Pearson 28-2 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Pearson 28-2 means looking at Bill Shaw's third-generation 28-foot Pearson, built from 1985 to 1989 as a beamy performance cruiser-racer with a solid fiberglass hull and balsa-cored deck. These are boats that have aged conservatively in looks and, on the used market, tend to show owner attention to the known soft spots rather than original perfection. A buyer's real work is in the structure and the few weak fittings, not in chasing options.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 28-2 interior is consistent across the class: a forward double berth, a private port aft stateroom with a hanging locker, and an enclosed head set well aft using the hull's wider section. The galley splits port and starboard around the companionway, with the icebox lid doubling as the chart table. Saloon settees flank a centerline table, and the cabin sole is teak and holly. Cockpit layouts are equally standard, with twin settees, a port lazarette, and a starboard sail locker. The aft berth loses inboard headroom under the cockpit, so a buyer who needs full standing room there should look at the forward berth or the stateroom's upright space instead.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Spinnakers are commonly fitted on these boats, a sensible light-air addition given the hull's heavy, beamy nature. Beyond that, the consequential upgrades cluster around sail drive and rig: many owners have fitted a two-bladed folding prop in place of the fixed unit for better speed under sail, and some have relocated the traveler from the bridgedeck to the coachroof to free cockpit space. A 150-percent genoa and asymmetrical spinnaker are a known combination for improving light-air handling. Factory deck gear is Harken and Lewmar with Edson pedestal steering, so most buyers need not budget for core steering or hardware replacement.
What to Inspect
The outward flange hull-to-deck joint is exposed and can be damaged in a collision anchor, and the externally fastened lead keel is at risk in a grounding, with the keel, stub, and bolts vulnerable in a hard strike. Check the hull-and-keel joint for the characteristic "smile" where filler and fairing compound crack. Small leaks around portlights and hatches are common, and the plastic-framed portlights themselves can crack, so test each opening. Hulls without barrier coating may show mild blistering. Finally, inspect the above-water plastic through-hull fittings used for the cockpit scuppers, as these are a point of concern.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short but firm: confirm the flange and keel fastenings are sound, look for hull-and-keel joint cracking, verify portlight condition and deck leaks, and check the scupper through-hulls. If those hold, the 28-2 offers a private aft cabin and steady handling that wears well.
- Inspect outward flange and externally fastened keel for collision or grounding damage
- Look for "smile" cracking at the hull-and-keel joint
- Test plastic portlights and check for deck leaks
- Verify above-water scupper through-hulls are intact
- Confirm folding prop or traveler upgrades match your sailing plans
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Pearson 28-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $12,000 | — |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $12,900 | +7.5% |
Where they're listed
Pearson 28-2 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 | $12,900 | 1 | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 28 | 28.5' | $ 25,000 | 38 | 7 |
| Pearson 28 (1975-80) | 28' | $ 15,200 | 16 | 3 |
| Sabre 28-2 | 28.42' | $ 14,500 | 15 | 7 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 17,979 | 15 | 5 |
| Ericson 28-2 | 28' | $ 16,800 | 9 | 2 |
| Pearson 28-2You are here | — | $ 12,900 | 1 | 1 |