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Pearson 424 Cutter
Designer: William Shaw  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Pearson 424 Cutter

Designed during Pearson's renowned era of quality fiberglass construction, this cutter-rigged sailboat represents the builder's commitment to creating seaworthy vessels for serious sailors. The 424 emerged from Pearson's Rhode Island facility as part of their larger boat lineup, targeting sailors seeking substantial coastal and offshore cruising capability. The cutter rig configuration provides excellent sail handling flexibility and storm management options, making this design particularly appealing to couples or small crews planning extended passages. Pearson's reputation for solid hull construction and practical deck layouts carried forward into this model, creating a boat that balances comfort with seaworthiness. While detailed specifications remain limited in available records, the 424's size suggests ample interior volume for extended cruising, likely featuring Pearson's trademark attention to functional galley and navigation areas. The builder's focus on proper weight distribution and moderate displacement characteristics would have made this boat well-suited for both coastal exploration and blue-water passages. Pearson's legacy of building boats that age gracefully means examples of the 424 that have received proper maintenance continue to serve their owners well, offering reliable performance for serious cruising sailors who appreciate traditional design values.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.33 ft / 12.90 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.67 ft / 10.26 m
Beam 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 22,000.00 lb / 9,979 kg
Ballast 7,600.00 lb / 3,447 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 728.00 ft² / 67.63 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Shaw
Builder Pearson Yachts
First Built 1978
Last Built 1984
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
 168
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
 14.89
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
 30.79
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
 1.86
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. 7.78
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
 1.9
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) 47.25
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.2
P (Mainsail Luff) 41.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.5
SA Fore 429.98
SA Main 297.25
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