Design and Construction
At 39 feet 3 inches overall with a 31-foot 3-inch waterline, the 39-2 displaces 16,800 pounds and carries 6,800 pounds of lead ballast on a fin keel with a spade rudder. Those numbers translate to a ballast-displacement ratio of 40.5 and a displacement-length ratio of 246, giving the hull a moderately heavy cruiser's section with a firmly planted lead shoe for stiffness anchor. The capsize screening figure of 1.9 and a comfort ratio of 26.9 place her in conventional offshore-cruiser territory rather than featherweight racer territory. Pearson built the hull and deck in solid hand-laid fiberglass, and below the coachroof the interior presents warm rich wood with cabinetmaker-quality joinerwork and a hand-rubbed finish that period literature considered impressive on stepping down.
Rig and Handling
Shaw gave the 39-2 a simpler rig than the earlier generation, and the sail plan centers on a masthead sloop carrying 742 square feet of sail area for a sail-area-displacement ratio of 18.2 anchor. That ratio, paired with the moderate displacement, supports the builder's claim that she delivers superb handling under both sail and power. The cockpit is laid out for short-handed control: big self-tailing winches, a cabintop traveler, and a 44-inch elkhide-covered wheel sit among contoured cockpit seating, and a small crew can reef both main and jib without leaving the cockpit. The arrangement keeps the working sails in reach from the helm and reduces foredeck exposure in a blow.
Accommodations
Belowdecks the 39-2 is an honest two-stateroom boat, laid out so guests and owner are equally accommodated. The galley is spacious yet efficient, with ample counter space and everything within easy reach, a plan that favors actual meal preparation at sea over showroom appearance. The joinerwork and varnish noted above carry the interior, and the two-cabin scheme reflects the popularity Shaw drew on from other Pearson designs rather than a compromised open plan.
Known Issues
The builder's text on the belowdecks finish cuts off mid-sentence at the hand-rubbed varnish, so the precise extent of that finish is not fully stated. No source identifies a defect in the woodwork or the solid fiberglass hull and deck laminates.
The Verdict
The 39-2 is a Shaw-designed, Portsmouth-built cruiser that blends a performance-oriented sail plan with a genuine two-stateroom interior and a cockpit arranged for short-handed reefing. The lead-ballasted fin-keel hull and moderate ratios mark her as a serious cruiser rather than a stripped racer, and the 1986–1991 build window places her in the brief independent-Pearson era under Shaw's ownership.
Pros
- Contemporary performance cruiser with superb handling under sail and power
- Simpler rig with cockpit-reefable main and jib for small crews
- Honest two-stateroom layout with efficient, roomy galley
- Cabinetmaker-quality joinerwork and hand-rubbed wood finish below
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with 6,800 lb lead ballast
Cons
- Production ended with Pearson's 1991 bankruptcy, limiting the original run
- Builder's interior description is partially truncated, leaving finish extent unstated
