Pearson 422 (cutter rig)
Description
The Pearson 422 is a robust center-cockpit fiberglass cruising cutter designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, from 1982 to 1987. Only 39 hulls were produced, positioning it as a niche but highly regarded model in Pearson's later lineup. It shares its proven hull lines with the aft-cockpit Pearson 424 but features a center-cockpit layout for enhanced visibility and separation between living spaces and the working cockpit—ideal for offshore passages and liveaboard couples. The cutter rig, with its inner forestay for a staysail, allows versatile sail combinations for heavy weather or light airs, making it a favorite for bluewater voyaging. Evolving from earlier Shaw designs like the 419, the 422 emphasizes seaworthiness, interior volume, and ease of handling, earning acclaim for its solid build and forgiving performance in diverse conditions.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 42.160 ft |
| LOA | 42.160 ft |
| LWL | 33.670 ft |
| Beam | 13.000 ft |
| Displacement | 22000 lb |
| Ballast | 7634 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.250 ft |
| Year Built | 1982 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 47.25 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.75 ft |
| p | 40 ft |
| e | 14.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.25 ft | 15.75 ft | 40 ft | 14.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 422 (cutter rig) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.5 ft - (4420 mm) |
| Leech | * 41.79 ft - (12738 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 42.07 ft - (12823 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 298.5 ft² |
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Pearson 422 (cutter rig) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 39.84 ft - (12143 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.37 ft - (10476 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.98 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.11 ft - (5520 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.97 ° |
| Area | * 360.78 ft² |
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Pearson 422 (cutter rig) - GENOA
| Luff | * 47.32 ft - (14423 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.55 ft - (7788 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.39 ft - (13530 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.97 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 23.62 ft - (7199 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 558.89 ft² |
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Pearson 422 (cutter rig) - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 47.32 ft - (14423 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 28.35 ft - (8641 mm) |
| Foot | * 28.35 ft - (8641 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1140 ft² |
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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.