Pearson 22
Description
The Pearson 22 is a compact, trailerable fiberglass sailboat designed as an affordable racer-cruiser for weekend adventures, day sailing, and club racing. With its fractional sloop rig and swept fin keel, it delivers responsive handling and stiffness in moderate winds, while the lightweight hull (under 3,000 lb loaded) makes it easy to tow with a standard vehicle. Ideal for beginners or solo sailors, it offers surprising interior volume for overnights, though it's more of a "pocket racer" than a full cruiser—stiff, fast, and fun without frills. Designed by William H. Shaw and introduced in 1968 by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the Pearson 22 targeted the growing trailerable market as a step up from daysailers like the Triton. Production ran until 1972, with approximately 250 units built, reflecting its quick popularity for MORC (Midget Ocean Racing Club) racing. It was Pearson's entry into compact performance boats, emphasizing low cost and ease of launch. Discontinued after four years, it was succeeded by the larger Pearson 26. The model remains active in vintage fleets, with strong resale value due to its durable build and racing heritage.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 22.250 ft |
| LOA | 22.250 ft |
| LWL | 18.500 ft |
| Beam | 7.750 ft |
| Displacement | 2600 lb |
| Ballast | 1000 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.420 ft |
| Year Built | 1968 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 24.20 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 9.17 ft |
| p | 24.30 ft |
| e | 9.25 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.20 ft | 9.17 ft | 24.30 ft | 9.25 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 22 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9.25 ft - (2819 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.51 ft - (7775 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 25.7 ft - (7833 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4 in - (102 mm) |
| Area | * 115.83 ft² |
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Pearson 22 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 26.06 ft - (7943 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.26 ft - (4042 mm) |
| Leech | * 22.6 ft - (6888 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.5 ft - (3505 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.99 ° |
| Area | * 149.83 ft² |
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Pearson 22 - GENOA
| Luff | * 30.94 ft - (9431 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 16.16 ft - (4926 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.09 ft - (8867 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 232.03 ft² |
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Pearson 22 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 30.94 ft - (9431 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Foot | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 473 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.