Pearson 28-2
Description
The Pearson 28-2 is a compact fiberglass cruiser designed for coastal and weekend sailing, blending performance with surprising interior volume for its size. It's known for its solid construction, easy short-handed operation, and value on the used market—often praised as a "starter bluewater boat" with upgrades. Designed by William H. Shaw and introduced in 1985 by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the 28-2 addressed the original 28's dated lines with a sleeker, more contemporary profile while retaining Pearson's emphasis on durability. Production ran until 1989, with around 80-100 units built, reflecting the yard's shift toward affordable family cruisers amid the 1980s recession. It drew from Shaw's experience with larger models like the 365, incorporating tank-tested hydrodynamics for better light-air performance. Pearson ceased operations in 1991, but the 28-2's reputation for seaworthiness endures, with many examples still racing or cruising actively.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 28.000 ft |
| LOA | 28.460 ft |
| LWL | 24.370 ft |
| Beam | 9.830 ft |
| Displacement | 7000 lb |
| Ballast | 2550 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.830 ft |
| Year Built | 1985 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 37.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.25 ft |
| p | 31.92 ft |
| e | 10.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.50 ft | 11.25 ft | 31.92 ft | 10.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 28-2 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 31.92 ft - (9729 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.75 ft - (3277 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.11 ft - (10092 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 33.32 ft - (10156 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 176.62 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 31.32 ft - (9546 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.75 ft - (4496 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.48 ft - (8376 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.02 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.94 ft - (3944 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.98 ° |
| Area | * 202.65 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 12.58 ft - (3834 mm) |
| Leech | 32.5 ft - (9906 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 100.44 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.3 ft - (3444 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.37 ° |
| Area | * 203.41 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - GENOA
| Luff | * 37.19 ft - (11336 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.04 ft - (5499 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.14 ft - (10711 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.04 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.88 ft - (5145 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 313.85 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - GENOA
| Luff | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 16.167 ft - (4928 mm) |
| Leech | 34.083 ft - (10388 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 135.11 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.2 ft - (4633 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.18 ° |
| Area | * 273.67 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - DRIFTER
| Luff | * 37.19 ft - (11336 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.73 ft - (5709 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.62 ft - (10247 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150.04 % |
| Length Perp | * 16.88 ft - (5145 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.98 ° |
| Area | * 313.9 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 37.19 ft - (11336 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.56 ft - (5657 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.21 ft - (10427 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 518 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 37.19 ft - (11336 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Foot | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 640 ft² |
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Pearson 28-2 - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 21.53 ft - (6562 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 8.31 ft - (2533 mm) |
| Leech | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 6.75 ft - (2057 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.96 ° |
| Area | * 72.68 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.
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