The Pearson 300 is modestly canvassed and unhurried, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 23.3′, the Pearson 300 tops out around 6.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √23.3′ LWL = 6.5 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
223s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
11.8
Modestly canvassed — a comfortable, unhurried cruiser.
Ballast / Displacement
38.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
352
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
31.4
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.72
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
771lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
31.4
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.72
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Pearson 300 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Columbia 31
222s/nm
Pearson 300
223s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Alberg 30
228s/nm
Cape Dory 30K
228s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.2 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
| Close Reach60° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.3 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
| Run150–180° |
2.4 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.5 kts),
SA/D (11.8), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Pearson 300 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–8 kts
8–22 kts
22–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–8 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
8–22 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
22–30 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
30+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Pearson 300.
|
Pearson 300 |
Alberg 30 |
Annapolis 30 Rhodes |
Cape Dory 30K |
Columbia 31 |
Wanderer 30 Pearson |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
30.3 |
30.3 |
30.2 |
30.2 |
30.5 |
30.3 |
| LWL |
23.3 |
21.7 |
22.3 |
22.8 |
21.5 |
23.3 |
| Beam |
9.3 |
8.8 |
8.4 |
9.0 |
9.8 |
9.3 |
| Displacement |
10 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
9 |
| Ballast |
3 |
3 |
— |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
342 |
410 |
400 |
434 |
— |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
223 |
228 |
— |
228 |
222 |
— |
| SA/Disp |
11.8 |
15.2 |
15.4 |
15.0 |
— |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
38.0 |
— |
— |
40.0 |
40.0 |
38.8 |
| Comfort |
31.4 |
31.9 |
31.2 |
33.1 |
— |
— |
| Capsize |
1.72 |
1.69 |
1.65 |
1.67 |
— |
— |
| Hull Speed |
6.5 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.4 |
— |
— |