Is a P35 1969 a good buy?

[SammyDPR]

Hi everyone! We are a couple getting into sailing, and looking in the local market, there is a P35 '69 that is for sale, they say in the add that it has not been used for a couple of months. Very motivated to sell. While doing research in the boat i saw that it has a retractable daggerboard that extends the keel to over 7' feet. That retractable daggerboard must use some kind of system that i don't even have a clue how that could work. Especially in salt water. That has really got me hesitating a lot. Anyone have a p35, especially from the same year that can share your thoughts on how your experience with the boat has been? What things to look out for? With the little research I have done I have noticed that the best hulls made in the p35 were from the 1st couple of years. The P35 started production in 1968 which puts this boat right in the "best quality" hulls from that model. Some have been found without any blisters. Just read it in a web site don't quote me on it, ok, lol. Or maybe I should run to the Pearson 323 1980 that is also on sale in the local market. With its more expensive price tag. Any help, input, advice that could help us in making the best decision with all the information we can gather. It will be greatly appreciated!

Best Regards,
Sammy

 

[Wanderer138]

There is an excellent review of the Pearson 35 in Gregg Nestor's "Twenty Affordable Sailboats to Take You Anywhere". If you're in the market for an affordable mid-size cruiser I highly recommend that book. My 1969 Pearson Wanderer is similar to the P35 but smaller. She is sturdily built, has a nice motion under way and is surprisingly fast.

The keel is nearly full with internal lead ballast and a pivoting fiberglass centerboard for added area when sailing close-winded. I rarely use the board. Its lifting mechanism is a hand line wound on a drum on the same axle as a second, smaller drum with stainless wire rope that lifts the keel.

Even before you hire a marine surveyor, I'd suggest you visit the boat on a rainy day to see what it's like being closed in belowdecks. The surveyor will find problems; all boats have them. The trick is to avoid a boat with the kinds of problems that will prevent you from sailing her while you fix them. Good luck.

Peter

 

[SammyDPR]

Thank you! Wanderer138 for taking some time to share your experience with your pearson with daggerboard. The owner said that is a very dry boat. I will be checking it this weekend.

 

[Wanderer138]

Here are pictures of the Wanderer centerboard and lifting mechanism. The stainless wire rope attaches to the back of the board near the top. It goes up into a metal tube inside the hull that runs under the cabin floor and turns up at the front of the engine bay to a small drum (the one on the left) just under the companionway. You can see the tube and the drums in the last picture. The white line on the large drum goes through a hole to a cam cleat in the front of the cockpit.

It is a very simple system but the wire rope should be checked, greased liberally (and possibly replaced) every time the boat is hauled for bottom paint. What you don't see in the pictures is how much trouble I had replacing that wire rope when it broke inside the tube as I was lifting the board back into place after cleaning and painting it.

You can also try yachtworld.com and use the advanced search to find other Pearson 35's for sale. I found 17 of them. Click on each boat, then click either the Photo Gallery or Full Specs button to see more pictures. Here is a link to one P35 that was out of the water so you can see the partially lowered centerboard:
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1969/Pearson-35-2347766/Deltaville/VA/United-States

Good luck in your search

 

[bffatcat]

Depnds

I sailed on a friends P35 for many years They are good solidly built boats
what you call a dagger board is actually a centerboard that retracts into the keel. These boats were built with shallow water in mind. Keel centerboard need maintenece that full keels dont. The 323 is a full keel a bit smaller but somewhat stiffer. The choice is yours In either case get a good survey
on either boat