Pearson 31-2 Sailboat

The Pearson 31-2 : 1987–1991

In 1987 the Pearson 31-2 went into production as a new design by Bill Shaw

Contemporary and Traditional Values

Bill Shaw said; "With ample sail area proportioned into a powerful rig, and a contemporary hull with modern appendages, the new P31 has already shown her abilities as a fast boat". It was produced until 1991 and available with a standard or shoal draft wing keel. Hull number 268 was the last boat out of the Portsmouth factory before closing for good in 1991.

In 1996 Cal-Pearson re-introduced the P31 during a short lived revival of the Pearson brand.

Pearson 31-2

theBoat

Today we hear a lot about contemporary and traditional values as they apply to the many facets of our lifestyles. When these concepts are applied to yacht design, I have never considered them to be mutually exclusive.
On the traditional side, the basic principles of hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, and human engineering continue to apply. Regardless of how you use your boat, the back to basics approach used by our designers insures you, the owner, that your boat will perform over a wide range of conditions and still provide engineered comfort even at the dock.
The contemporary ingredient in the new P31 manifests itself in the form of a new elliptical keel in the standard version, or an optional wing keel that provides shallower draft. The P31's interior arrangement is traditional, but with a few new twists. Aft there is a huge open quarterberth that extends under the cockpit, spacious galley with unusually good storage to port, and a clever combination ice box/chart table to starboard. In the salon there is an offset centerline table which makes moving fore 'n aft easier, a spacious dinette, which converts to a double berth without using the table, and again, plenty of storage. Further forward, there is a roomy head with shower, and still further forward an exceptionally spacious V-berth area.
On deck, the basic elements composed of cockpit, cabin trunk, etc., are still there naturally, but rather than simply translating wooden shapes with hard edges into fiberglass form, as so many others do, we have exploited the virtues of fiberglass with contoured seats that fit the human form and deck styling that fits the wind.
Equally important to the cruiser or racer is the boat as a performer. With ample sail area proportioned into a powerful rig, and a contemporary hull with modern appendages, the new P31 has already shown her abilities as a fast boat. A very important factor even for those of us who never race. Come Sail With Us...

Pearson 31-2 By The Numbers

Specifications*

LOA (Overall Length)	30.8'
LWL (Waterline Length)	25.4'
Beam	10.8'
Draft	5.6' [4' Wing]
Displacement**	10,000 lbs [10,200]
Ballast	3,800 lbs [4,000]
Sail Area	494 sq ft
Mast Height (above D.W.L.)	46.3'
Cockpit Length
Auxillary Power	Diesel
Foretriangle Area	273 sq ft
Mainsail Area	221 sq ft
I - Foretriangle Height	42.5'
J = Foretriangle Base	12.8'
P - Mainsail Hoist	36.8'
E - Mainsail Foot	12.0'
*approximate by Pearson Yachts Inc.

Technical Data

Designer	Bill Shaw
Years Built	1987 - 1991
Hull Speed	6.75
SA/D - Sail Area to Displacement	17
DLR or D/L - Displacement to Length Ratio	272
BR – Ballast Ratio	38%
L/B – Length to Ballast	2.86
LWL/B – Waterline Length to Ballast	2.36
OR – Overhang Ratio	17%
CSF – Capsize Screening Formula	2.00
MCR – Motion Comfort Ratio	24
M/F – Main to Foretriangle Ratio	0.81
PHRF (avg) – Performance Handicap Rating	156/165

P31-2 Standard Equipment

HULL

White Hull
External lead ballast
Molded blue boottop (double stripe)
Blue cove stripe

DECK

Hull/deck joint with molded non-skid
Balsa core
Foredeck anchor well
Sail locker to port
"T" cockpit with removable helmsman seat
Teak toe rail
Propane stowage bin

MACHINERY

Fresh-water cooled diesel
Two-blade solid prop
Aluminum fuel tank with deck fill and fuel gauge
1" diameter stainless steel propeller shaft
Bronze propeller strut
Bronze shaft log
Alarm system

TANKAGE & PLUMBING

Plastic water tanks with deck fills
Hot/Cold pressure water with shower and sump pump
Manual bilge pump mounted in cockpit
Bronze ball valves on all underwater thru-hulls
Marine toilet and holding tank with deck pump out and offshore discharge valve

ELECTRICAL

Provision for dual 12-volt batteries under galley locker
Navigation lights
Anchor light
Interior lights
12-volt DC electrical panel
110-volt AC electrical panel
110-volt AC shore power system with cord and outlets
Ship’s display panel with clock

STEERING

Pedestal type with 32" stainless steel destroyer wheel with break and guard
4’ compass
Emergency tiller
Clutch and throttle controls pedestal mounted
Space rudder

DECK HARDWARE

Two Lewmar #43 self-tailing primary winches
One Lewmar #30 self-tailing winch to accommodate main halyard, mainsheet, reef lines
One Lewmar #16 to accommodate jib halyard
Quad sheet stopper for halyards, etc.
Double bow rail
Split double rail stern pulpit with swim ladder
Double lifelines
Boarding gate
Dual bow chocks and cleats
Dual stern cleats
Cabin-top mounted traveller with tag lines
Seahood with two integral dorades serving main cabin
Plexiglass companionway hatch
Flush forward hatch
Midship vent hatch
Five small opening ports and two large opening ports
Two large fixed ports
Teak handrails
Flagpole socket
Winch island alcove
Stemhead with tack shackle and anchor roller
8’ inboard genoa tracks with cars
One 10" std. Winch handle
One 10" lock-in winch handle

SPARS & RIGGING

Keel stopped masthead rig with double spreaders swept aft
Internal wire/ rope halyards
Internal continuous-line jiffy reefing led to deck
Fixed gooseneck
Topping lift led forward on boom side exit with spar cleat

INTERIOR-GENERAL

Teak bulkheads
Molded FRP headliner- with bosses
Full teak and holly side (varnished)
4" mattresses, 3" backrests
Vacuum-bonded FRP interior pan
Curtains

FORWARD CABIN

Flush cabin door- bifold
V-berth with insert and storage under
Shelves and P& S
Bureau with alcoves
Molded step

HEAD

Enclosed head to starboard
Flush door
Molded vanity with overhead locker storage outboard and locker under
Marine toilet with cover
Mirror

MAIN CABIN

Hanging locker to port with louvered door
Settee to port (water tank under)
L-dinette to starboard (water tank under), converts to double
Shelf and overhead locker storage P & S
Dropleaf table
Companionway ladder

GALLEY

U-shaped galley to port with drawer and locker storage
Gimballed two-burner propane stove with oven
Locker storage outboard and under
Stainless steel sink
Dust bin in cable sole
Trash bin located through aft bulkhead
Liquor cabinet

NAVIGATION CENTER

4.5 cubic foot ice box with chart tabletop and storage
Electronics locker

AFT STATEROOM

King-size berth with stowage under
Bureau with alcoves

OPTIONS

Cradle
Wing keel version

Resources

Bill Crain's 1991 P31-2 (#268) was the last boat out of the factory before closing for good in 1991. He made a digital copy of his owners manual and contributed it for sharing on the web. The manual has a fair amount of detail for the 31-2 and there is a fair amount of cross over for other Pearson boats on the line at the end of production. The models include: P27, P28-2, P33-2, P34-2, P35-2, P36-2, P37-2, P39-2, P38.

Pearson 31-2 NMMA