BoatsPearson Yachts 303

Pearson Yachts 303

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1983–1986

A William Shaw-designed masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a transition from balsa-cored to solid hulls

Designed by William H. Shaw.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

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

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.02
LightHeavy

276 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 276
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.8
TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 35%

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

  • Draws less than ~79% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2560 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
34.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.8
Displacement / length
276.1
Comfort ratio
24.1
Capsize screening
2.02
Hull speed
6.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
990
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
FRP w/balsa core bottom/solid topsides
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1983–1986
Designer
William H. Shaw
Builder
Pearson Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Catalina Yachts 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthWith over 6,000 hulls produced, this versatile masthead sloop remains one of the most successful production yachts ever built
Spirit 329.48 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Jacques De Ridder-designed IOR 23-footer built for nearly two decades as a stiff, masthead-rigged fin-keel sloop
Cal Boats 309.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOffered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series
Maxi Yachts 959.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 9.5-metre masthead sloop produced for a decade, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for predictable coastal handling
Islander Yachts 309.02 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA raised-deck masthead sloop with a shallow 1.12-metre draft, produced briefly as a distinct variant of the Islander 29
Dufour Yachts 319.40 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 1973 masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a comfortable, stable design for coastal cruising

The family

Boats like this

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

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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