Pearson 303
Pearson Yachts · designed by William Shaw · 1983
fin keelBermuda rigUnited States
The Pearson 303 is a 30-foot bermuda rig sailboat designed by William Shaw and built by Pearson Yachts, first launched in 1983.
General
| Builder | Pearson Yachts |
|---|---|
| Designer | William Shaw |
| Years built | 1983 |
| Hull type | fin keel |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| Origin | United States |
Dimensions
| LOA | 30.29 ft9.23 m |
|---|---|
| LWL | 25.37 ft7.73 m |
| Beam | 10.92 ft3.33 m |
| Draft (max) | 4.33 ft1.32 m |
| Displacement | 10,100 lb4,581 kg |
| Ballast | 3,500 lb1,588 kg |
| Sail Area | 459 ft²42.6 m² |
Design ratios
Computed from the specs above using the standard formulas. Try the sailboat calculators with your own numbers.
SA / Displacement 15.72 Under-canvassed — heavy-air / motorsailing
Ballast / Displacement 34.7 % Higher = stiffer / more sail-carrying power
Displacement / Length 276 Moderate
Comfort Ratio 24.1 Coastal cruiser
Capsize Screening 2.02 Better suited to coastal use (> 2.0)
Hull Speed 6.7 kn Theoretical max displacement speed
How these numbers are calculated
- SA / Displacement
SA ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(2/3)— Power-to-weight. < 16 under-canvassed, 16–20 cruiser, > 20 racer.- Ballast / Displacement
Ballast ÷ Disp × 100— Stability/stiffness. Higher carries sail better.- Displacement / Length
Disp(lt) ÷ (0.01 · LWL)³— < 100 ultralight, 100–200 light, 200–300 moderate, > 300 heavy.- Comfort Ratio (Brewer)
Disp ÷ (0.65 · (0.7·LWL + 0.3·LOA) · Beam^1.33)— Motion in a seaway. Higher = more comfortable offshore.- Capsize Screening
Beam ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(1/3)— ≤ 2.0 favored for offshore; > 2.0 better for coastal use.- Hull Speed
1.34 · √LWL— Theoretical max displacement speed in knots.
Estimated price
$26,500 typical range $21,000 – $32,000
⚠ Rough estimate only — not market data. Derived from a simple model based on length and hull age; actual asking prices vary widely with condition, equipment, engine hours and location.
