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Pearson 23
Designer: William Shaw  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Pearson 23

Designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1978 to 1981, this compact sloop represents a thoughtful approach to small boat cruising during the height of the fiberglass boat boom. With only 42 hulls produced during its brief three-year production run, the Pearson 23 remains a relatively rare find on the used boat market. The boat's masthead sloop rig and modest 238 square feet of sail area make it well-suited for coastal cruising and day sailing, particularly for sailors seeking a manageable vessel that doesn't require a large crew. The keel/centerboard configuration offers versatility, allowing access to shallow anchorages while maintaining the stability benefits of a fixed ballast system with 1,300 pounds of ballast in the 3,500-pound displacement. Notable for its comfortable motion in a seaway, the Pearson 23 delivers a comfort ratio of 16.27, suggesting pleasant sailing characteristics for extended periods aboard. The capsize screening value of 2.11 indicates reasonable stability for coastal adventures, though the design is best suited for protected waters and near-shore sailing rather than offshore passages. Shaw's design emphasizes practicality and seaworthiness over speed, making this an appealing choice for sailors prioritizing comfort and safety in a trailerable package.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$3,800 – $4,300
typical asking price
Median $4,300  ·  3 listings used
All listings
$3,800 – $4,300 3
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 7.98 ft / 2.43 m
Max Draft 5.17 ft / 1.58 m
Min Draft 2.33 ft / 0.71 m
Displacement 3,500.00 lb / 1,588 kg
Ballast 1,300.00 lb / 590 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 238.00 ft² / 22.11 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Shaw
Builder Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1978
Last Built 1981
Number Built 42
Associations Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
Related Sailboats ["San Juan 23" · "Spirit 23" · "North American 23" · "Paceship 23 Cc" · "Irwin 23"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 240
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
 16.56
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 37.14
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
 195.31
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
 16.27
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
 2.11
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. 5.99 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.63
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. 570.27 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.95
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 28.40 ft / 8.66 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.30 ft / 2.83 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 24.30 ft / 7.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
SA Fore 132.06 ft² / 12.27 m²
SA Main 97.20 ft² / 9.03 m²
SA Total (100%) 229.26 ft² / 21.30 m²
Est. Forestay Length 29.88 ft / 9.11 m
Mast Height (DWL) 30.50 ft / 9.30 m
How It Compares

vs. North American 23, Paceship 23 Cc, Spirit 23

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pearson 23 ★
23.0 ft
North American 23
23.0 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
23.0 ft
Spirit 23
23.0 ft
LWL
Pearson 23 ★
20.0 ft
North American 23
20.0 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
19.0 ft
Spirit 23
20.0 ft
Beam
Pearson 23 ★
8.0 ft
North American 23
7.9 ft
Paceship 23 Cc
8.0 ft
Spirit 23
7.9 ft
Displacement
Pearson 23 ★
3 lbs
North American 23
2 lbs
Paceship 23 Cc
2 lbs
Spirit 23
2 lbs
Ballast
Pearson 23 ★
1 lbs
North American 23
800 lbs
Paceship 23 Cc
900 lbs
Spirit 23
800 lbs
Sail Area
Pearson 23 ★
238 sq ft
North American 23
215 sq ft
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
215 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Pearson 23 ★
240 s/nm
North American 23
249 s/nm
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
240 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Pearson 23 ★
16.6
North American 23
17.4
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
17.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Pearson 23 ★
37.1 %
North American 23
28.6 %
Paceship 23 Cc
39.1 %
Spirit 23
28.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pearson 23 ★
16.3
North American 23
13.2
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
13.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Pearson 23 ★
2.11
North American 23
2.25
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
2.25
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Pearson 23 ★
195
North American 23
156
Paceship 23 Cc
149
Spirit 23
156
Hull Speed
Pearson 23 ★
6.0 kts
North American 23
6.0 kts
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Pearson 23 ★
2.6
North American 23
3.3
Paceship 23 Cc
—
Spirit 23
3.3
Find a Pearson 23 For Sale
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