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Pearson 36 Cutter
Designer: William Shaw  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts  ·  First built: 1981
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About the Pearson 36 Cutter

Built during Pearson Yachts' heyday in the 1970s, this 36-foot cutter represents the Rhode Island builder's commitment to solid construction and traditional sailing virtues. The cutter rig configuration sets this model apart from many of its contemporaries, offering enhanced sail handling flexibility and improved balance in varying wind conditions. Pearson's reputation for building robust, seaworthy vessels is well-represented in this design. The company was known for constructing boats that could handle serious offshore work while remaining manageable for coastal cruising. The cutter rig particularly shines in this regard, allowing crews to reduce sail area progressively by dropping the jib and sailing under staysail and main, or to fine-tune sail plans for optimal performance. This design appeals to sailors seeking a capable passage-maker that doesn't sacrifice comfort for seaworthiness. The traditional lines and practical layout reflect Pearson's understanding of what cruising sailors actually need. While not built for racing, the boat offers respectable performance under sail with the reliability that made Pearson a trusted name among serious cruisers. The robust construction and proven design make it suitable for extended coastal cruising and capable offshore passages.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.42 ft / 11.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 17,700.00 lb / 8,029 kg
Ballast 7,300.00 lb / 3,311 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 599.00 ft² / 55.65 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Shaw
Builder Pearson Yachts
First Built 1981
Last Built 1982
Related Sailboats Pearson 367 · Pearson 365 · Catalina 36 · Cs 36 · Pearson 36 2
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
14.16
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
33.13
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
1.77
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. 7.34
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
1.57
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 43.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.4
P (Mainsail Luff) 38.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.0
SA Fore 352.6
SA Main 247.0
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 36, Cs 36, Pearson 36 2, Pearson 365, Pearson 367

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
36.4 ft
Catalina 36
36.3 ft
Cs 36
36.5 ft
Pearson 36 2
36.5 ft
Pearson 365
36.4 ft
Pearson 367
36.4 ft
LWL
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
30.0 ft
Catalina 36
30.3 ft
Cs 36
29.3 ft
Pearson 36 2
29.6 ft
Pearson 365
30.0 ft
Pearson 367
30.0 ft
Beam
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
11.5 ft
Catalina 36
11.9 ft
Cs 36
11.5 ft
Pearson 36 2
12.3 ft
Pearson 365
11.4 ft
Pearson 367
11.5 ft
Displacement
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
17 lbs
Catalina 36
13 lbs
Cs 36
15 lbs
Pearson 36 2
15 lbs
Pearson 365
17 lbs
Pearson 367
17 lbs
Ballast
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
7 lbs
Catalina 36
6 lbs
Cs 36
6 lbs
Pearson 36 2
5 lbs
Pearson 365
7 lbs
Pearson 367
7 lbs
Sail Area
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
599 sq ft
Catalina 36
545 sq ft
Cs 36
822 sq ft
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
600 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
Catalina 36
138 s/nm
Cs 36
126 s/nm
Pearson 36 2
138 s/nm
Pearson 365
210 s/nm
Pearson 367
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
14.2
Catalina 36
15.4
Cs 36
21.2
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
14.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
Catalina 36
44.4 %
Cs 36
41.9 %
Pearson 36 2
38.7 %
Pearson 365
41.2 %
Pearson 367
41.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
33.1
Catalina 36
24.0
Cs 36
29.5
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
33.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
1.77
Catalina 36
2.01
Cs 36
1.85
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
1.77
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
Catalina 36
217
Cs 36
276
Pearson 36 2
258
Pearson 365
292
Pearson 367
292
Hull Speed
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
7.3 kts
Catalina 36
7.4 kts
Cs 36
7.3 kts
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
7.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Pearson 36 Cutter ★
1.6
Catalina 36
2.4
Cs 36
1.9
Pearson 36 2
Pearson 365
Pearson 367
1.6
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