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Pearson 386
Designer: William Shaw  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Pearson 386

Built during Pearson Yachts' era of quality fiberglass construction, this 38-footer represents the company's commitment to creating robust cruising sailboats for serious sailors. The 386 emerged from a boatbuilding tradition that emphasized seaworthiness and practical sailing performance over flashy styling. With its moderate displacement design and traditional proportions, the Pearson 386 appeals to cruising sailors who prioritize reliability and comfort over racing performance. The boat's solid construction methods and conservative design approach make it well-suited for coastal cruising and extended passages, offering the kind of dependable sailing characteristics that Pearson became known for throughout its production years. The 386's layout typically emphasizes livability below decks, with accommodations designed for extended cruising rather than weekend sailing. Its hull form strikes a balance between stability and performance, creating a platform that handles well in various sea conditions without being overly aggressive in its sailing characteristics. For sailors seeking a well-built cruising boat with proven design principles, the Pearson 386 represents the kind of substantial sailboat that can handle serious cruising while providing comfortable accommodations for extended time aboard.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.25 ft / 11.66 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 16,915.00 lb / 7,673 kg
Ballast 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Shaw
Builder Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1984
Last Built 1985
Related Sailboats Pearson 385 · Bristol 388 · Endeavour 38 · Catalina 380 · Malo 38
Owner Reviews

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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
174
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
41.38
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
279.68
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. 7.39 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.67
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 684.00 ft² / 63.55 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Perkins
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 45 gals / 170 L
Water Capacity 150 gals / 568 L
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 388, Catalina 380, Endeavour 38, Malo 38, Pearson 385

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Pearson 386 ★
38.3 ft
Bristol 388
38.3 ft
Catalina 380
38.4 ft
Endeavour 38
38.3 ft
Malo 38
38.2 ft
Pearson 385
38.3 ft
LWL
Pearson 386 ★
30.0 ft
Bristol 388
30.6 ft
Catalina 380
32.4 ft
Endeavour 38
32.0 ft
Malo 38
30.2 ft
Pearson 385
30.0 ft
Beam
Pearson 386 ★
11.5 ft
Bristol 388
12.1 ft
Catalina 380
12.3 ft
Endeavour 38
12.5 ft
Malo 38
11.1 ft
Pearson 385
11.6 ft
Displacement
Pearson 386 ★
16 lbs
Bristol 388
19 lbs
Catalina 380
19 lbs
Endeavour 38
17 lbs
Malo 38
14 lbs
Pearson 385
20 lbs
Ballast
Pearson 386 ★
7 lbs
Bristol 388
9 lbs
Catalina 380
6 lbs
Endeavour 38
7 lbs
Malo 38
6 lbs
Pearson 385
9 lbs
Sail Area
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
723 sq ft
Endeavour 38
704 sq ft
Malo 38
605 sq ft
Pearson 385
615 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Pearson 386 ★
174 s/nm
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
120 s/nm
Endeavour 38
132 s/nm
Malo 38
Pearson 385
180 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
16.3
Endeavour 38
16.7
Malo 38
16.5
Pearson 385
13.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Pearson 386 ★
41.4 %
Bristol 388
47.0 %
Catalina 380
35.8 %
Endeavour 38
Malo 38
46.2 %
Pearson 385
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
30.2
Endeavour 38
27.8
Malo 38
27.7
Pearson 385
37.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
1.85
Endeavour 38
1.93
Malo 38
1.82
Pearson 385
1.69
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Pearson 386 ★
279
Bristol 388
298
Catalina 380
248
Endeavour 38
Malo 38
232
Pearson 385
Hull Speed
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
7.6 kts
Endeavour 38
7.6 kts
Malo 38
7.4 kts
Pearson 385
7.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Pearson 386 ★
Bristol 388
Catalina 380
2.1
Endeavour 38
2.2
Malo 38
2.3
Pearson 385
1.2
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