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Pearson 43
Designer: William Shaw  ·  Builder: Pearson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1969
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About the Pearson 43

Built during the early 1970s golden era of fiberglass sailboat manufacturing, this William Shaw-designed cruiser represents Pearson Yachts' commitment to creating robust offshore vessels. With its substantial 21,796-pound displacement and generous 9,152 pounds of ballast, the Pearson 43 delivers the stability and seaworthiness that serious cruising sailors demand. The boat's traditional fin keel with rudder-on-skeg configuration provides excellent directional stability while maintaining good maneuverability under sail and power. Its masthead sloop rig carries 797 square feet of sail area, offering a balanced sail plan that's manageable for small crews yet powerful enough for spirited sailing. The moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio of 16.41 indicates this boat prioritizes comfort and control over pure speed. Shaw's design philosophy emphasized seaworthiness over racing performance, evident in the boat's impressive comfort ratio of 36.47 and low capsize screening value of 1.69. These numbers translate to a stiff, comfortable ride in challenging conditions, making the Pearson 43 well-suited for extended coastal cruising and offshore passages. The substantial construction and conservative design earned these boats a reputation for reliability among blue-water cruisers during their brief four-year production run from 1969 to 1972.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.75 ft / 13.03 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.25 ft / 9.53 m
Beam 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Max Draft 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Displacement 21,796.00 lb / 9,886 kg
Ballast 9,152.00 lb / 4,151 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 797.00 ft² / 74.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Shaw
Builder Pearson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1969
Last Built 1972
Associations Pearson Yacht Owners Portal
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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
 135
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
 16.41
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
 41.99
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
 318.84
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
 36.47
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
 1.69
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. 7.49 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
 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. 1,312.00 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. 16.4
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 46.42 ft / 14.15 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.75 ft / 5.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.75 ft / 5.72 m
SA Fore 388.77 ft² / 36.12 m²
SA Main 407.81 ft² / 37.89 m²
SA Total (100%) 796.58 ft² / 74.00 m²
Est. Forestay Length 49.35 ft / 15.04 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Unimite
Engine Type Gas w/Vdrive
Horsepower 72
Fuel Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
Water Capacity 90 gals / 341 L
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