Pearson 419 (ketch rig)

Description

The Pearson 419 Ketch is a center-cockpit cruising sailboat optimized for charter operations and bluewater family voyages, featuring a divided ketch rig for simplified short-handed handling and balanced sail power in trade winds. Built on a beamy hull shared with the aft-cockpit 424, it offers substantial interior volume, stability, and privacy with a separated aft stateroom, making it ideal for couples or small groups on Caribbean or transatlantic passages. The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder provide responsive yet protected steering, while the ketch configuration—shorter main mast and compact mizzen—eases reefing without sacrificing drive. Owners commend its easy motion in slop, luxurious teak accommodations for 6-7, and charter-proven durability, though its modest performance suits relaxed cruising over racing. As a 50-year-old classic, the ketch variant (most common) commands a premium for its versatility. Designed by William H. Shaw in 1974, the Pearson 419 launched in 1975 as a center-cockpit ketch tailored for the booming charter market, competing with models like the Morgan Out Island 41 for tropical fleet use in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Shaw, Pearson's lead designer with roots at Sparkman & Stephens, prioritized low-maintenance seaworthiness and volume for guest comfort, evolving from the 390 with a beamier hull and optional sloop rig (rarer). Produced by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, from 1975 to 1976, only about 20-25 hulls were built—predominantly ketches for their ease in gusty trades; sloops were a minority option for lighter winds. The brief run reflected a pivot to aft-cockpit designs like the 424. The Pearson Yachts Owners Portal (pearsonyachts.org) and Cruisers Forum threads sustain the community, with many 419s still chartering or crossing oceans.