Pearson 31-2 Buyer's Guide
The Pearson 31-2 on the used market is a late-80s compact cruiser designed by William "Bill" Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts, with the main production run from 1987 through 1991 and a small 1996 revival. These boats were aimed at couples or small families wanting a forgiving, easily handled coastal cruiser with occasional longer trips, and they remain a practical entry into a roomy, solidly built 31-footer with a masthead sloop rig and a choice of deep fin or shoal wing keel.
Layouts on the Used Market
Original layouts typically center on a roomy saloon and a substantial quarterberth, with space generous for the length. A practical galley, a proper chart table, and a head with shower are usual in the as-delivered interior, and the cockpit is well shielded with coamings and useful handholds for companionway movement. The beam and relatively long waterline let the boat feel larger below than many contemporaries, and the inboard diesel sits accessible under the companionway rather than buried behind joinery.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy systems on these boats commonly include a chartplotter, solar panels, and hot water, the last making the head-shower layout genuinely usable on anchor. Canvas and sail-handling upgrades are commonly fitted as well: a bimini and dodger pair with a short-handed setup that leads primary controls aft, matching the boat's easy short-handed operation. Often-seen comfort equipment includes air conditioning and an autopilot, which suit extended coastal hops but draw on the same house energy that solar helps replenish. Navigation is usually centered on the chartplotter rather than paper, and a buyer should confirm the autopilot drive matches the spade rudder.
What to Inspect
Age reveals deck core issues on these hulls, so tap the cabintop and side decks for softness and look for discoloration or crazing where water may have entered. Bedding failures around chainplates and cabin-top hardware are common, and you should check for staining or looseness at those fittings and smell for musty core rot below. Keel bolts and the hull-keel joint need inspection on older boats, so examine the joint for gaps or rust trails and ask whether the bolts were ever serviced. Standing rigging should be replaced on age-based schedules, meaning any original rig is long past due regardless of how clean it looks. Where water ingress was neglected, expect the occasional soft deck or core repair already undertaken by a prior owner.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear on the market in the United States. For a viewing, run through a short checklist: check the chainplate bedding for stains or play; sound the deck for soft core; inspect the hull-keel joint for gaps; confirm rigging age and replacement history; verify the engine access and diesel condition; test the short-handed control leads from the cockpit.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Pearson 31-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $9,000 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $19,950 | +121.7% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $16,475 | -17.4% |
Where they're listed
Pearson 31-2 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $19,950 | 3 | 2 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson 36-2 | 36.5' | $ 26,000 | 20 | 1 |
| Tartan 34-2 | 34.42' | $ 29,900 | 17 | 5 |
| CAL 31 | 31.5' | $ 10,500 | 16 | 4 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,870 | 15 | 5 |
| C&C 33-2 | 32.58' | $ 24,500 | 15 | 7 |
| Pearson 31 | 31' | $ 16,900 | 9 | 6 |
| Morgan Yachts 32 | 31.92' | $ 27,120 | 7 | 0 |
| Pearson 31-2You are here | — | $ 19,950 | 3 | 2 |