Pearson 36 Cutter Buyer's Guide
The Pearson 36 Cutter, sometimes called the Pearson 367, is a bluewater-minded variant of the Pearson 365 that Pearson Yachts built in limited production in the early 1980s. For a shopper seeking a used Pearson 36 Cutter, the boat offers a William Shaw hull with a split cutter rig and a teak interior, but its low production means any purchase demands a close look at a handful of known structural and mechanical weak points rather than a casual survey.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 367 carries the 365's general arrangement with a U-shaped galley to port, a nav station opposite, and two 7-foot settees that become sea berths. Pearson provided an alternate design with a rotational navigation station and a quarter berth for those wanting a different saloon flow. Forward, the V-berth owner's cabin opens to a forepeak for rode, and the head includes a separate stall shower. Three 50-gallon freshwater tanks are distributed beneath the settees and V-berth, with a 15-gallon holding tank under the berth. Cockpit space is large but trimmed by a starboard companionway bridge deck, and the engine sits beneath the cockpit with access through companionway panels and sail lockers.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most examples will show the standard cutter rig with self-tending staysail and all lines led to the mast, and many carry an optional roller furling jib-top. A roller sprit simplifies anchoring from the 30-inch platform. Ventilation originally came from two Bomar hatches and five opening ports, but leaking fixed ports drove Pearson to offer opening-port conversions, and many boats now have them. Power and energy center on a Westerbeke W40 or Universal 5444 diesel, with owners often fitting two 25-gallon tanks through the sail lockers to dodge engine removal when the original 50-gallon aluminum tank fails.
What to Inspect
The steel mast base plate and lower mast are vulnerable to corrosion where standing water collects, so check the keel-stepped mast's footing closely anchor. Bent propeller shafts appear more often on the 367 because of the exposed shaft and tight skeg-to-propeller gap anchor. Fuel tanks on these hulls show a 25- to 30-year service life, and the single 50-gallon tank sits behind the engine where replacement forces engine removal anchor. Fixed ports leak regularly and can damage surrounding structure over time anchor. Finally, the aft keel sump runs 34 inches deep and can be crushed by hard stranding on rock or coral anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
When a used Pearson 36 Cutter appears for sale, weigh these points:
- Survey the mast base and lower spar for corrosion from trapped water
- Inspect propeller shaft straightness and skeg clearance
- Confirm fuel tank age; plan for twin 25-gallon locker-fit replacements
- Test all ports for leaks, especially original fixed lights
- Examine aft keel sump for grounding damage
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Seacraft 37 | 36.92' | $ 135,000 | 60 | 17 |
| Cape Dory 36 | 36.12' | $ 54,900 | 35 | 11 |
| Rustler Yachts 36 | 35.33' | $ 101,978 | 30 | 8 |
| Sabre 36 | 36' | $ 45,200 | 20 | 6 |
| Hunter 37 | 37' | $ 19,900 | 20 | 6 |
| Ericson 36 | 35.58' | $ 23,700 | 8 | 1 |