekend getaways.

The Pearson 34 sailboat is known for its durability and seaworthiness, which make it a reliable vessel even in rough conditions. Its sturdy construction and well-balanced sail plan make it easy to handle and maneuver, even for novice sailors. In addition, the Pearson 34 has a reputation for being easy to maintain and repair, which makes it an attractive option for boat owners who prefer to do their own maintenance work. Overall, the Pearson 34 is a classic and dependable sailboat that is beloved by many sailors for its performance, comfort, and style.

LOA: 33.78 ft LWL: 28.22 ft Beam: 11.16 ft Draft: 5.92 ft Displacement: 11240.00 lbs Ballast: 4250.00 lbs Hull type: Fin w/spade rudder Hull construction: FG Rigging type: Masthead Sloop

Pearson 34 for sale in the last 12 months

Below you'll find the latest Pearson 34 listings for the last 12 months. We compare the listing price with boats listed in the past and the color coding indicates if the price is good (green = below the average listing price) or more on the expensive side (red = seller is asking more than the average listing price).

Date	Year Country, State	Price	Details
2024-05-24	1985	USD 29500
2024-02-27	1984	USD 32500
2024-02-12	1984	USD 34999
2024-01-27	1984	USD 38350
2023-12-06	1986	USD 16500

Pearson 34 listing prices over time

Listing details.

Pearson Yachts Portal

Pearson sailboat table.

Table of All Models by Pearson Yachts

All sailboat models.

Listed by model name - click header field to sort by column.

--> -->
--> -->

Model	Type	LOA	Draft	DISP	SA/D	Production	Designer	Links
	Sailing Dinghy	8		120/98		1958
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House Fractional | Yawl	28.3	4.0	6930	14.5	1959–1967 (750 + 125)	Alberg
	Centerboard | Kick-up Rudder	16.3	.6 | 3.6	575	28.5	1962–63	Alberg
	Catamaran | Fractional Rig	17		585		1960 (162)
	Full Keel | Fractional Stepped Cabin House	22.5	3.0	3000	17.5	1960–65 (350)	Alberg
	Keel/CB | Yawl	37.7	4.5 | 7.7	15000	14.8	1960–1965 (33)	Tripp
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House Yawl | Fractional Rig	40.8	5.7	18800	15.7	1962–1968 (150)	Rhodes
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House	35	5.2	12600	15.8	1961–1967	Alberg
	Cat Rig | Centerboard	12.1	5.2	286		1962	Tritt
Centerboard	15		112	1960's
	Full Keel | Fractional One-Design	22.5	3.0	3000	18.8	1962–present (1793+)	Alberg
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House	25.5	3.8	5120	15.3	1962–1966 (440)	Alberg
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House Yawl	32.5	4.5	10300	16.0/17.5	1963–1967 (404)	Rhodes
	Full Keel	20	3.5	1800	17.6	1963	Tritt
	Modified Full Keel	18		1000	32.5	1963 (50)	Tritt
	Full Keel	26	3.4	5400	16.2	1964–1967 (351)	Alberg
	Full Keel | Pilot House Ketch	44.5	5.3	28000	13.6/12.7	1965–1970	Alden
	Keel/CB | Stepped Cabin House	30.2	3.5 | 6.8	9800	14.7	1966–1971 (177)	Shaw
	Full Keel | Flush Deck	24.0	4.0	4300	18.9	1966–1968	Shaw
	Full Keel | Stepped Cabin House Yawl	29.8	4.6	9500	15.0	1966–1970	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Stepped Cabin House	27.2	4.3	6500	16.0	1967–1970 (173)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Fractional Rig	22.3	3.5	2600	18.4	1968–1972	Shaw
	Full Keel	23.5	4.0	4300	17.3	1968–1969	Shaw
	Full Keel | Pilot House	30.3	3.5	10000	12.1	1969–1970 (few)	Shaw
	Keel/CB	35	3.8 | 7.5	13000	15.9	1968–1982 (514)	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Sloop/Yawl	42.8	6.5	21796	16.3/15.7	1968–1971	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Stepped Cabin House Weekender Package	26.1	4.0	5400	16.7	1970–1982 (2100+)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | One-Design	26.1	4.0	5200	17.2	1970–1982	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Weekender	26.1	4.0	5200	17.2	1974–1982	Shaw
	Keel/CB	32.9	4 | 7.6	10900	16.0	1970–1975	Shaw
	Keel/CB | Yawl	39.3	4.6 | 8.9	17000	16.5/18.8	1970–1977 (30)	Shaw
	Fin Keel	29.8	5.0	8,320	17.3	1971–1980 (1185)	Shaw
	Keel/CB | Center Cockpit Flush Deck	39	4.3 | 7.6	20600	15.2	1972–1973 (40)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Tall Mast	36.5	6.0	13500	16.5/18.5	1972–1976 (103+)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Tall Mast	33	5.9	12441	15.6/16.4	1973–1980 (236+)	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Ketch/Yawl Center Cockpit | Aft Cabin	41.8	5.3	21000	13.3	1975–1976	Shaw
	Fin Keel	28	4.5 or 5.0	7850	16.0	1975–1982	Shaw
	Centerboard | Custom	32.2	3.0 | 7.7	11643		1975 (one-off)	Shaw
	Modified Keel Sloop or Ketch	36.4	4.5	17700	14.5	1976–1982 (400+)	Shaw
	Modified Keel	32.3	4.4	12800	14.0	1976–1983 (385)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Fractional	31	5.5	9400	16.7	1978–1981 (65)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Keel/CB	23	2.3 | 4.0	3500	16.5	1979–1985	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Cutter Ketch | Aft Cabin	42.3	5.3	21000	15.2	1977–1985 (225)	Shaw
	Centerboard | Flush Deck Double Spreader	39.9	9.4 | 4.2	22800	16.0	1979–1981	Shaw
	Fin Keel	31.7	5.5	9400	17.0	1979–1982 (113)	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Pilothouse	36.4	4.5	17500	13.6	1979–1981 (30)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Fractional Flush Deck	29.9	5.8	6235	21.5	1981–1983	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Cutter	36.5	5.5	17700	14.1	1981–1982 (49)	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Keel/CB Cutter | Center Cockpit Double Spreader | Yawl Aft Cabin	53.6	5.9 | 6.8	43000	13.1	1981–1985 (30)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Double Spreader	36.9	6.5	12800	18.7	1982–1986 (42)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Cat Rig	23	4.0	3000	16.2	1983–1985 (42)	Shaw
	Modified Keel	30.3	4.3	10400	15.3	1983–1986 (100+)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | CB Option	33.8	5.9 | 3.8-7.6	11200	17.5/17.0	1983–1986	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Cutter Center Cockpit | Aft Cabin Ketch	42.2	5.2	22000	14.7	1983–1987	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Center Cockpit Cutter | Aft Cabin	38.3	5.5	20575	13.0	1984–1986	Shaw
	Modified Keel | Cutter Tall Mast	38.3	5.5	16915	16.6	1984–1985	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Keel/CB | Wing Double Spreader | Aft Cabin	36.5	6.5 | 4.5 4.2-8.3	15000	17.4	1985–1990	Shaw
	Wing Keel | Aft Cabin	26.9	3.3	5800	16.4	1986–1991	Shaw
	Centerboard	17.9	4.1	800		1984–1985
	Daggerboard	21.3	4.7 | 1.4	1700	24.77	1984–1985
	Fin Keel | Shoal Keel	25	4.3 | 3.0	3750	17.08	1984–1985
	Fin Keel | Shoal Keel	27	5.2 | 3.1	6250	14.76	1984–1985
	Fin Keel | Aft Cabin Shoal Draft Option	28.5	4.8 | 3.5	7000	16.8/16.3	1986–1989	Shaw
	Fin Keel | CB Option Double Spreader | Aft Cabin	32.5	5.9 | 3.6-7.0	11000	16.5/15.8	1986–1991 (166)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Keel/CB Double Spreader | Aft Cabin	39	6.9 | 4.6-8.8	17500	17.1	1986–1991	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Double Spreader Wing Option	30.8	5.6 | 4.0	10000	17.0	1987–1991 (268)	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Wing Option Solent Rig	37.4	4.7	16000	16.7	1988–1991	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Double Spreader Wing Option	34.5	4.0	11500	17.3	1989–1991	Shaw
	Fin Keel | Double Spreader Aft Cabin | Wing Option	37.5	4.8	15175	17.2	1989–1991 (21)	Shaw

Key to Sailboat Table

• Model: Pearson model name and link to line drawing.
• Type: Boat and Rig Attributes. All types are Bermuda rigged sloop, single mast with fore-and-aft sails, unless otherwise specified by Cat, Ketch, or Yawl.
• LOA: Length Over All, the maximum length of the hull, in feet, from stem to stern measuring parallel to the waterline. This does not include projections of pulpits or spars.
• Draft: Deepest extent of hull, typically bottom distance from waterline to bottom of keel.
• DISP: Displacement, the vessel's weight in pounds, calculated from the volume of water displaced by it.
• SA/D: The sail area to displacement ratio is a bench-mark to evaluate light air performance as well as heavy air conditions.
• Production: Approximate years and number produced.
• Designer: Yacht designer
• Links: Web-Page references. External sites open in new tab or window.

Specifications are approximate from Pearson Yachts.

Key to Designers

• Shaw – William H. Shaw joined Pearson Yachts in 1964 as Chief Architect, eventually running the entire Pearson Yachts Division of Grumman. During his tenure, he and his team designed over 50 different sail and power boats. Bill Shaw
• Alberg – Carl Alberg's successful career as a designer can be linked back to his partnership with Pearson Yachts and early fiberglass yacht construction. Carl Alberg
• Tripp – During the 1960s, William H. Tripp Jr. was one of America’s most successful yacht designers. Bill Tripp
• Rhodes – Philip L. Rhodes was a naval architect known for his diverse yacht designs. Philip Rhodes | Philip Rhodes Vanguard
• Tritt – Bill Tritt is a yacht builder with a keen interest in fiberglass as a material to use in boats and cars. Bill Tritt
• Alden – John G. Alden was an American naval architect and the founder of Alden Designs. John Alden

Fast Boats in Their Time

Click to enlarge

The guy who started it all has done it again...

Fast boats don't have to be ugly...

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter

Blue Jacket 40 Used Boat Review

Catalina 270 vs. The Beneteau First 265 Used Boat Match-Up

Ericson 41 Used Boat Review

Mason 33 Used Boat Review

How to Create a Bullet-Proof VHF/SSB Backup

Tips From A First “Sail” on the ICW

Tillerpilot Tips and Safety Cautions

Best Crimpers and Strippers for Fixing Marine Electrical Connectors

Polyester vs. Nylon Rode

Getting the Most Out of Older Sails

How (Not) to Tie Your Boat to a Dock

Stopping Mainsheet Twist

Fuel Lift Pump: Easy DIY Diesel Fuel System Diagnostic and Repair

Ensuring Safe Shorepower

Sinking? Check Your Stuffing Box

What Do You Do With Old Fiberglass Boats?

Boat Repairs for the Technically Illiterate

Boat Maintenance for the Technically Illiterate

Whats the Best Way to Restore Clear Plastic Windows?

Stopping Holding-tank Odors

Giving Bugs the Big Goodbye

Galley Gadgets for the Cruising Sailor

The Rain Catcher’s Guide

Sailing Gear for Kids

What’s the Best Sunscreen?

UV Clothing: Is It Worth the Hype?

Preparing Yourself for Solo Sailing

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship Youth Voyage

On Watch: This 60-Year-Old Hinckley Pilot 35 is Also a Working…

On Watch: America’s Cup

On Watch: All Eyes on Europe Sail Racing

Dear Readers

• Sailboat Reviews
• Pearson 32 Boat Review

Launched in 1979, the Bill Shaw-designed Pearson 32 still shines among the club racers and coastal cruisers. Its draw is that it more than meets the needs of a cruising couple without sacrificing performance

The Pearson 32 was launched in 1979, 20 years after the first Carl Alberg-designed Pearson Triton captured market interest at the New York Boat Show and promoted sailing as a middle-income activity. In the early 1960s, the company’s principals, Clint and Everett Pearson, Alberg, and marketing strategist Tom Potter developed a reputation for functional, well built, cost-effective production sailboats that had widespread mass appeal. By the end of the first decade of production, the company had evolved into the dominant East Coast production-sailboat builder, and was bought out by aerospace giant Grumman. During these formative years, a new genre of sailboat was spawned, and each of the founders of the fledgling Pearson Co. made a sizable contribution to production-boat building. Before each went his own way, the original Pearson crew successfully turned a garage-based boatbuilding dream into a reality that spawned a dynasty.

Phase 2 of the Pearson plan came with a new owner, new designer, and new line of boats. Grumman, well capitalized from its military aircraft successes, leaped into the fray with a thick checkbook and considerable manufacturing know-how. Before they left, the Pearson cousins had recruited Bill Shaw, an 11-year veteran of the S&S design office, to be the in-house designer. He ended the Alberg era of full-keel, long-overhang sloops in favor of the fin keel, skeg, or spade rudder, and split underbody that he felt improved performance. Shaw found the Grumman era a chance to improve Pearson’s production-boat building technology, and for 27 years, he acted as the chief designer and eventually general manager of the operation.

With a clear understanding of coastal weather conditions, inshore estuaries, and the cruiser-club racer mindset of potential buyers, Shaw began a campaign of designing boats of 30-plus feet that met the needs of local sailors. Pearson became a mature manufacturing company engaged in market research that showed that although customers may read stories about passages to Tahiti, in truth, they had just enough time in the summer to get to Martha’s Vineyard and back. They belonged to yacht clubs with Wednesday night race series, and they wanted sailboats that could be raced and cruised without much fuss. The research also showed that more often than not, it was the skipper’s wife who held a pivotal vote on which boat would eventually be bought.

Shaw’s challenge became one of designing sailboats that performed well under sail in light to moderate conditions, offered accommodations that made the summer cruise more comfortable, and garnered nods of approval as the boat bobbed on a mooring in front of a club house.

The Pearson 32 embraced all of these goals, and delivered on the challenge. Its waterline footprint was wider and longer than boats of the Alberg-era. With fine forward sections and an external-ballast, lead fin keel, the 32 offered better windward performance.

For the day, it had a fairly high-aspect-ratio spade rudder that worked in conjunction with the fin keel, guaranteeing turn-on-a-dime maneuverability. Added lift from the foil shapes improved its upwind ability. With a 10-foot, 7-inch beam and fairly flat sections, the boat’s righting moment derived a big boost from form stability, and consequently, it carried sail well and showed less of a heeling tendency than earlier, lean, full-keel models.

Even with a 40-percent ballast ratio, the displacement of the boat was only 9,400 pounds, a number that when taken in context with 474 square feet of working sail area added up to decent light-air sailing ability. In short, Bill Shaw had looked closely at what New England sailors and those on Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake Bay were doing with their boats and designed the Pearson 32 to be the cruiser-racer that they were looking for.

In the years to come, other manufacturers would build competitors in this size range that were faster, but each of these iterations seemed to eat away at the cruising side of the compromise. The Pearson 32 was intentionally a 60/40 cruiser-racer, a boat that was easy to sail solo, luxurious for a couple, and quite user-friendly for a young family on a two-week summer cruise. It had some wood trim, but the extruded alloy toe rail, fiberglass coamings, and nonskid gelcoat decks were an effort to lessen maintenance through the use of more durable trim and finishes.

Another Shaw trait, seen on this design, was a sensible balance between the competing influence of accommodations and hull and deck configuration. Conceived first as a sailboat rather than a sailing houseboat, the relationship between side-deck space, cabin-house shape, and cockpit size achieved a harmony that works well underway and at anchor. Extremes were avoided, and the logic of the fin keel and spade rudder underbody proved its value. The era of canoe body hulls and independent foils did improve performance, but also made running aground a bit more of a concern. A hefty well-reinforced keel stub provided a rugged garboard seam for the lead-ballast keel of the P32, and lessened worries about running aground.

There’s been an ongoing debate about the Alberg era versus the Shaw era in the Pearson dynasty, and neither group seems to accept the validity of the others’ claims. Alberg’s boats had an aesthetic appeal, a lovely shear line, a kind motion off the wind, and their tough hulls were built as thick as a plank. Shaw brought more modern design and construction ideas to Pearson, and his boats definitely sailed faster. They were lighter, the foils added more lift, and if getting from here to there a half-knot faster is important, the Shaw design definitely trumped its predecessor.

The Pearson 32’s conventional cabin profile and narrow but adequate side decks lead to an aft cockpit protected by sizable coamings and a deep self-draining cockpit well. The sloop’s user-friendly deck layout came standard with an Edson wheel and a mainsheet traveler set at the forward end of the companionway hatch, just aft of a short bridge deck. This arrangement allows the mainsail trimmer to remain separated from the helmsman and jib trimmer when racing, but by the same token, it causes a short-handed crew to have jobs to do at either end of the cockpit. Because it’s a relatively small cockpit, this separation of mainsheet and helm isn’t as problematic as it would be aboard a larger vessel.

But there is another concern with this mainsheet arrangement that does need to be addressed: the danger of an unintentional jibe. If it occurs just as a groggy crew member makes his or her way up the companionway ladder and onto the deck, it can result in injury or even a crew-overboard incident.

Shaw always sailed and owned the boats he designed, and having been schooled by the dean of deck layout, Rod Stephens, he clearly understood the importance of optimum line leads and the efficient location of winches, tracks, and other deck hardware.

By the time the Pearson 32 was being designed and manufactured, there were enough predecessors afloat for the Pearson team to have worked out a simple and efficient sense of sail handling. Halyards were handled at the mast with the mainsail cleated in traditional fashion to the starboard side, and the jib to port. A deck-mounted winch was provided to tension the luff of the headsail, and when reliable roller furling systems stole the show, the P32 was a natural candidate for the headsail makeover.

The inboard shrouds improve the sheeting angle but cause those moving forward and aft to take an outboard route. The lifelines and the grab point provided by the shrouds themselves make it a safe enough transition for those going forward. There are handholds on the cabin house both forward and aft of the shrouds. The original gelcoat nonskid is good, and when the time comes to renew the nonskid, it can be done easily with epoxy primer and LPU top coat laden with a nonskid additive or through the use of new single-part paint products.

Accommodations

The four-step stainless tube and teak companionway ladder leads below to a cabin with 6 feet of head room, which seems large for a 32-footer. Immediately to port is the nav-station and to starboard is the galley. As an option, Pearson offered a quarter berth on the port side aft of the nav-station, which added a berth but eliminated the spacious port-side cockpit locker. Many of the 113 Pearson 32s built came with a two-burner alcohol stove, but there’s enough room in the in-line galley for a three-burner, gimballed stove with oven, plus a sink on one side and an ice box on the other. Serious cruisers can easily convert the ice box into a refrigerator. This small but utilitarian galley is usable at anchor and underway, another good test of a functional sailboat.

Forward of the partial bulkhead that separates the galley and nav-station from the rest of the main saloon are two settee berths and a table that folds up against the main bulkhead. The two settees are good sea berths and allow for comfortable meal time seating. A small forepeak V-berth and compact but functional head make up the accommodations forward of the mast. The sloop’s relatively wide beam (10 feet, 7 inches) contributes to the spacious feel in the main cabin. The bunks are a little short, and those over 6 feet, 3 inches will find themselves resisting the desire stretch out.

Shaw was careful to balance the performance needs with nice accommodations. During this era in the Pearson evolution, there was a feeling that efficiency under sail was a valuable part of cruising and that club racers were really cruising boats with newer sails and an efficient underbody.

Access to the engine is good, thanks to its location immediately under the companionway ladder. Two wooden engine bed stringers provide support for mount brackets and the original Yanmar 18 horsepower (2GM) can be easily replaced with a newer model or several other engine options. There’s room for a water heater in the bottom of the cockpit locker to port (non quarter-berth models), and a battery stowage box is located in the starboard locker. Even though the systems aboard this boat were intentionally kept simple, there is pressure water in the head and galley. With the addition of a slightly larger alternator, an owner can easily add a small evaporator-type sealed compressor refrigeration system, rounding out this boat’s credentials as a very capable summer cruiser.

Performance

The Pearson 32 is absolutely fun to sail. It’s small enough to easily singlehand, yet large enough for a couple or young family to summer cruise. With a 208-square-foot mainsail set up with a simple slab-reefing system, and a roller-furling, 120-percent genoa, the 8- to 20-knot wind range is covered. Top this two-sail inventory off with a reaching asymmetrical spinnaker for light-air fun and functional cruising, and a small working jib to replace the furling genoa during breezy spring and fall conditions, and you’re set to go sailing rather than motoring from one harbor to the next. The advantage to cruising a boat with light-air efficiency lies in the enjoyment of making good progress, even when 10 to 12 knots and shifty is the status quo.

A 5½-foot draft qualifies the P32 as a shoal water-capable cruiser that’s just right for coastal cruising and exploring the estuaries along the East Coast. But with this 32-footer, the shoal draft stats also come with an efficient foil shape and external lead ballast, providing enough lift and lateral plane to enhance sailing ability both on and off the wind. Add to the mix a respectable sail area-displacement ratio of 17, and it’s clear that this Pearson is more than an oversized pocket cruiser. Envisioned originally as both a club racer and a family cruiser, the boat lives up to both expectations. For those who prefer spending time sailing when they go cruising, it’s a boat worth a very close look, especially with current prices ranging from $18,000 to $30,000.

• Critic’s Corner: Pearson 32
• Interior Notes: Pearson 32
• Construction Details
• Pearson 32 In Context

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Hi Darrell, I’ve come across a 1978 Pearson 31-1. On paper its very similar to the P-32 except its 9 inches shorter. I’ve read your excellent review on the P-32 and wondered if performance wise they are similar or if the P31 has certain deficiencies (besides the funky rear of the cockpit). I notice they were in production at the same time. I haven’t been able to find a good review on the P-31 and they were not in production very long.

Thank You, Guy Lovejoy

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

Cabo Rico 34 Boat Review

Super Shallow Draft Sailboat: The Leeboard Sharpie

Hans Christian 41T – Boat Review

Seven dead after superyacht sinks off Sicily. Was the crew at...

Latest sailboat review.

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Pearson 34-2

Pearson 34-2 is a 34 ′ 6 ″ / 10.5 m monohull sailboat designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts between 1989 and 1997.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Shallow draft wing keel: 4.0’/1.22m. Briefly reintroduced in 1997 (as PEARSON 35) with a short lived revival of the Pearson brand. (Cal-Pearson Corp.)

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

Discover Related Sailboats

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

PEARSON 34 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of PEARSON 34. Built by Pearson Yachts and designed by William Shaw, the boat was first built in 1983. It has a hull type of Fin w/spade rudder and LOA is 10.3. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.60. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Universal, runs on Diesel.

PEARSON 34 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about PEARSON 34 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the pearson 34.

PEARSON 34 was designed by William Shaw.

Who builds PEARSON 34?

PEARSON 34 is built by Pearson Yachts.

When was PEARSON 34 first built?

PEARSON 34 was first built in 1983.

How long is PEARSON 34?

PEARSON 34 is 8.57 m in length.

What is mast height on PEARSON 34?

PEARSON 34 has a mast height of 11.68 m.

Member Boats at HarborMoor