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Pearson 37 & 37-2 - Behind the Curtain
July 15, 2024 · 12 min · 16K views
What this video covers
The Pearson 37, a Bill Shaw design launched in 1981, represents the transition from full-keel CCA-era boats to the IOR-influenced racer-cruiser market.1:58 Built with a balsa-cored hull and a 6-foot-6 deep fin keel, the 37 features a displacement-to-length ratio of 195 and a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 18.7.4:18 While the boat performs well upwind, pointing within 30 to 35 degrees of the apparent wind, it exhibits rudder stall in heavy puffs and loses efficiency when heeled beyond 15 degrees.11:03 The interior offers 6-foot-3 headroom, spruce and hickory joinery, and a functional nav station, though owners report that interior wood adhesives often loosen over time.8:31 A later model, the 37.2, introduced a 4-foot-8 shoal draft keel with winglets and a more conventional, powerboat-style interior.2:31 Common maintenance issues include potential hull blistering, particularly in warm, brackish water, and leaks from aging silicone seals around portlights.6:05 The Pearson 37 remains a competitive club racer with a PHRF rating typically between 99 and 108.9:48
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