Pearson 34
Description
The Pearson 34 is a versatile fiberglass racer-cruiser designed for coastal and club racing with comfortable liveaboard accommodations, emphasizing ease of handling and spirited performance. Featuring a modern fin keel/spade rudder hull and masthead sloop rig, it balances speed in light-to-moderate winds with stability for family cruising. Known for its roomy interior and low-maintenance systems, it's a favorite among short-handed sailors seeking a "do-it-all" boat under 35 feet—affordable on the used market and capable of occasional offshore jaunts. Introduced in 1983 by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the Pearson 34 was designed by William H. Shaw as a culmination of the yard's experience with performance cruisers like the 33-2 and 35. Production ran through 1986, with about 70-80 units built, followed by a brief reintroduction in 1995 under the short-lived Cal-Pearson Corporation (adding ~10 more). It targeted the evolving market for agile, comfortable boats post-IOR era, with optional keel/centerboard for shallow-draft versatility. Pearson ceased operations in 1991, but the 34's solid build and sailing qualities keep it popular, with many examples upgraded for modern cruising.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 33.790 ft |
| LOA | 33.790 ft |
| LWL | 28.120 ft |
| Beam | 11.170 ft |
| Displacement | 11240 lb |
| Ballast | 4250 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.920 ft |
| Year Built | 1983 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 44.25 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 14 ft |
| p | 38.33 ft |
| e | 12.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.25 ft | 14 ft | 38.33 ft | 12.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 34 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 38.33 ft - (11683 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 12.5 ft - (3810 mm) |
| Leech | * 39.63 ft - (12079 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 39.9 ft - (12162 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 247.79 ft² |
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Pearson 34 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 37.13 ft - (11317 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.51 ft - (5642 mm) |
| Leech | * 32.3 ft - (9845 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.1 ft - (4907 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | * 298.93 ft² |
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Pearson 34 - GENOA
| Luff | * 44.09 ft - (13439 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.58 ft - (6882 mm) |
| Leech | * 41.5 ft - (12649 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | * 462.96 ft² |
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Pearson 34 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 44.09 ft - (13439 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 25.2 ft - (7681 mm) |
| Foot | * 25.2 ft - (7681 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 944 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.