Pearson 32
Videos
About the Pearson 32
Built between 1979 and 1982, this William Shaw-designed cruiser represents Pearson Yachts' commitment to creating solid, seaworthy vessels for serious coastal and offshore sailing. With its moderate displacement of 9,400 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Pearson 32 delivers the stability and predictable handling characteristics that made Pearson's reputation during the brand's golden era. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive steering and good upwind performance, while the masthead sloop rig offers straightforward sail handling for shorthanded crews. Shaw's design strikes an appealing balance between comfort and performance, evident in the boat's respectable sail area to displacement ratio of 17.12 and comfortable motion at sea. The fiberglass construction follows Pearson's traditionally robust building standards, contributing to the boat's reputation for durability and longevity. With a capsize screening value of 1.99, this design demonstrates good stability characteristics suitable for coastal cruising and longer offshore passages. The Pearson 32 appeals to sailors seeking a well-built, medium-sized cruiser capable of handling diverse sailing conditions. Its moderate proportions and proven seaworthiness make it particularly attractive to couples or small families planning extended coastal cruising or occasional offshore adventures.
Market Price Estimate
Beta
$4,000 – $14,000
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)
31.75 ft / 9.68 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
25.00 ft / 7.62 m
Beam
10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Max Draft
5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement
9,400.00 lb / 4,264 kg
Ballast
3,800.00 lb / 1,724 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
475.00 ft² / 44.13 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
William Shaw
Builder
Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built
1979
Last Built
1982
Associations
Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
Related Sailboats
Pearson 31 · Pearson 31 2 · Mirage 30 · Oday 31 · Pearson 323
Owner Reviews
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
Known Issues & What to Watch For
The deck-to-hull joint on Pearson 32s uses an outward-turning flange bolted and bedded, but the bedding compound dries out and cracks over time, allowing water intrusion into the hull-deck joint. Inspect carefully for soft spots and separation along the toerail where it covers this joint.
The balsa-cored deck sections are prone to water intrusion around deck hardware, chainplates, and stanchion bases, leading to core rot. Any soft or spongy areas underfoot on the side decks and cabin top warrant serious investigation and core sampling.
The Pearson 32 uses an external lead keel attached with steel keel bolts that are prone to corrosion and weeping at the keel-to-hull joint. Evidence of rust staining in the bilge around the keel sump area should prompt ultrasonic testing or removal of interior liners to inspect bolt condition.
The chainplate knees are glassed to the interior liner rather than to the hull itself on some units, and the chainplate attachment points are known to work loose over time. Inspect for cracking gelcoat, moisture, and movement around the chainplate exit points on deck.
The spade rudder on this model is supported by a single rudder shaft without a lower bearing or skeg, making the shaft and its attachment to the hull vulnerable to damage from grounding. Inspect the rudder shaft for straightness and the rudder tube for bearing wear or slop.
The interior liner system used by Pearson in this era creates hidden voids between the liner and hull where water can pool undetected, leading to hidden moisture accumulation and potential structural degradation that is difficult to inspect without liner removal.
Many Pearson 32s were fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. The engine beds and stringers on some hulls show softening or delamination from bilge water exposure over decades. Verify the engine bed integrity and check whether any conversion to diesel has been properly engineered.
Own or have surveyed a Pearson 32? 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
159
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
17.12
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
40.43
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
268.57
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
23.46
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
1.99
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
2.01
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.
937.94 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.
17.11
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
40.90 ft / 12.47 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
13.00 ft / 3.96 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
35.40 ft / 10.79 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
11.80 ft / 3.60 m
SA Fore
265.85 ft² / 24.70 m²
SA Main
208.86 ft² / 19.40 m²
SA Total (100%)
474.71 ft² / 44.10 m²
Est. Forestay Length
42.92 ft / 13.08 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Universal
Engine Type
Diesel
Fuel Capacity
19 gals / 72 L
Water Capacity
38 gals / 144 L
How It Compares
vs. Mirage 30, Oday 31, Pearson 31, Pearson 31 2, Pearson 323
This boat
Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
LWL
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Beam
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Displacement
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Ballast
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Sail Area
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Hull Speed
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Pearson 32 ★
Mirage 30
Oday 31
Pearson 31
Pearson 31 2
Pearson 323
Resources & Community