Pearson described the boat as 24 feet of pure pleasure, beautiful in line and thoughtfully conceived. The company intended it to meet the needs of energetic sailing families while serving as a long-lived investment in wholesome recreation.
Design and Construction
The central idea behind the Pearson 24 was a racing hull wrapped around beamier interior comfort. In other words, Pearson gave what it described as a racing shell a wider, more comfortable cabin than the pure racers of the day allowed.
The hull is solid fiberglass, and the yard listed the boat as having a long keel. That configuration is paired with a masthead sloop rig for straightforward, traditional handling.
The Pearson 24 measures 23.5 feet overall, with an 18.5-foot waterline and a 4-foot draft. Its wetted surface is about 161 square feet, a modest area that keeps drag low for a boat of its displacement.
Displacement and Performance
The numbers describe a small but comparatively heavy cruiser-racer. With a ballast ratio near 42 percent and a displacement-length ratio of 303, the yachting database categorizes the Pearson 24 as a heavy cruiser rather than a featherweight racer.
Even so, it carries enough sail to remain lively. The same source records a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.1 using the ISO reference sail and 20.0 with a 135 percent genoa. Theoretical hull speed is 5.8 knots.
The capsize screening value is 1.97, which indicates that the boat could be accepted for offshore consideration under that formula. A motion comfort ratio of 20.7 and an immersion rate of about 516 pounds per inch complete the picture of a stiff, settled small boat. Its 4-foot draft also allows access to shallow marinas.
Rig and Sail Handling
The masthead sloop rig uses uniform halyards for the mainsail, jib-genoa, and spinnaker. Each is 20.9 meters long and 8 mm in diameter, simplifying an owner’s spare-line inventory and planning.
The sheets are sized as follows:
- Jib and genoa sheets: 7.2 meters at 10 mm
- Mainsheet: 17.9 meters at 10 mm
- Spinnaker sheet: 15.8 meters at 10 mm
The control lines follow a consistent small-boat pattern. The cunningham is 3.4 meters long and 8 mm in diameter, while the kicking strap is 6.8 meters at 8 mm. The clew outhaul matches the kicking strap’s 6.8-meter length.
Accommodations and Intended Use
Pearson aimed the 24 at budget-minded families who wanted to race, day-sail, or cruise without moving up to a larger hull. Its beamier interior was intended to let the boat serve both purposes: quick enough to provide the thrill of racing, yet roomy enough for relaxed day sailing.
The builder’s description of the boat as thoughtfully conceived and designed to fulfill the requirements of energetic sailing families gives the clearest account of its intended role.
Verdict
The Pearson 24 is a compact, Shaw-designed Pearson that combines a racing hull with a beamier, family-friendly interior. Its long-keel, masthead-sloop configuration is traditional, while its ballast ratio is surprisingly high for a boat of this size.
The performance figures place it among heavy-displacement small cruiser-racers, with adequate sail power and a draft shallow enough for modest harbors. Its production run lasted only two model years, making the Pearson 24 a brief but coherent chapter in Pearson’s late-1960s output.
Pros
- Racing hull with beamier interior comfort for dual-purpose family use
- 42 percent ballast ratio and 1.97 capsize screening value suggest a stiff, seaworthy small boat
- 4-foot draft permits access to shallow marinas
- Uniform 20.9-meter halyards simplify line inventory
Cons
- Production was limited to 1968–1969, restricting fleet size and parts commonality
- Its displacement-length ratio places it in the heavy-cruiser category, so it may feel sluggish against lighter racers
