Pearson 40 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Pearson 40 means chasing a small fleet: only 71 were built, and Bill Shaw's centerboard sloop remains one of the more distinctive Shaw-era cruisers on the brokerage market. She appeals to buyers who want genuine offshore range yet shallow anchoring, with a flush deck and a finely finished interior that stands above typical production boats of the period.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 40 carries a centerboard stub-keel underbody with the trunk hidden in the keel so the cabin sole stays unbroken. Below, the V-berth forward gives way to a port head and opposite bureau, a saloon with centerline drop-leaf table and pilot berths, and a starboard U-galley with double sinks and large fridge opposite a full chart nav desk. Most boats have had the aft quarterberth turned into storage. The flush deck yields 6-foot-3-inch headroom and an easy forward walk, though teak handrails sit well inboard so heavy-weather movement means bending. Cockpits are deep but narrow from the IOR stern, with a forward-placed wheel.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used examples commonly carry autopilot, inverter, solar, chartplotter, bimini and dodger as standard cruising kit. Less common but seen as owner upgrades are watermakers, air conditioning, radar and life rafts. For a buyer, the meaningful clusters are power and energy — solar and inverter banks supporting refrigeration off-grid — and navigation, where a modern chartplotter replaces the original full-sized paper desk workflow. Canvas such as dodger and bimini matters in the deep cockpit, while a feathering propeller remains the owner-led upgrade that fixes sluggish reverse handling behind the V-drive.
What to Inspect
The original steering foil was prone to overload and a Pacific racer shed its blade anchor, so confirm the Marshall Mark II spade rudder is fitted. Chainplate problems are well documented and many boats have already replaced the originals with an updated design anchor; inspect chainplate beds for corrosion. The original Navtec turnbuckles should be replaced, and up to hull No. 60 discontinuous rigging may remain. The Paragon transmission is the weak link behind the V-drive, and the engine placement makes the stuffing box a challenge to access. Core issues are rare, but check balsa decks for softness given age.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets are the United States and Mexico. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify Mark II rudder, updated chainplates and replaced turnbuckles; confirm Borg Warner Velvet Drive conversion if Paragon remains; check deck core and chainplate beds; prioritize a feathering prop for handling. A sound example rewards with shallow draft, offshore range and a joinerwork interior few production 40-footers match.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Pearson 40. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $55,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 3 | $47,000 | -14.5% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $19,999 | -57.4% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $65,000 | +225.0% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $55,000 | -15.4% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $48,500 | -11.8% |
Where they're listed
Pearson 40 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 7 (87.5%), followed by Mexico.
Country view
8 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $48,500 | 7 | 1 | 87.5% |
| Mexico | $65,000 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinckley Yachts Bermuda 40-1 | 40.75' | $ 119,995 | 47 | 6 |
| Little Harbor 40 | 40.16' | $ 44,900 | 35 | 11 |
| Islander 40 | 39.54' | $ 28,750 | 14 | 6 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 89,900 | 13 | 3 |
| Pearson 40You are here | — | $ 55,000 | 9 | 1 |