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Packet Pearson
Designer: William Tritt  ·  Builder: Hudson River Boat Co./Pearson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1963
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About the Packet Pearson

Designed by William Tritt and first launched in 1963, this compact 18-footer represents classic American small boat craftsmanship from the golden era of fiberglass sailboat production. Built by Hudson River Boat Co. and later Pearson Yachts, the Packet features traditional styling with its distinctive gaffhead sloop rig and long keel configuration. The boat's shallow 1.50-foot draft makes it particularly well-suited for gunkholing in protected waters, coastal exploring, and sailing in areas where deeper-draft vessels fear to venture. Despite its modest 16.80-foot waterline, the Packet offers respectable performance with a theoretical hull speed of 5.49 knots and enough sail area to keep moving in light air conditions. With solid fiberglass construction throughout both hull and deck, these boats have proven remarkably durable over their six-decade production history. The long keel provides directional stability and protection for the propeller and rudder when beaching or running aground in thin water. At 1,000 pounds displacement, the Packet strikes a nice balance between trailerable weight and seaworthiness, making it an excellent choice for day sailing, weekend coastal cruising, and sailors seeking an affordable entry into traditional sailing aesthetics.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 18.00 ft / 5.49 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 16.80 ft / 5.12 m
Beam 6.42 ft / 1.96 m
Max Draft 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
Displacement 1,000.00 lb / 454 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 203.00 ft² / 18.86 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Gaffhead Sloop
Construction Solid FG hull and deck
Designer William Tritt
Builder Hudson River Boat Co./Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1963
Associations Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 32.54
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 94.15
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 7.56
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.57
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.49 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 385.38 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Lathrop
Engine Model 20
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 30
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