BoatsPearson Yachts 36-2

Pearson Yachts 36-2

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1985–1990

A 1980s production masthead sloop with a high-aspect fin keel and spade rudder, optimized for performance cruising

Designed by William H. Shaw.

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

See her sail

The Pearson Yachts 36-2, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K Sailing

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

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.00
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 259
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.4
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Pearson Yachts 36-2, 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 36-2 is a Masthead Sloop designed by William H. Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1985 to 1990. It has a fin keel with a spade rudder, an LOA of 11.1 meters, a beam of 3.8 meters, a draft of 2.0 meters, and a displacement of 6803 kg. The model was also available in a keel/centerboard version with a draft of 8.25 feet board down and 4.17 feet board up, and a wing keel version with a 4.70-foot draft. Lady K Sailing noted that 1980s racer-cruisers like the Pearson 36-2 are often available at low prices, despite their spartan interiors, making them suitable for budget-conscious sailors undertaking coastal transits like the U.S. East Coast to the Bahamas.7:16

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

What they go for

Market signal

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

1seen for sale

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
38.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.4
Displacement / length
258.7
Comfort ratio
25.8
Capsize screening
2.00
Hull speed
7.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1303
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1985–1990
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.

Islander Yachts 3611.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Alan Gurney-designed masthead sloop with a 15-year production run and nearly 800 hulls launched
SUPER LOW BUDGET CRUSIING - Ep 236 - Lady K Sailing7:23from Lady K Sailing
Pearson Yachts 3611.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William H. Shaw-designed masthead sloop built for the IOR One Ton rule, featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder
We're Cutting Off our Keel (Part 1 of 4) | Step 4480:20from Sailing Uma
Oyster Marine 37 Heritage11.28 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a skeg-mounted rudder and conservative sail plan
Sailing North Sea Challenges – South from Shetland | Sailing Florence Ep. 22833:36from Sailing Florence
Hallberg-Rassy 3511.13 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA shallow-draught fin-keeler with a 1.3-metre draught, built for coastal cruising and ease of access to shoal anchorages
30] Should We Trade For This Sailboat +$30,000? | Abandon Comfort – Sailing The World7:39from Abandon Comfort
S2 Yachts 11.0 C10.97 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA centre-cockpit cruiser by Arthur Edmunds, designed for stability and comfort with a skeg-mounted rudder
WHAT?? Our boat Sold in 2 DAYS! 😱 (Learning By Doing Ep211)8:00from Sailing Learning By Doing
Catalina Yachts 3611.07 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile coastal cruiser offering optional tall rig and wing keel configurations to suit varying water depths
Blue water sailboat - Catalina 36 - Episode 159 - Lady K Sailingfrom Lady K Sailing

The family

Boats like this

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

Pearson Yachts 33-2A William Shaw-designed masthead sloop built for a decade, balancing a fin keel with spade rudder for responsive handlingPearson Yachts 36A William H. Shaw-designed masthead sloop built for the IOR One Ton rule, featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudderPearson Yachts 37-2A wing-keel masthead sloop with a shallow 1.42-metre draft, designed by William Shaw for shoal-water cruisingPearson Yachts 40A 12-metre masthead sloop with a deep 2.87-metre draft and high ballast ratio, built for stability and speedPearson Yachts 34-2A shallow-draft wing keel masthead sloop briefly reintroduced in 1997 as the Pearson 35 during a brand revivalPearson Yachts 27A shallow-draft wing-keel masthead sloop designed by William Shaw for accessible cruising in shoal waters

Keep asking

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