Pearson 35 (yawl rig)
Description
The Pearson 35 Yawl is a versatile fiberglass sailboat variant of the renowned Pearson 35, optimized for balanced cruising and short-handed offshore passages. Sharing the same heavy-displacement hull and centerboard as the sloop, the yawl rig features a main mast forward and a compact mizzen mast aft of the rudder, distributing sail area for reduced weather helm, easier reefing, and progressive power management. This configuration excels in variable winds, offering traditional aesthetics with modern seaworthiness—ideal for couples or families seeking stability without sacrificing light-air performance. Introduced in 1968 alongside the sloop, the Pearson 35 Yawl was designed by William H. Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, through 1982. Of the 515 total Pearson 35s produced (the longest-running model in the yard's history), a significant portion were yawls, appealing to cruisers favoring the rig's handling advantages. The design remained largely unchanged, with optional diesel engines reflecting the era's shift from gasoline. Tank-tested for stability, it earned praise in reviews like Practical Sailor for its "get-anywhere-in-anything" versatility via combinations like jib-and-jigger. Pearson closed in 1991, but yawls remain popular for restorations and bluewater adventures. (Note: Distinct from the unrelated 1997 Pearson 35, a 34-2 derivative with few built.)
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 35.000 ft |
| LOA | 35.000 ft |
| LWL | 25.000 ft |
| Beam | 10.000 ft |
| Displacement | 13000 lb |
| Ballast | 5400 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.750 ft |
| Year Built | 1968 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 40.67 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.75 ft |
| p | 35.50 ft |
| e | 14.50 ft |
| p2 | 18 ft |
| e2 | 6.67 ft |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.67 ft | 13.75 ft | 35.50 ft | 14.50 ft | 18 ft | 6.67 ft | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 35 (yawl rig) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 35.5 ft - (10820 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.5 ft - (4420 mm) |
| Leech | * 37.6 ft - (11460 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 37.88 ft - (11546 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 265.04 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson 35 (yawl rig) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 34.35 ft - (10470 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.38 ft - (5602 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.56 ft - (9010 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.98 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.81 ft - (4819 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.98 ° |
| Area | * 271.54 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson 35 (yawl rig) - GENOA
| Luff | * 40.78 ft - (12430 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.35 ft - (6812 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.2 ft - (11643 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.96 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.62 ft - (6285 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.01 ° |
| Area | * 420.43 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Pearson 35 (yawl rig) - MIZZEN
| Luff | * 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 6.67 ft - (2033 mm) |
| Leech-AftHdBd | * 18.77 ft - (5721 mm) |
| Tack Ang | * 88.03 ° |
| Diag (clew/head) | * 18.98 ft - (5785 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 3.5 in - (89 mm) |
| Area (no Roach) | * 61.9 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.