Built from 1986 to 1991, the 39-2 sits squarely in the Shaw-era Pearson lineage. It followed the 1986 management buyout that returned the marque to designer-led ownership.
Design and Construction
The 39-2 measures 39 feet 3 inches overall and 31 feet 3 inches on the waterline. It displaces 16,800 pounds and carries 6,800 pounds of lead ballast on a fin keel, with a spade rudder.
Those figures produce a ballast-displacement ratio of 40.5 and a displacement-length ratio of 246. Together, they give the hull a moderately heavy cruiser’s proportions, with a firmly planted lead shoe for stiffness. A capsize screening figure of 1.9 and a comfort ratio of 26.9 place the boat in conventional offshore-cruiser territory rather than among featherweight racers.
Pearson built the hull and deck in solid, hand-laid fiberglass. Below the coachroof, the interior features warm, rich wood, cabinetmaker-quality joinerwork, and a hand-rubbed finish. Period literature described the effect on stepping below as impressive.
Rig and Handling
Shaw gave the 39-2 a simpler rig than the earlier generation. Its sail plan centers on a masthead sloop rig carrying 742 square feet of sail, for a sail-area-displacement ratio of 18.2. Paired with the boat’s moderate displacement, that ratio supports the builder’s claim of superb handling under both sail and power.
The cockpit is arranged for short-handed control. Big self-tailing winches, a cabintop traveler, and a 44-inch elkhide-covered wheel sit among contoured cockpit seats. A small crew can reef both the main and jib without leaving the cockpit. This keeps the working sails within reach of the helm and reduces exposure on the foredeck in a blow.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the 39-2 is an honest two-stateroom boat, laid out to accommodate guests and owner equally. The two-cabin scheme reflects the popularity Shaw drew on from other Pearson designs rather than a compromised open plan.
The galley is spacious but efficient, with ample counter space and everything within easy reach. It’s a layout intended for actual meal preparation at sea rather than showroom appearance. The joinerwork and varnish carry the interior, giving the two-cabin arrangement a warm, finished character.
Known Issues
The builder’s description of the belowdecks finish cuts off mid-sentence at the reference to hand-rubbed varnish, so the precise extent of that finish isn’t fully stated. No source identifies a defect in either the woodwork or the solid-fiberglass hull and deck laminates.
The Verdict
The Pearson 39-2 is a Shaw-designed, Portsmouth-built cruiser that combines a performance-oriented sail plan with a genuine two-stateroom interior and a cockpit arranged for short-handed reefing. Its lead-ballasted fin-keel hull and moderate ratios mark it as a serious cruiser rather than a stripped-out racer. The 1986–1991 build window also places it within Pearson’s brief independent era under Shaw’s ownership.
Pros
- Contemporary performance cruiser with superb handling under sail and power
- Simpler rig, with main and jib reefable from the cockpit by a small crew
- Honest two-stateroom layout with an efficient, roomy galley
- Cabinetmaker-quality joinerwork and a hand-rubbed wood finish below
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck, with 6,800 pounds of lead ballast
Cons
- Production ended with Pearson’s 1991 bankruptcy, limiting the original run
- The builder’s interior description is partly truncated, leaving the extent of the finish unstated
