Pearson 27

Description

The Pearson 27 is a modern fiberglass racer-cruiser designed by William H. "Bill" Shaw for Pearson Yachts, produced from 1986 to 1991 as a spacious masthead sloop with a wing keel for shoal-draft performance and family-friendly accommodations in a sub-27-foot hull. Emphasizing a long waterline, wide beam, and generous sail plan for lively upwind speed, it sleeps five in an open, airy interior with over 6 ft headroom, powered by a reliable Universal diesel, and was priced around $30,000 new—positioning it as an affordable evolution of Shaw's earlier designs like the Pearson 26, ideal for coastal cruising or club racing in protected waters. Bill Shaw, Pearson's chief designer, introduced the 27 in 1986 during the brand's final years under Grumman Allied Industries, aiming to blend IOR-inspired agility with cruiser comforts amid the 1980s trailerable boom. Built exclusively at Pearson's Portsmouth, Rhode Island facility with hand-laid solid fiberglass hulls and balsa-cored decks for durability, production totaled approximately 100–150 units before the company's closure in 1991—reflecting a niche appeal for its "big boat" feel in a compact package. A shoal-draft wing keel was standard (deep fin optional but rare), with no rig variants beyond the masthead sloop; some brokers dubbed it the "Pearson 27-2" to distinguish it from the earlier Doug Peterson-designed Triton 27 (1984–1985, ~50 units, fin keel). The model garnered positive reviews for its value, sustaining a small but dedicated fleet through the Pearson Yachts Owners Association.