The Pearson 303 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Pearson 303 was not built in different versions, but it was a successor to the popular Pearson 30, which had a similar hull shape but a different rig and interior layout. The Pearson 303 was replaced by the Pearson 31, which had a longer waterline and more sail area.

The Pearson 303 has a spacious and comfortable interior for a 30-foot boat. It can sleep up to six people in two cabins and the saloon. The forward cabin has a large V-berth and a bureau, the saloon has two settees that can be used as berths, and the aft cabin has a quarter berth that can also serve as a navigation station. The head compartment is located to starboard, opposite the galley, which has a two-burner stove, a sink, and a large icebox.

The Pearson 303 is an easy and stable boat to sail, with moderate performance and good handling. It is not very fast or agile, but it can handle various wind and sea conditions well. It tracks well downwind thanks to its skeg, and it does not heel excessively thanks to its beam. It is suitable for coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages.

The average cost of a secondhand Pearson 303 depends on the condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to some online listings, the price range can be from $20,000 to $40,000 USD.

No, Pearson Yachts ceased production in 1991 after being sold to Aqua Buoy Corporation. The company had been in business since 1959 and had built over 10,000 boats of various models and sizes.

William Shaw was the chief designer of Pearson Yachts from 1964 to 1991. He designed many successful sailboats for the company, such as the Pearson Triton, the Pearson Ensign, the Pearson Vanguard, the Pearson Ariel, the Pearson Flyer, the Pearson Renegade, the Pearson Wanderer, the Pearson Coaster, the Pearson Countess, the Pearson Invicta, the Pearson Alberg 35, the Pearson Rhodes 41, the Pearson Ariel II, the Pearson Commander II, the Pearson Electra II, the Pearson Triton II, the Pearson Vanguard II ...

The history of Pearson Yachts is a story of innovation, success, and decline in the sailboat industry. Here are some key points:

• Pearson Yachts was founded by cousins Everett and Clinton Pearson in 1956, who started building fibreglass dinghies in their garage in Seekonk, Massachusetts. They were among the first fibreglass sailboat manufacturers in the world;

• In 1959, they launched the Triton 28, a fibreglass auxiliary sailboat designed by Carl Alberg, at the New York Boat Show. The boat was a hit and they received 17 orders by the end of the show. They moved their production to Bristol, Rhode Island, and introduced more models, mostly designed by Alberg;

• In 1961, they sold a controlling interest to Grumman Allied Industries, a large aerospace and defence company. Bill Shaw became the chief designer when the Pearson cousins left the company in the 1960s. He created many successful boats for Pearson, such as the Pearson 40, the Pearson 424, and the Pearson 303;

• In the 1980s, Pearson faced financial difficulties and changed ownership several times. In 1991, they filed for bankruptcy and ceased production. The rights to the name were acquired by TPI Composites, which later became Pearson Marine Group.