Pearson 30
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About the Pearson 30
Designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1971 to 1981, this popular 30-footer represents solid American boatbuilding from sailing's golden era. With 1,000 hulls produced over its decade-long run, the Pearson 30 earned a reputation as a capable coastal cruiser that balances performance with comfort. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling and good upwind ability, while the masthead sloop rig offers straightforward sail handling for shorthanded crews. At 8,320 pounds displacement with 3,560 pounds of ballast, she carries enough weight for stability in offshore conditions yet remains manageable for weekend sailing. The fiberglass construction features a balsa-cored deck, typical of quality boats from this period. With a comfort ratio of 24.25, the Pearson 30 leans toward the performance end of the cruising spectrum, making her well-suited for spirited coastal sailing and short offshore passages. Her capsize screening formula of 1.88 indicates good stability characteristics for ocean work. The 445 square feet of sail area provides adequate power in light to moderate conditions, while her hull speed of 6.70 knots offers respectable passage-making potential for weekend cruising and club racing.
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Market Price Estimate
Beta
$1,000 – $11,000
typical asking price
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)
29.79 ft / 9.08 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
25.00 ft / 7.62 m
Beam
9.50 ft / 2.90 m
Max Draft
5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement
8,320.00 lb / 3,774 kg
Ballast
3,560.00 lb / 1,615 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
445.00 ft² / 41.34 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG w/balsa cored deck
Designer
William Shaw
Builder
Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built
1971
Last Built
1981
Number Built
1000
Associations
Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The balsa-cored deck is prone to water intrusion around deck hardware, chainplates, and stanchion bases. Once wet, the balsa core rots and delamination spreads, often invisibly beneath the fiberglass skins. Tap testing the entire deck is essential.
Chainplate locations on the Pearson 30 are known to leak where the chainplates pass through the deck. The resulting water intrusion accelerates balsa core rot in that area and can compromise the structural integrity of the chainplate attachment.
The fin keel attachment uses keel bolts that are subject to corrosion in the bilge area. The bilge sump on these boats tends to hold water, accelerating bolt corrosion. Inspection of keel bolt condition and any movement or weeping at the keel-to-hull joint is critical.
The deck-to-hull joint on Pearson 30s uses an inward-turning flange with a rubber gasket and through-bolts. This joint is known to open up over time, allowing water intrusion into the hull-deck connection. Inspect the toerail and joint carefully for separation or sealant failure.
The aluminum mast on early Pearson 30s is deck-stepped, and the mast partners area in the cored deck is a common site of compression damage and water intrusion into the balsa core. Inspect for softness and delamination directly around the mast base.
1971–1976 models
The original plywood interior joinery used by Pearson is susceptible to delamination and rot from chronic low-level leaks through the deck. Inspect all plywood cabinetry, bunk flats, and the area beneath the settees for softness or delamination.
Early Pearson 30s were fitted with the Atomic 4 gasoline engine, which has well-documented carburetor, fuel pump, and ignition issues. Many have been replaced with small diesel conversions; confirm what engine is installed and whether the conversion was done properly with correct exhaust and fuel systems.
1971–1976 models
Stanchion bases on the Pearson 30 are bolted through the cored deck without adequate backing plates in many examples, leading to local core compression, cracking, and water intrusion into the balsa. Check every stanchion base for movement and soft deck beneath.
Own or have surveyed a Pearson 30? Submit a known issue
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
174
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
17.4
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
42.79
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
237.71
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
24.25
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
1.88
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.
6.70 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
2.34
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.
848.61 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.
17.41
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
39.00 ft / 11.89 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
12.67 ft / 3.86 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
33.50 ft / 10.21 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
11.83 ft / 3.61 m
SA Fore
247.07 ft² / 22.95 m²
SA Main
198.15 ft² / 18.41 m²
SA Total (100%)
445.22 ft² / 41.36 m²
Est. Forestay Length
41.01 ft / 12.50 m
Mast Height (DWL)
42.25 ft / 12.88 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Universal
Engine Model
Atomic 4
Engine Type
Gas
Fuel Capacity
20 gals / 76 L
Water Capacity
22 gals / 83 L
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