Pearson 36-2

[jonahmulski]

My wife and I have been looking for a boat. We have a 13' FJ we sail around the Santa Cruz, CA area but want something that we can take on weekend and week long trips. We eventually would like to sail down through Mexico and Central America and across to the South Pacific, possibly to Australia. We’ve looked at a number of boats, Ericson, Tayana, C&C, Pearson and others. When we got on a Pearson 36-2 (1985) we were amazed at the layout. The boat feels great, more spacious than any of the other 38’ boats we’ve looked at. We really like the boat but don’t know a lot about them. Searching the web has not led to much, there doesn’t seem to be any obvious websites with information about this boat as a long-term cruising boat. We would love to hear from people who have experience with the Pearson 36-2 from 1985 or similar Pearson boats from the same era. We’d love to hear about the boat’s abilities and faults as a long-term cruising boat. Aspects like storage, comfort, any safety issues, anything particularly annoying or awesome about the boat… and of course any websites with similar information. Thanks for all your opinions!
Cheers!

 

[kappykaplan]

I bought my Pearson 37 in 2008, and brought it to Solomons MD from Ft. Lauderdale FL. We cruised offshore on the trip north - no problems. I've taken several scouts and leaders on week-long cruises since 2009 - again no problems. It's a great cruiser - and fast. I've single-handed the boat many times this year, but don't know that I'd cruise that way without making changes.

I haven't found any drawbacks over the 4 seasons I've had her. I've made some changes - like replacing water bladders with real tanks, but that's a matter of personal choice.

 

[NYSail]

I have a 1986 P36-2 with a shoal draft / centerboard. Love the boat.... wife and I spend weeks on the boat and have no problem with room... great for 2 people. There is another member that will chime in here... Ariel. He and his wife have a 1987 in great shape and do extended trips up and down the east coast... summer + live-aboards. He will be the best to ask about long term cruising.

But I can say, I have had the boat going on 7 years and we love her... roomy and sails nice. Hope to take her down south in a few years....
Good Luck

 

[Ariel]

First, I must say that the P36-2 was not designed or built as a blue water boat. It does a very good job as a coastal cruiser but is not suited to cross the South Pacific. That is a subject for another thread. The P36-2 was built with three keels, a fin with a draft of 6' 3" if I remember, a wing at 4' 8" and a centerboard keel with 4'8"/7' something. The fin keel is best suited for offshore sailing. Our boat with the centerboard keel gets bounced around easily in offshore conditions and is less comfortable than the fin keel model. That said, I would hate to be limited by the fin keel in the ICW or Chesapeake Bay or anywhere there are shallow waters.

Since 1996 my wife and I have split our year between living on and cruising our P36-2 in the summer and wintering in our home. We have cruised from Texas to Maine and alternated summers in Chesapeake Bay and the northeast coastal areas.

We have found the P36-2 an ideal boat for this type of cruising, small enough for two people to handle near coast sailing and large enough to carry provisions and supplies for comfortable living in port.

We have made simple revisions to the boat to provide ease of living and if you (or anyone else reading this) would like my account of changes, just PM me through this forum with your e-mail address and I will send it.

Dave
s/v ARIEL