BoatsPearson Yachts 28-2

Pearson Yachts 28-2

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1985–1989

A William Shaw-designed masthead sloop featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, built as a modern successor to the original Pearson

Designed by William H. Shaw.

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

See her sail

The Pearson Yachts 28-2, on the water

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

Footage from Acorn To Arabella

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 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

2.06 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.06
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 216
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 16.8
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

What the fleet has seen

The Pearson Yachts 28-2, 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 28-2 is a masthead sloop designed by William H. Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1985 to 1989. This 8.7-meter sailboat has a fin keel with a spade rudder, a 3.0-meter beam, a 1.5-meter draft, and displaces 3175 kg. It should not be confused with an earlier Pearson 28, also designed by Shaw, which was discontinued in 1982. The Pearson 28-2 is considered a small, affordable sailboat suitable for full-time living, often selling for under $10,000.watch It offers features beneficial for solo cruisers, including a dedicated head and roller furling.9:46 A diesel engine is preferred over older gasoline engines for safety and to avoid fuel odors.4:23 When inspecting older vessels like the Pearson 28-2, buyers should check for sound decks and the "Catalina Smile," a keel-to-hull joint separation.12:21 Wheel steering simplifies solo cruising by allowing the helm to be locked.6:15

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Pearson Yachts 28-2 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen sold
1channel weighed buying one
US$500Median asking

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
36.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.8
Displacement / length
215.9
Comfort ratio
20.1
Capsize screening
2.06
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
856
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
FG/balsa core deck
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1985–1989
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.

Bristol Yachts 288.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR Half Ton racer with reduced stern overhang, serving as the performance-oriented predecessor to the Bristol 29.9
Salt & Tar: Ep.170- Ocean Medicine0:52from Salt & Tar
Maxi Yachts 848.54 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 8.5-metre fin-keeler with a 45% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal sailing
Measuring sails for a Maxi 84 yacht0:42from practicalboatowner
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
How To Buy Sailboats On Facebook Marketplace6:20from Practical Sailor
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising
EP#328 San Diego Sailing with Justin14:43from Sailing Into Oblivion
Mirage Yachts 2758.38 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin keel and spade rudder
Preparing to go from Great Lakes to Blue Water Sailors. Canada to Europe, via Greenland.2:23from Sailing Northern Brees
Maxi Yachts Fenix 8.58.50 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 1980s cruiser with a 1.5-metre bulb keel and spade rudder, designed for a balanced, stable coastal experience
Tone 2.0: Sailing towards the roots in the north for a new start | Bearing on Sailing8:37from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Pearson Yachts 28 (1980-82)A 1980-82 production masthead sloop with a 45% ballast ratio, designed for stability in a compact 8.5-metre framePearson Yachts 28 (1975-80)With a 45% ballast ratio, this masthead sloop offers a stiff, stable platform for coastal sailing.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 34-2A shallow-draft wing keel masthead sloop briefly reintroduced in 1997 as the Pearson 35 during a brand revivalPearson Yachts 37-2A wing-keel masthead sloop with a shallow 1.42-metre draft, designed by William Shaw for shoal-water cruisingPearson Yachts 27A shallow-draft wing-keel masthead sloop designed by William Shaw for accessible cruising in shoal waters

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Pearson Yachts 28-2, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Pearson Yachts 28-2

The newsletter

New boats, new stories. Every week, everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analysed. No noise.

Report an issue