BoatsPearson Yachts 31

Pearson Yachts 31

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1977–1981

A William Shaw-designed fractional sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for performance between 1977 and 1981

Designed by William H. Shaw.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Pearson Yachts 31, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from The On Deck Channel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

1.99 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.99
LightHeavy

269 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 269
EasygoingPowered-up

16.8 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.8
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Pearson Yachts 31, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Pearson Yachts 31 is a fractional sloop designed by William H. Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1977 to 1981. This 9.4-meter sailboat features a fin keel with a spade rudder, a 3.2-meter beam, a 1.7-meter draft, and displaces 4263 kg.1:39 Practical Sailor considers the Pearson 31 a strong choice for its balance of performance and comfort, often found with upgraded electronics such as Raymarine ST-60 instruments and Harken roller furling.7:52 When purchasing an older Pearson 31, buyers should prioritize structural integrity, inspecting for water intrusion in cored decks, compromised keel-to-hull connections, and soft spots in the cabin sole.9:25 A compression test and oil analysis are recommended to assess the diesel engine's health, as hour meters on older boats are often unreliable.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Pearson Yachts 31 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale
1seen sold
1channel looked into buying

For sale

  • A specific Pearson 31 is presented as an example of a boat available for under $20,000

    from Practical Sailorseen January 20257:03

Sold

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.8
Displacement / length
268.6
Comfort ratio
23.6
Capsize screening
1.99
Hull speed
6.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
938
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1977–1981
Designer
William H. Shaw
Builder
Pearson Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Spirit 329.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jacques De Ridder-designed IOR 23-footer built for nearly two decades as a stiff, masthead-rigged fin-keel sloop
Pimp My Ride! Installing New Solar and Batteries in French Polynesia WHS 680:53from Wind Hippie Sailing
Maxi Yachts 959.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 9.5-metre masthead sloop produced for a decade, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for predictable coastal handling
Maxi 95: The world's largest 31-footerfrom SEILmagasinet
Compromis 9099.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1985 Frans Maas masthead sloop featuring a shallow 1.24m draft and a 37% ballast ratio for stable coastal cruising
We Bought a Sailboat for €9,000! BOAT TOUR COMPROMIS 909 NORDIC SAILBOATS ⛵️from navegandoporelglobo
Ericson Yachts 32-29.63 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for nearly a decade as a popular cruiser
CHOOSING A SAILBOAT TO LIVE ON1:35from Wicked Salty
Beneteau Oceanis 319.66 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Finot-Conq designed fractional sloop balancing a modern hull form with a stable 1.8-meter bulb keel
a Caribbean dream [ep 107]from Lauren Landers Sailing
Hunter Marine 319.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Cortland Steck design featuring a B&R rig and a fin keel, built for coastal cruising between 1983 and 1987
Inside Our New Sailboat… A Full Walkthrough of Our Home0:10from Sailing Nomadika

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Pearson Yachts 31-2A late-eighties masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, revived briefly in 1996 by the Cal-Pearson CorpPearson Yachts 32A masthead sloop with a modified stern, offering a 1.68-metre draft and a 40% ballast ratio for stiff performancePearson Yachts 30A prolific Bill Shaw design with over 1,000 built, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and spade rudderPearson Yachts 37-2A wing-keel masthead sloop with a shallow 1.42-meter draft, designed by William Shaw for shoal-water cruisingPearson Yachts 33-2A William Shaw-designed masthead sloop built for a decade, balancing a fin keel with spade rudder for responsive handlingPearson Yachts 33A keel-centerboard masthead sloop with a 2.31-metre maximum draft, designed for versatile performance in varied depths

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