Description
The Pearson 385 Ketch is a robust, center-cockpit cruising sailboat designed for bluewater passages, coastal exploration, and liveaboard comfort. As a ketch-rigged variant of the more common sloop or cutter 385, it offers divided sail power for easier handling in heavy weather, reduced boom size on the main, and versatility for short-handed sailing. Built on a proven hull shared with the aft-cockpit Pearson 386, it prioritizes stability, privacy, and interior volume in a package under 40 feet. Owners appreciate its seaworthiness, with a motion that's forgiving in chop and a layout that separates the cockpit from living quarters for enhanced safety and seclusion. While the ketch configuration is rarer than the standard single-mast setups, it appeals to traditionalists seeking balanced performance without overwhelming sail loads.
Designed by William (Bill) Shaw in 1983, the Pearson 385 was introduced in 1984 as Pearson Yachts' response to demand for a center-cockpit cruiser in the 38-foot range. Shaw, a Pearson stalwart known for models like the 365 and 422, optimized it for family cruising with a focus on shoal-draft options for gunkholing. Production ran from 1984 to 1986 at Pearson's Bristol, Rhode Island facility, with approximately 40 hulls built overall—most as sloops or cutters, and only a handful as ketches (exact numbers undocumented but estimated at 5-10 based on owners' registries). The ketch rig was an optional configuration, likely custom or semi-custom, emphasizing ease of sail reduction. The Pearson 385 Ketch is an exceptionally rare configuration—only an estimated 5-10 were built out of the model's total production of around 40 hulls. The model bridged Pearson's classic era before the company's 1986 closure, and survivors often feature diesel repowers. The Pearson 385 Owners Association (p385.com) supports the fleet with resources, though ketch-specific info is sparse.
