Pearson 31 (Factional Rig)
Description
The Pearson 31 is a versatile cruiser-racer designed by William (Bill) Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts from 1977 to 1981. With approximately 100–150 hulls produced, it was crafted as a dual-purpose boat: competitive under IOR racing rules yet comfortable for coastal cruising. Featuring a sleek hull with a spooned bow, transom stern, and a 7/8 fractional sloop rig for easy handling and low ratings, it balances speed (PHRF ~150–165) with stability (40% ballast ratio). Owners appreciate its responsive helm, spacious interior for 4–6, and solid fiberglass construction, though it's tender in heavy air without reefing and requires attention to chainplates and keel encapsulation. A later Pearson 31-2 (1987–1991, reintroduced 1996) is a distinct design with a wing keel option. LWL 25. Beam 10.6. Disp. 9400. Draft 5.5. Ballast 3800. Produced from 1978 to 1981
Construction Details
| Designer | Bill Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 31.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 35 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.79 ft |
| p | 39 ft |
| e | 13.25 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 ft | 11.79 ft | 39 ft | 13.25 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 39 ft - (11887 mm) |
| Foot | * 13.25 ft - (4039 mm) |
| Leech | * 40.48 ft - (12338 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 40.75 ft - (12421 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 266.77 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 34 ft - (10363 mm) |
| Foot | 12.83 ft - (3911 mm) |
| Leech | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 95.34 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.24 ft - (3426 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 10.21 ° |
| Area | * 191.09 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.55 ft - (9007 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.76 ft - (4804 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.43 ft - (7751 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.01 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.56 ft - (4133 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.04 ° |
| Area | * 200.31 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 35.09 ft - (10695 mm) |
| Foot | * 19.15 ft - (5837 mm) |
| Leech | * 32.89 ft - (10025 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.96 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.68 ft - (5389 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 310.21 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
| Foot | 19.75 ft - (6020 mm) |
| Leech | 33.75 ft - (10287 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 533 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 35.09 ft - (10695 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 21.22 ft - (6468 mm) |
| Foot | * 21.22 ft - (6468 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 633 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.