Pearson 424 Cutter Rig

Description

The Pearson 424 Cutter is a renowned fiberglass center-cockpit cruising cutter prized for its offshore seaworthiness, luxurious accommodations, and versatile sail plan that excels in heavy weather with its inner staysail for balanced power. As a heavy-displacement fin keel boat with a skeg-hung rudder, it offers a stable, predictable ride for long passages, while the cutter rig provides multiple sail combinations for short-handed or variable conditions. With its beamier hull than earlier Pearsons, it maximizes interior space for liveaboard comfort—often called a "bluewater palace" for couples or families seeking reliability without excess size. Launched in 1975 by Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the Pearson 424 was designed by William H. Shaw as a larger, more refined successor to the 365 and 39, incorporating feedback for enhanced stability and volume. Production ran until 1980, with about 200 units built across sloop, cutter, and ketch rigs (cutter being the most common at ~60% for its versatility). The cutter configuration featured an inner forestay for the staysail, standard by 1976, and Westerbeke diesels replaced gas engines. Tank-tested for hydrodynamics, it won accolades in Cruising World for its "forgiving yet capable" nature. Pearson's 1991 closure ended the line, but the 424's enduring popularity supports active owner fleets and restorations.