Peterson 37
Description
The Peterson 37 is a high-performance IOR-influenced racer-cruiser sailboat designed by legendary naval architect Doug Peterson in 1981, blending offshore racing speed with practical coastal cruising capabilities. Built in limited numbers (approximately 10–20 hulls) by Wiggers Custom Yachts Ltd. in Canada, it features a sleek fin keel and spade rudder for agile handling and upwind pointing (35–40° apparent), optimized for club racing or short passages in light to moderate winds (SA/D ~19). At 37 feet, it's responsive for 4–6 crew, with a functional interior including V-berths forward, saloon settees, galley, nav station, and quarter berths—spartan but seaworthy (comfort ratio 20.88). The masthead sloop rig delivers a hull speed of 7.45 knots and a stiff, dry ride, though its capsize screening (2.09) favors protected waters.
Construction Details
| Designer | Doug Peterson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Wiggers Custom Yachts Ltd., Canada |
| Length | 37.000 ft |
| LOA | 37.000 ft |
| LWL | 30.917 ft |
| Beam | 11.917 ft |
| Displacement | 12000 lb |
| Ballast | 6000 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.750 ft |
| Year Built | 1981 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 49 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.25 ft |
| p | 43.25 ft |
| e | 12.08 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 ft | 15.25 ft | 43.25 ft | 12.08 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Peterson 37 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 43.25 ft - (13183 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 12.08 ft - (3682 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.38 ft - (13527 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 44.5 ft - (13564 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | 260.97 ft² |
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Peterson 37 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 41.05 ft - (12512 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.11 ft - (6130 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.8 ft - (10912 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.54 ft - (5346 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 359.97 ft² |
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Peterson 37 - GENOA
| Luff | * 48.75 ft - (14859 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 24.55 ft - (7483 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.94 ft - (14003 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 22.88 ft - (6974 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 557.6 ft² |
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Peterson 37 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 48.75 ft - (14859 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 27.45 ft - (8367 mm) |
| Foot | * 27.45 ft - (8367 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1137.46 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.