| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | William Shaw |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1978 |
| No. built | 42 |
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
| Role | Cruiser |
| Name | Pearson 23 |
| Boat | |
| Displacement | 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) |
| Draft | 4.00 ft (1.22 m) |
| Hull | |
| Type | monohull |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| LOA | 23.00 ft (7.01 m) |
| LWL | 20.00 ft (6.10 m) |
| Beam | 7.98 ft (2.43 m) |
| Engine type | outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | fin keel |
| Ballast | 1,300 lb (590 kg) |
| Rudder | transom-mountedrudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | masthead sloop |
| I foretriangle height | 28.40 ft (8.66 m) |
| J foretriangle base | 9.30 ft (2.83 m) |
| P mainsail luff | 24.30 ft (7.41 m) |
| E mainsail foot | 8.00 ft (2.44 m) |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | masthead sloop |
| Mainsail area | 97.20 sq ft (9.030 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 132.06 sq ft (12.269 m2) |
| Total sail area | 229.26 sq ft (21.299 m2) |
| Racing | |
| PHRF | 240 |
ThePearson 23 is an Americantrailerablesailboat that was designed byWilliam Shaw as acruiser and first built in 1978.[1][2][3]
ThePearson 23C is a 1983cat rigged development of thesloop-rigged Pearson 23.[1][3][4]
The design was built byPearson Yachts in theUnited States from 1978 until 1981 with 42 boats completed, but it is now out of production.[1][3][5]
The Pearson 23 is a recreationalkeelboat, built predominantly offiberglass, with wood trim and amasthead sloop rig. The hull has araked stem, a plumbtransom, a transom-hungrudder controlled by atiller and a fixed finkeel or optional keel andcenterboard. It displaces 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) and carries 1,300 lb (590 kg) of ballast.[1][3]
The keel-equipped version of the boat has a draft of 4.00 ft (1.22 m), while the centerboard-equipped version has a draft of 5.17 ft (1.58 m) with the centerboard extended and 2.33 ft (0.71 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on atrailer.[1][3]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW)outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][3]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double"V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settee beryhs in the main cabin. Thegalley is located under thecompanionway ladder and is equipped with a stove and a sink. Thehead is located just aft of the bow cabin on the port side. Cabin headroom is 56 in (142 cm).[1][3]
The design has aPHRF racing average handicap of 240 and ahull speed of 6.0 kn (11.1 km/h).[3]
The boat is supported by an active class club, thePearson Yachts Portal.[6]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "this boat is the sloop version of the Pearson 23 catboat ... Both versions used virtually the same hull molds and tooling ... The sloop came with either a fin keel with external lead ballast, or a keel-centerboard combination, as did the cat ... However, the sloop has a shorter mast (31 feet off the water instead of 36 1/2 feet for the cat), about 10% more sail area (229 sq, ft. vs. 210 for the cat), and includes the performance benefits contributed by the slot effect inherent in the sloop and missing in the cat configuration. Best features: Quality construction and a wholesome design make her a good starter sailboat for cruising. Worst features: Not the easiest boat to launch from a trailer, whether fin-keeler or centerboarder."[3]