Pearson 43 Sloop
Description
The Pearson 43 Sloop is a classic fiberglass sailboat designed for both cruising and racing, known for its stability, maneuverability, and spacious accommodations. Built by Pearson Yachts in the United States, it was a trend-setting model in the late 1960s and early 1970s, emphasizing performance in light air while offering luxurious liveaboard comfort. Introduced in 1968 or 1969 (sources vary slightly), the Pearson 43 was designed by renowned naval architect William (Bill) Shaw and produced until 1971 or 1972, with approximately 100-150 units built. It was tank-tested at the Stevens Institute of Technology to optimize its hull for low resistance and a clean wake. The model was available in sloop or yawl configurations and served as a departure point for future Pearson designs, blending competitive racing capabilities with family cruising. Diesel engines were an optional upgrade over the standard gasoline powerplant.
Construction Details
| Designer | William H. "Bill" Shaw |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Length | 42.750 ft |
| LOA | 42.750 ft |
| LWL | 31.250 ft |
| Beam | 11.750 ft |
| Displacement | 21796 lb |
| Ballast | 9152 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.250 ft |
| Year Built | 1969 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 51 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 16.25 ft |
| p | 45.50 ft |
| e | 17.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 ft | 16.25 ft | 45.50 ft | 17.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Pearson 43 Sloop - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 45.5 ft - (13868 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.75 ft - (5410 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.08 ft - (14655 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 48.26 ft - (14710 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 403.39 ft² |
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Pearson 43 Sloop - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 42.82 ft - (13052 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.51 ft - (6556 mm) |
| Leech | * 37.21 ft - (11342 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.69 ft - (5697 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 400.18 ft² |
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Pearson 43 Sloop - GENOA
| Luff | * 50.85 ft - (15499 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 26.23 ft - (7995 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.84 ft - (14582 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 24.38 ft - (7431 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 619.76 ft² |
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Pearson 43 Sloop - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 50.85 ft - (15499 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 29.25 ft - (8915 mm) |
| Foot | * 29.25 ft - (8915 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1264.26 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.