Letter from Bill Shaw
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| the BOAT The Person Design Team approached the new 34 from the point of view of today's cruising sailor. We asked ourselves what are people really looking for in a mid-size sailboat and how can we best address those needs? The result of this two -year project is the Pearson 34- a boat designed to match the sailing styles of today. Size was the primary consideration. The boat had to be big enough to sleep six in comfort with good headroom, storage and spacious galley, and head, while still small enough to be easily handled under sail or power by just one couple, easy to maintain, and easy to own. We came up with a boat just under 35 feet as the perfect size. The interior had to match the discerning cruising sailor's taste for traditional style coupled with the desire for comfort and convenience. The 34's satin varnished teak, hand crafted joiner-work, teak and holly cabin sole, brass light and functional layout are all rather traditional, but he use of space and interior design are new. There is an island berth in the forward cabin rather then the more conventional v-berth. The advantages are readily apparent once you lie on the bed. It is easy to get in and out from either side, it is comfortable, easy to make up and can be left made up all the time. Lots of drawer storage and two hanging lockers make the forward cabin a true stateroom. Aft there is another large double berth in its own alcove with yet another hanging locker and bureau. The berth is open and airy while at the same time private and offset from the main salon. The gallery is laid out in a modern fashion with everything within easy reach and ample storage provided. Much of the space is the result of the Pearson's innovative ice box/chart table combination. The ice box lid serves as a chart table with its own storage enclosure; underneath is a large icebox. The aft head has a separate stall shower, a feature usually found only on much larger boats. How nice it is to shower and not have to wipe down the entire head area. The main salon is open, bright, and airy due to the design and the location of the hatches and opening ports plus the use of contemporary styling and fabrics. On deck, the 34 has a big cockpit with curved angled seating that conforms to the human body. We spent a lot of time designing this area of the boat to make it as comfortable and secure as possible, knowing that this is where you spend much of your cruising time. The walk through transom has a hinged closure and swim ladder arrangement that makes boarding from a dinghy or reboarding after a swim effortless. It's also a great safety feature. There is even a conveniently located hot water shower for rinsing off. The rig is about as simple as modern day technology can make it, with sheets and halyards all controlled from the security of the cockpit including mainsail reefing and jib furling. With full length battens and lazy jacks, the mainsail is efficient, quiet and simple to furl. The self-tacking jib, which is also roller furling, makes tacking a cinch; once it's set for a point of sail, you simply turn the wheel as you go from on tack to another. Underwater, the Pearson 34 features our latest design wing keel which has proven to be very efficient on other models. With a draft of only 4'0", you will be able to cruise your favorite anchorages away from the crowd. Not being constrained by any rating rule, we were able to develop a hull form that conforms to the latest thinking in contemporary cruising boats. The 34's long waterline length (over 28 feet) translates into good reaching boat speed enhanced by full stern sections which make the boat stable whether reaching or running. The ample beam of 11'6" lends to the boat's overall stability. The freeboard is generous in keeping with many contemporary designs. This makes for a dry boat in a seaway and contributes substantially to the spaciousness of the interior accommodations. The 34 is stiff for her size which is a desirable feature for a cruising boat, but her sail area to wetted to surface ratio ensures reasonable light air performance for a cruising boat of moderate displacement. I think you can sense how excited we are about this design. I suspect it may be contagious. Bill Shaw |
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