Pearson 385 (sloop and cutter rig)

Description

The Pearson 385 Sloop and Cutter are versatile center-cockpit cruising sailboats optimized for bluewater and coastal voyages, offering a balance of comfort, stability, and performance in a manageable 38-foot package. The standard configuration is a sloop rig, providing simplicity and power with a single large headsail, while the optional cutter rig adds an inner forestay for a smaller jib and staysail, enhancing versatility for heavy-weather sailing and short-handed operation. Both share the same robust hull with a skeg-hung rudder and shoal-draft options, making them ideal for families or couples seeking privacy (aft cabin separation) and ample storage. Owners value the easy motion in chop, dry cockpit, and spacious teak interior, though the in-mast furling main (common) can limit pointing ability. These rigs outnumber the rare ketch variant, with the sloop favored for lighter-air speed and the cutter for balanced sail reduction. Designed by William (Bill) Shaw in 1983 and launched in 1984, the Pearson 385 was Pearson Yachts' center-cockpit answer to the popular aft-cockpit 386, emphasizing privacy and offshore capability. Production occurred at Pearson's Bristol, Rhode Island yard from 1984 to 1986, yielding about 40 hulls total—most as sloops, with cutters as a factory option at extra cost (exact split undocumented, but owners' groups suggest fewer than 10 cutters). The sloop was standard for its simplicity, while the cutter appealed to cruisers wanting dual headsails for flexibility. This model capped Pearson's classic fiberglass era before the company's closure. The Pearson 385 Owners Association (p385.com) maintains a registry, classifieds, and forums, noting no confirmed factory ketches but occasional aftermarket conversions.