Pearson 39-2 Buyer's Guide
Shopping a Pearson 39-2 on the brokerage market means looking at a Shaw-designed, Portsmouth-built cruiser produced from 1986 to 1991, with solid fiberglass hull and deck and a lead-ballasted fin keel. These are boats of a defined five-year build window, so any example you meet is a second-generation 39 with the simpler rig and cockpit-reefable sail plan that defined the model.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 39-2 is an honest two-stateroom boat with a spacious yet efficient galley, and the belowdecks woodwork is cabinetmaker-quality with a hand-rubbed finish. On the used market you should expect that two-cabin arrangement rather than a convertible open saloon, and the galley layout keeps counters and storage within easy reach for onboard cooking.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Examples on the market often carry a watermaker and air conditioning, with canvas in the form of bimini and dodger, and navigation and safety gear including radar, autopilot, chartplotter, and EPIRB. For a buyer, the watermaker and air conditioning speak to self-sufficient tropical cruising, while the radar and autopilot clusters indicate the boat was fitted for extended offshore or long-passage use rather than weekend harbor hopping.
What to Inspect
Because the maker's write-up of the interior varnish stops abruptly mid-sentence anchor, check the wood joinerwork on a specific hull for unfinished or deteriorated areas the original text never finished describing. A standard thorough survey remains the buyer's safeguard.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Pearson 39-2 boats typically appear in the United States and Mexico. Before you commit, run through this short list:
- Confirm the two-stateroom layout and galley reach.
- Verify the watermaker and air conditioning function.
- Check the bimini and dodger condition.
- Test the radar, autopilot, chartplotter, and EPIRB.
- Inspect the belowdecks varnish and joinerwork for gaps.
- Survey the solid fiberglass hull and deck as normal.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Pearson 39-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 3 | $49,900 | — |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $45,900 | -8.0% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $38,500 | -16.1% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $34,500 | -10.4% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $99,900 | +189.6% |
Where they're listed
Pearson 39-2 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (80.0%), followed by Mexico.
Country view
5 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $74,450 | 4 | 2 | 80.0% |
| Mexico | $28,000 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 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 39 | 38.67' | $ 41,000 | 8 | 5 |
| Pearson 37-2 | 37.42' | $ 41,500 | 8 | 1 |
| Pearson 39-2You are here | — | $ 45,000 | 6 | 2 |