Design and Construction
The Pearson 40 was one of the few boats in the company’s range with a cored hull. Pearson used balsa not as a true sandwich core between thin fiberglass skins, but as a stiffener within a heavily laid-up solid laminate. The decks were also balsa cored. Both hull and deck have proved durable, and core problems are almost unheard of among tracked owners.
The hull-and-deck joint uses an inward flange mechanically fastened through the toerail. Bulkheads and secondary bonds were well tabbed, while the materials were typical of the period, with polyester resin used throughout.
The underbody is nearly round, with a trace of keel at its lowest point. A deep centerboard retracts into the stub keel, keeping the trunk out of the cabin. The shape drew comparisons with Ted Hood’s centerboarders and represented a risky departure for Pearson. A full skeg carries the original rudder, which was frequently overloaded.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The beefy, keel-stepped mast has double spreaders. A midboom-sheeting traveler is mounted forward of the companionway. Boats through hull No. 60 carried discontinuous standing rigging, some of which owners have since converted to continuous wire.
The centerboard must be lowered for the boat to track well to windward. With the board down, however, the Pearson 40 is quick and fairly close-winded. Off the wind with the board raised, she flies. Like many IOR-derived hulls, though, she can be squirrely when running before big seas.
Roger Marshall designed a partially balanced spade rudder—the Mark II replacement—for owners. It eliminated the downwind and deep-reaching concerns and dramatically improved the steering. Owners also note that the boat is easily driven and doesn’t need a large overlapping genoa for most cruising. She is a touch tender, and the first reef usually goes in at around 20 knots apparent.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the Pearson 40 has a warm, sculpted interior that recalls an earlier era of yachting grandeur. Mahogany and ash joinery feature throughout, and Shaw called the interior his proudest achievement.
The forward cabin contains a V-berth, dressing seat, and storage. Moving aft, the head is to port, with a hanging locker and bureau opposite. In the saloon, a drop-leaf table seats six, and the berths have pilot berths and leeboards.
The U-shaped galley is to starboard, with double stainless-steel sinks, an outboard oven stove, Formica surfaces, ample counter space, and a huge refrigerator. Opposite, a full-size chart desk serves as the navigation station. The small quarterberth aft has been converted to storage on most boats, reflecting how owners have adapted the layout.
Headroom is 6 feet 3 inches, a surprising figure beneath a genuinely flush deck. That deck also provides a broad, safe platform for sail changes, dinghy stowage, and lounging.
The IOR-pinched stern produces a narrow but deep cockpit, with long seats and large lockers. The wheel is set well forward, giving the helm superb visibility.
Machinery and Known Issues
The original rudder was frequently overloaded, and at least one boat lost its rudder while racing in the Pacific. That problem prompted the Marshall Mark II replacement.
Chainplate problems are also well documented, although many boats have already been converted to an updated design. The original Navtec turnbuckles should be replaced. Where discontinuous standing rigging remains, conversion to continuous wire is another sensible ownership step.
The Paragon transmission paired with the V-drive is problematic, though owners report that changing to a Borg Warner Velvet Drive is straightforward. The V-drive engine arrangement also makes the stuffing box difficult to reach, and many owners consider the boat underpowered. A feathering propeller can sharpen the poor reverse handling for which V-drive installations are notorious.
The Westerbeke 40 diesel sips fuel at 1,800 rpm, providing a motoring range of more than 600 miles. Some boats were fitted with a comparable Perkins 4107/4108.
The Verdict
The Pearson 40 is a genuinely dual-purpose Shaw design. Its centerboard combines offshore capability with shallow-water gunkholing, while its custom-grade interior is rare among production boats. It rewards informed buyers who address the known structural and drivetrain weaknesses, then offers lively, comfortable passagemaking.
Pros
- Versatile cruising-to-racing centerboard hull with 4'3" board-up draft
- Custom-quality mahogany and ash interior with 6'3" headroom
- Strong, heavily laid-up hull with rare core problems
- Mark II rudder resolves the original downwind steering faults
Cons
- Original rudder overload and documented chainplate failures
- Problematic Paragon transmission and a stuffing box that is difficult to reach because of the V-drive
- Tender ride requiring early reefing, with the centerboard needed for good tracking
