Pearson 23 Buyer's Guide
The Pearson 23 you'll meet on the brokerage market is William Shaw's 23-foot cruiser from Pearson Yachts, built in the United States in small numbers from a 1978 design and produced into the mid-1980s. With only 42 completed, it is a rare find. As a trailerable keelboat with cruising accommodations, it appeals to shoppers who want a simple coastal boat they can haul between waterways or keep on a mooring.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two underwater profiles appear in the wild: a fixed fin keel drawing 4 feet, and a keel-centerboard that goes from 2.33 feet retracted to 5.17 feet extended. The latter suits shallow creeks and trailering; the former is simpler to own. Below decks both carry four berths—a bow V-berth and two settee berths—with a galley under the companionway and a port-side head aft of the bow cabin. Cabin headroom is 56 inches. Some boats left the factory bare of the optional galley module and toilet, so buyer-ready cruisers may show later-added components.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Given the lean standard spec, the meaningful upgrades to look for cluster around power and trailering. A small 3 to 6 hp outboard for docking is normal, but a newer auxiliary with reliable starting is a practical gain. Because launching is awkward, a well-matched trailer with rollers and a winch matters more than cosmetic add-ons. The sloop rig's simplicity needs little beyond a roller furler for the jib and a tiller tender; navigation and comfort upgrades are secondary to a sound hull and trailering setup.
What to Inspect
The one documented weakness is launch behavior: testers found the Pearson 23 not the easiest to put in or take from a trailer, whether fin-keel or centerboarder. Inspect the hull-to-trailer interface for scratches or keel damage from repeated launches, check the centerboard trunk and pivot if fitted, and confirm the rudder pintles and transom-hung tiller are sound. Beyond that, verify the optional galley and head installations were done without compromising structure.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm keel type and centerboard operation, scrutinize trailer and launch wear, verify four-berth layout and any added galley/toilet, and favor a clean solid-fiberglass hull over added electronics. A careful look at the launch history will tell you more than most upgrades.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Pearson 23. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | 1 | $4,300 | — |
Where they're listed
Pearson 23 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $4,300 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Boats 23 | 23.25' | $ 7,741 | 19 | 14 |
| Jeanneau Tonic 23 | 23.94' | $ 11,532 | 17 | 6 |
| Com-Pac 23 | 22.75' | $ 8,000 | 11 | 5 |
| Leisure 23 | 22.64' | $ 5,500 | 10 | 4 |
| Pearson 26 | 26.12' | $ 6,000 | 9 | 5 |
| Pearson 23You are here | — | $ 4,300 | 1 | 0 |