The Pearson 35 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators
The Pearson 35 sailboat, a heavy displacement cruiser, was designed by William Shaw and manufactured by Pearson Yachts in the United States during the period 1968 to 1982.
A Pearson 35 anchored in impressive surroundings
Published Specification for the Pearson 35
- Keel & Rudder Configuration: Fin keel with a centerboard and a connected rudder;
- Hull Material: Fiberglass;
- Length Overall: 10.67 meters (35'0");*
- Waterline Length: 7.62 meters (25'0");*
- Beam: 3.05 meters (10'0");*
- Draft: 1.17 meters (3'9") with centerboard up, 2.21 meters (7'6") with centerboard down;*
- Rig Type: Masthead sloop or optional yawl rig;
- Displacement: 5,897 kg (13,000 lbs);*
- Ballast: 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs);*
- Sail Area: 51.1m2 (550ft2);*
- Water Tank Capacity: 189 liters (50 gallons);
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 68 liters (18 gallons);
- Hull Speed: 6.72 knots;
- Designer: William Shaw;
- Builder: Pearson Yachts;
- Year First Built: 1968;
- Year Last Built: 1982;
- Number Built: 514+.
* Used to derive the design ratios referred to later in this article - here's how they're calculated...
Options & Alternatives
The Pearson 35 sailboat offered several design options for buyers, including:
- Rig Type: Buyers could choose between a sloop rig (both fractional and masthead), a cutter rig, or a ketch rig.
- Draft: The Pearson 35 had an optional shallow draft with a centerboard that could be raised to reduce the draft to 3' 9". When the centerboard was down, the draft was 7' 6".
- Interior Layouts: The interior layouts included a traditional settee layout, a dinette layout, and various configurations for berths and stowage spaces. The main cabin had six berths, with a foldaway table, and stowage lockers under the berths.
Sail Areas & Rig Dimensions
Sail Areas
The Pearson 35 sailboat has a total sail area of 51.1m2 (550ft2).
Rig Dimensions (I, J, P, E)
- I (Height of headstay termination above the deck): 12.80m (42'0");
- J (Distance between the headstay termination at the deck and the front of the mast): 4.27m (14'0");
- P (Distance between black bands on the mast, or the maximum luff length of the main): 10.06m (33'0");
- E (Distance between black bands on the boom, or the maximum foot length of the main): 3.66m (12'0").
Published Design Ratios
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (SA/D): 15.9
- This ratio indicates that the Pearson 35 has reasonably good performance capabilities. A ratio of 15 to 18 suggests that the boat has decent sail power for its displacement, making it suitable for cruising with a balance of performance and ease of handling.
Ballast/Displacement Ratio (BR): 42%
- With a ballast ratio over 40%, the Pearson 35 is quite stiff and stable. This translates to a boat that can stand up well to the wind and has good righting capability, providing a more comfortable and safe sailing experience.
Displacement-Length Ratio (DLR): 371
- A ratio of 371 places the Pearson 35 in the Heavy Displacement category (275-350). This means the boat is heavier for its length, which generally implies a more comfortable and stable ride, especially in heavier seas, but it will be slower and less responsive compared to lighter displacement boats.
Comfort Ratio (MCR): 33.41
- The Comfort Ratio of 33.41 suggests that the Pearson 35 offers a reasonably sedate motion. It falls in the range of 30 to 40, indicating that the boat is suited for moderate bluewater cruising with a stable and less lively motion, making it more comfortable for longer passages.
Capsize Screening Formula (CSV): 1.69
- With a capsize screening value below 2.0, the Pearson 35 is considered suitable for ocean passages. A lower CSV indicates a lower risk of capsizing, which is a desirable trait for a bluewater cruising sailboat.
In summary, the Pearson 35 is designed to offer a balance between performance and comfort. It has sufficient sail power for enjoyable cruising while maintaining stability and safety for offshore passages. This makes it an ideal choice for sailors looking for a reliable and comfortable cruising sailboat.
The above design ratios are fairly typical for a heavy displacement sailboat of this type and can be interpreted to provide an indication of such a vessel's likely sailing characteristics - however they have their limitations:
- The design ratios are static measurements which don't account for dynamic factors like wave action, wind gusts, or crew actions.
- They simplify complex interactions into single numbers, which can be misleading. Real-world performance is influenced by a multitude of factors that these ratios can't fully capture.
- The context in which the boat is intended to be used (e.g., coastal cruising vs. offshore racing) can greatly affect how these ratios should be interpreted.
Consequently, while these ratios provide valuable insights into the theoretical performance characteristics of a sailboat, they should be used as part of a broader assessment that includes practical experience, sea trials, and expert advice.
Read Practical Sailor's review of the Pearson 35...
More Specs & Key Performance Indicators for Popular Cruising Boats
This article was written with the assistance of Copilot, a large language model developed by Microsoft. Copilot was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.
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