Pearson 30
Description
The Pearson 30 (often abbreviated P30) is a versatile, production cruiser-racer from the golden era of American sailboat design, blending responsive performance with family-friendly comfort. Designed by William (Bill) Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1971 to 1981, it features a fin keel, spade rudder, and masthead sloop rig that make it quick and balanced under sail—ideal for club racing, coastal cruising, or weekend getaways. With over 1,000 units produced, it's one of Pearson's best-selling models, earning praise for its "honest" handling, above-average build quality, and timeless lines. At 30 feet, it's tender (heels early) but forgiving, with a narrow beam for a sleek profile. Pearson Yachts, founded in 1959 by Everett Pearson and cousins Clinton and Warren Willits, was a powerhouse in fiberglass production, known for accessible designs like the Pearson Triton and Wanderer. The P30 debuted in late 1971 as Bill Shaw's evolution of earlier racer-cruisers, targeting families wanting speed without sacrificing livability. Shaw, Pearson's chief designer, owned a P30 personally for years, proving its appeal. Peak production hit 400+ boats in 1973–1974 alone, fueled by its competitive edge in IOR, PHRF, and MORC racing—e.g., Syrinx won the 1972 Three-Quarter Ton North Americans. Success stories include transatlantic crossings and Great Lakes dominance, though it's primarily coastal. Production ended in 1981 as Pearson shifted to models like the 303, amid industry trends toward wider beams. LWL 25. Beam 9.5. Disp 8320. Draft 5. Ballast 3560. Produced from 1971 to 1981.
Construction Details
| Designer | Bill Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 29.800 ft |
| LOA | 29.790 ft |
| LWL | 25.000 ft |
| Beam | 9.500 ft |
| Displacement | 8320 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.000 ft |
| Min Draft | 4.250 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 39 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 12.67 ft |
| p | 33.50 ft |
| e | 11.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 ft | 12.67 ft | 33.50 ft | 11.75 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 33.5 ft - (10211 mm) |
| Foot | * 11.75 ft - (3581 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.77 ft - (10598 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 35.11 ft - (10702 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 201.5 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 33 ft - (10058 mm) |
| Foot | 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
| Leech | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 100.47 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.73 ft - (3880 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 6.63 ° |
| Area | * 209.99 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 38 ft - (11582 mm) |
| Foot | 16.25 ft - (4953 mm) |
| Leech | 34 ft - (10363 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.76 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.54 ft - (4432 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.55 ° |
| Area | * 276.19 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 32.81 ft - (10000 mm) |
| Foot | * 16.82 ft - (5127 mm) |
| Leech | * 28.42 ft - (8662 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.57 ft - (4441 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.99 ° |
| Area | * 238.99 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37.5 ft - (11430 mm) |
| Foot | 18.33 ft - (5587 mm) |
| Leech | 35.25 ft - (10744 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 134.81 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.08 ft - (5206 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.32 ° |
| Area | * 320.18 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 38.25 ft - (11659 mm) |
| Foot | 17.75 ft - (5410 mm) |
| Leech | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 130.94 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.59 ft - (5057 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 2.8 ° |
| Area | * 317.35 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37.5 ft - (11430 mm) |
| Foot | 20.33 ft - (6197 mm) |
| Leech | 35.75 ft - (10897 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.96 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19 ft - (5791 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 2.8 ° |
| Area | * 356.34 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37 ft - (11278 mm) |
| Foot | 20 ft - (6096 mm) |
| Leech | 37 ft - (11278 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 152.01 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19.26 ft - (5870 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * -2.32 ° |
| Area | * 356.23 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37.75 ft - (11506 mm) |
| Foot | 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Leech | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 154.7 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19.6 ft - (5974 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.07 ° |
| Area | * 369.87 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 38.96 ft - (11875 mm) |
| Foot | * 21.23 ft - (6471 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.61 ft - (11159 mm) |
| Percentage LP | 155 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19.64 ft - (5986 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.32 ° |
| Area | * 382.57 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37.75 ft - (11506 mm) |
| Foot | 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Leech | 35 ft - (10668 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 120.52 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.27 ft - (4654 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.28 ° |
| Area | * 288.19 ft² |
| Sail Type | DRIFTER |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 38.96 ft - (11875 mm) |
| Foot | * 21.32 ft - (6498 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.91 ft - (10641 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 149.96 % |
| Length Perp | * 19 ft - (5791 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.98 ° |
| Area | * 370.11 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
| Foot | 23.5 ft - (7163 mm) |
| Leech | 36.5 ft - (11125 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 705 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
| Foot | 22.75 ft - (6934 mm) |
| Leech | 36.5 ft - (11125 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 682 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 38.96 ft - (11875 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 22.81 ft - (6952 mm) |
| Foot | * 22.81 ft - (6952 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 755 ft² |
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.