Design and Construction
The Arrow 31 is a fin-keel monohull with a spade rudder and solid-fiberglass construction—a straightforward structural approach for a boat of her size and era. She measures 31 feet overall, with a 25.5-foot waterline, a 10-foot beam, and a displacement of 6,200 pounds. Those dimensions place her between a pocket cruiser and a lively club racer.
Mark Leonard’s hull form draws a maximum of 5 feet. The design record credits that draft with providing good handling and marina accessibility in tight quarters. At 6,200 pounds, with a 10-foot beam, she is light enough to feel responsive yet substantial enough for coastal work.
The small production run gives each boat a near-custom provenance. Examples are tied to Freedom Yachts Ltd. or occasional custom work elsewhere, including Rockford, Illinois.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Arrow 31 carries a masthead sloop rig with a versatile sail inventory. The mainsail measures roughly 185 square feet, with a 32.5-foot luff. A standard jib is about 220 square feet, while a 115-percent working jib approaches 247 square feet. A 150-percent genoa adds approximately 341 square feet.
For offwind sailing, the design supports an asymmetrical sail of nearly 562 square feet and a spinnaker of around 695 square feet. Combined with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.05, this rig gives the Arrow 31 the power to punch above its weight in performance. The boat is also PHRF-listed in various regions for club racing.
Handling and Performance
The design brief emphasizes agility and performance in light-to-moderate wind, while retaining reasonable accommodations for coastal cruising and club racing. The numbers support that intent. A displacement-to-length ratio of 166.93 and a capsize screen of 2.18 place the boat firmly in the modern lightweight racer-cruiser camp. A comfort ratio of 16.43 indicates that she was built for daysailing and coastwise passages rather than the motion of heavy offshore work.
Owners and reviewers describe a balanced boat that responds quickly and is easy to berth, given her draft. She is quick in light air. In practical terms, the Arrow 31’s light displacement, generous sail plan, and manageable dimensions suit sailors who want responsive handling without moving up to a larger boat.
Accommodations and Intended Use
The Arrow 31 was conceived as a dual-purpose cruiser-racer. The “reasonable accommodations” noted in the design summary describe a cabin intended for short coastal hops rather than extended liveaboard use. Her 31-foot hull and 10-foot beam provide enough room for a small cruising crew.
Flexibility is central to the boat’s character. She can turn up for a Saturday race carrying a genoa and spinnaker, then settle into a quiet harbor under main and jib. With no large class association, however, racing tends to be informal and local rather than part of a one-design circuit.
Rarity and Ownership
Only about seven hulls are believed to have been built, with production scattered among Freedom Yachts Ltd. and possible custom shops. Hull #007’s launch in 1989 indicates that the series extended at least five years beyond its mid-1980s start.
An owner or buyer should expect to find parts and knowledge piecemeal. The lack of a class organization also means limited community support. However, the simple solid-fiberglass hull and spade rudder are easy for any competent yard to service.
The Verdict
The Pierce Arrow 31 is a small, scarce, and genuinely fun cruiser-racer for sailors who want something different from a mass-produced 31-footer. She is quick in light air, easy to handle at the dock, and well suited to coastal racing or relaxed gunkholing. The trade-off is her tiny production run and lack of class support, which make her best suited to a self-reliant owner.
Pros
- Light, agile hull that performs well above its size in light-to-moderate wind
- 5-foot draft helps with maneuvering and marina access
- Versatile masthead sloop rig with full genoa, asymmetrical, and spinnaker options
- Simple, easy-to-maintain solid-fiberglass construction
Cons
- Extremely low production—about seven boats—limits parts and community support
- No class association for organized racing or shared knowledge
- Comfort ratio suggests motion better suited to coastwise use than heavy offshore work
