1990 Pearson 33-2 information please

[luv2sail31]

Hi There,
I am considering purchasing a 1990 Pearson 33-2 sailboat but I cannot find too much information on this boat. I am interested in knowing what the hull and deck are made of (are they balsa-cored?), sailing capabilities in high winds and waves, etc. You can email me at <luv2sail@wavecable.com> Thank you so much. K

 

[Ariel]

This is from Pearson Info :
Designer Shaw Main Area 229 Hull Speed 6.87First Year 1986 For Tri 281 SA/D 16.5/15.8Last Year 1991 I 43.5 D/L 271/290LOA 32.5 J 12.9 BR 36%/40%LWL 26.3 P 37.8 L/B 2.95Beam 11.0 E 12.1 LWL /B 2.39Disp 11,000/11,750 Eng D OR 19%Draft 5.9/3.6-7 Fuel 18.5 CSF 1.98/1.94Sail Area 509 Water 50 MCR 24.6/26.3Ballast 4,000 /4,650 # Built 166 M/F 0.82 PHRF 147Info on Design Ratios
Description | Standard Equipment

Bill Shaw's notes about the Pearson 33 from the brochure The Boat. The new Pearson 33 is the third designing our series of contemporary cruiser/racers and reflects a trend towards a preference for performance cruising boats. Its generous rig combined with its modern hull shape gives the Pearson 33 the ability to stand up in a breeze, yet remain responsive in light air. Today’s owners want more speed in cruising boats, and a greater ability to maneuver in tight quarters. The deck layout represents our latest thinking in terms of contoured seating and angled coamings, both of which provide maximum comfort at rest and underway.
Her rig is modern, with double swept-back spreaders for improved mast control. Mid-boom sheeting permits use of a dodger or sailing awning when underway, and gives an unobstructed cockpit.
A special feature is the continuous reefing system with all halyards led aft. This means you can reef the mainsail without leaving the cockpit- an important safety feature to consider.
The interior layout features an enclosed aft cabin for owners /skippers and enclosed V-berths forward for guests, offering maximum privacy. A full head and wet locker are to port of the companionway. The aft location for the head and hanging locker is very accessible from the cockpit.
A deep sink and two-burner propane stove are located to starboard of the companionway. The generous-sized icebox with chart table combination is to port. Settees and overhead lockers are on either side, with the L-shaped starboard settee opening to a double berth. A drop-leaf table fits between the settees. Another hanging locker and bureau separate the main salon from the forward V-berth cabin.
This layout provides ample headroom and interior space, making the 33 very comfortable.
Realizing that many owners need shoal draft, we have given you a choice of keel or keel/centerboard configuration.
We did not design the new Pearson 33 to any specific rating rule. She’s designed to the rules of nature that we know, from our 30 years of experience, produce fast, seaworthy shapes. The Pearson 33 will perform favorably under MHS or PHRF rating so she is well suited as a dual-purpose boat for club racing.
Bill Shaw
Description | Standard Equipment
From: "Peder Schaefer"
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Subject: Pearson 33-2
I note that you don't have info on the number of P 33-2s that were built.
I bought the last P-33 (unfinished) at the Pearson bankruptcy auction in
June of 1991. It was hull # 166. There was also a hull # 167 but they had
never made the deck so the hull was basically useless. I had kids and
sold the boat three years ago.

Peder Schaefer

P33 - Description
The following description is adapted from the original Pearson 33 brochure distributed with each new boat sold. The new P33 is a modern cruiser/racer with lower freeboard, longer overhang, and a more pleasing sheerline than most other boats her size. Her interior is equally attractive and functional, but decidedly different from most American-built boats. Although many of her interior features are found on European designs, we were careful to avoid the negative aspects associated with most imports: insufficient headroom, small iceboxes, and poor ventilation.
Instead, the new P33 combines the best of both worlds. A beautifully finished wood interior and a contemporary below-decks arrangement emphasize privacy and comfort. Two cases in point: two separate sleeping cabins each with a double berth and standing headroom. And a comfortable main salon you can lounge in without bothering the cook or blocking the way to the head.
The boat:
The new Pearson 33 is the third design in our series of contemporary cruiser/racer and reflects a trend towards a preference for performance cruising boats. Ins generous rig combined with its modern hull shape gives the Pearson 33 the ability to stand up in a breeze, yet remain responsive in light air. Today’s owners want more boat speed in cruising boats, and a greater ability to maneuver in tight quarters.
The deck layout represents our latest thinking in terms of contoured seating and angled coamings, both of which provide maximum comfort at rest and underway.
Her rig is modern, with double swept-back spreaders for improved mast control. Mid-boom sheeting permits use of a dodger or sailing awning when underway, and gives an unobstructed cockpit.
A special feature is the continuous reefing system with all halyards led aft. This means you can reef the mainsail without leaving the cockpit-an important safety feature to consider.
The interior layout features an enclosed aft cabin for owners/skippers and enclosed V-berths forward for guests, offering maximum privacy. A full head and wet locker are to port of the companionway. The aft location for the head and hanging locker is very accessible from the cockpit.
A deep sink and two-burner propane stove with oven are located to starboard of the companionway. The generous-sized icebox with chart table combination is to port. Settees and overhead lockers are on either side, with L-shaped starboard settee opening to a double berth. A drop-leaf table fits between the settees. Another hanging locker and bureau separate the main salon from the forward V-berth cabin.
This layout provides ample headroom and interior space, making the 33 very comfortable.
Realizing that many owners need shoal draft, we have given you a choice of keel or keel/centerboard configuration.
We did not design the new Pearson 33 to any specific rating rule. She’s designed to the rules of nature that we know, from our 30 years of experience, produce fast, seaworthy shapes. The Pearson 33 will perform favorably under MHS or PHRF rating so she is well suited as a dual purpose boat for club racing.

 

[Maine Sail]

The hull is solid glass and the deck is a balsa core.

 

[RON20406]

The hull is solid glass and the deck is a balsa core.

The earlier Pearsons were solid glass, but the 33-2, 34-2, 36-2 made in 1989 and after are cored below the waterline and solid glass above. The deck is also balsa cored. If you look below the v-berth, you can see the balsa core with a flashlight. Also, in your lazarette, you can see where the coring ends and the solid glass begins. When I installed my depth and speed instruments initially, I had to dig out the core and fill with thickened epoxy. This is not widely discussed in Pearson's sales literature and many boat brokers have represented these as solid glass when they are not. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[Ariel]

Ron,

The 36-2 is solid glass hull and cored deck.

Dave
s/v ARIEL

 

[RON20406]

Ron,

The 36-2 is solid glass hull and cored deck.

Dave
s/v ARIEL[/qu

When Pearson made the 33 to 36-2 series, all boats were made the same. When I bought my boat, it was sold to me by the broker as a solid glass hull. It is not. If I still have the early literature I had stating the hulls were cored, I will post it online. This series of boats is one of the most misrepresented boats on the market sold as solid glass hulls. If you do a careful inspection of yours, you will find it is cored as well. The first survey of my boat stated it was a solid glass hull. The second survey 8 years later showed me definitively it was not and was cored below the waterline. Pearson was a production builder and did not build custom one of a kind boats at that time. These were the last boats they built before going out of business. I have seen several 34-2's advertised as solid glass in the last three years. The confusion and debate continues. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[Ariel]

Ron,

When I replaced several thruhull fittings several years ago, the hull was not cored. Maybe they forgot the core on my boat.

Dave
s/v ARIEL

 

[RON20406]

Ron,

When I replaced several thruhull fittings several years ago, the hull was not cored. Maybe they forgot the core on my boat.

Dave
s/v ARIEL

Dave, When I replaced my engine intake, and head intake, Pearson used solid glass under those seacocks. The speed and depth logs mounted under the v-berth, however, were mounted in balsa core and they did not seal the core from the factory. When I replaced them, I removed 3/8" of core and filled with epoxy before installing my new logs. If you look in your v-berth with a flashlight, you will see the balsa coring. Also, take a look in your cockpit lazarette-- below or at the juncture where your bootstripe is located. You can see the balsa "shelf" that continues down to the keel. Also, look in your stern where your steering quadrant is located. It is very obvious. All the through hull fittings above the bootstripe are solid glass. I have been aboard many 33-2, 34-2, and 36-2's . They are all the same. I will try to find the literature I have and post it since there is much confusion on this issue. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[Maine Sail]

The earlier Pearsons were solid glass, but the 33-2, 34-2, 36-2 made in 1989 and after are cored below the waterline and solid glass above. The deck is also balsa cored. If you look below the v-berth, you can see the balsa core with a flashlight. Also, in your lazarette, you can see where the coring ends and the solid glass begins. When I installed my depth and speed instruments initially, I had to dig out the core and fill with thickened epoxy. This is not widely discussed in Pearson's sales literature and many boat brokers have represented these as solid glass when they are not. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

Ron,

Good info! And all that more confusing.

I was actually on-board a friends 33-2 last night and found no signs of core and even sapped a few shots and looked in the locations you indicated. I have a guy interested in one and this one may be for sale so I was there for other reasons but did get to poke around quite a bit.

My friend installed an Airmar transducer forward of the keel and found solid glass in a freshly drilled hole. This I would not suspect odd even in a cored boat as usually the center-lines are solid glass. My guess is that they either hid the core very well or some of these may have been built core-less hence the confusion? I can't imagine they built cored and core-less models of the same hull as a production builder. Morris does that, they'll do what ever an owner orders, but I doubt, as you do, that Pearson would have.

I found no core transitions/humps that are indicative of a core sandwich nor any visible core through the greenish/semi-translucent fiberglass below water.

I forgot to ask what year his boat was but I recall it being a 1990? I have also seen a 1990 P-31, same vintage hull design, that nearly tore the keel off and there was no core in that boat either, at lest within a foot or two of the keel, but perhaps they started in the 33-2 and the 31 was solid?

If you could post that literature it would be much appreciated.

 

[RON20406]

Ron,

Good info! And all that more confusing.

I was actually on-board a friends 33-2 last night and found no signs of core and even sapped a few shots and looked in the locations you indicated. I have a guy interested in one and this one may be for sale so I was there for other reasons but did get to poke around quite a bit.

My friend installed an Airmar transducer forward of the keel and found solid glass in a freshly drilled hole. This I would not suspect odd even in a cored boat as usually the center-lines are solid glass. My guess is that they either hid the core very well or some of these may have been built core-less hence the confusion? I can't imagine they built cored and core-less models of the same hull as a production builder. Morris does that, they'll do what ever an owner orders, but I doubt, as you do, that Pearson would have.

I found no core transitions/humps that are indicative of a core sandwich nor any visible core through the greenish/semi-translucent fiberglass below water.

I forgot to ask what year his boat was but I recall it being a 1990? I have also seen a 1990 P-31, same vintage hull design, that nearly tore the keel off and there was no core in that boat either, at lest within a foot or two of the keel, but perhaps they started in the 33-2 and the 31 was solid?

If you could post that literature it would be much appreciated.

Wow! Very interesting. I will dig through my files to find the description to publish on the site. I, also, like you, cannot imagine Pearson building two different boats. I can assure you mine and all those I have seen are cored. Perhaps it's attributable to inter-galatic intervention of core spores from outer space. Just a joke . . . Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[RON20406]

confusion reigns supreme: Pearson's Mark II sailboats

Here is another example (not the one from the original sales brouchure) that states the whole hull of a 34-2 is cored--which it is not. Go to: http//sailnet.com/forums/boat-review-purchase-forum/41. Read eherhly's comments. Ron

 

[RON20406]

Pearson Mark II series

With the help of Maine Sail, I will be posting the article written in Sailing World by Herb McCormick in the "Design Forum" stating the Pearson 34-II is cored below the waterline. I hope this sheds light on the ubiquitous confusion concerning the Mark II series of boats produced by Pearson shortly before their demise. Best, Ron

 

[RON20406]

In spite of the amazing amount of confusion concerning the Mark II Series sailboats manufactured by Pearson before their demise, there is a definitive source published by Sailing World in their Design Forum by Herb McCormick announcing the introduction of Pearson new series of sailboats. The majority of owners of these boats believe they have a solid fiberglass hull when in fact it is cored below the waterline. When I bought my boat in 1995, it was represented to me as a solid glass hull even though the seller of the vessel told me it was cored. There was no mention on my initial survey stating the hull was cored and it was not discovered until I had a second survey for insurance purposes several years later. Pearson, at this time, did not make "one of" sailboats and repeated this build process until their unfortunate end. I have never been aboard a Mark II series boat that was not cored from the waterline down and I have inspected many over the years. I hope this ends the confusion and I would suggest those owners of the Mark II series to take a closer look at your vessels. You will be as surprised as I was. As a final thought, I have owned my boat for 16 years, have sailed it over 16,000 ocean miles and have had no structural problems with the hull or boat ever. As a production boat, it was well built and loves big water. Upload to follow as the article has exceeded the length for the post. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[RON20406]

sailing world file-Mark II series

Hopefully, this will print. Ron

 

[RON20406]

file to follow

Try again. ron

 

[RON20406]

Mark II file

Try again.