Pearson 30
Built 1971–1981 by Pearson Yachts
About the Pearson 30
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1971–1981
- Builder
- Pearson Yachts
- Designer
- William Shaw
- Length
- 29.79 ft
- Waterline
- 25 ft
- Beam
- 9.5 ft
- Draft
- 5 ft
- Displacement
- 8,320 lb
- Ballast
- 3,560 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Water
- 22 gal
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel unknown
“FUEL TANK 22 GAL.” — brochure (printed 8/79), pearsonyachts.org · “18 Gallons FUEL CAPACITY” — owner's manual (Universal Diesel 11 HP boats), pearsonyachts.org · “Fuel 20” — spec database, dan.pfeiffer.netTwo builder documents disagree: the 1979 brochure's profile drawing labels the tank 22 gal (with a diesel), while the owner's guide for a boat with the Universal 11 hp diesel says 18. Our earlier figure of 20 came from spec tables. Neither covers the Atomic 4 gas-engine boats, most of the 1971–81 run.
-
Water 22 gal
“FRESH WATER CAPACITY 22 gal. 83.27 l” — brochure (printed 8/79), pearsonyachts.org · “Water 22” — spec database, dan.pfeiffer.netSingle bow water tank.
-
Water heater unknown
“The water system supplies a manually operated pump at the galley sink” — owner's manual, pearsonyachts.org · “OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ... 2. COLD WATER SHOWER” — owner's manual, pearsonyachts.org · “Stainless steel galley sink with foot pump; vanity ... wash basin and foot pump (no heater listed)” — brochure (1979), pearsonyachts.orgPearson's owner's guide describes a manual-pump water system and lists only a cold-water shower among the optional equipment; the 1979 brochure shows foot pumps and a 22 gal tank. No heater appears in either document.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
The Pearson 30 Owner's Guide parts and price list names no thruster, and no other source was found.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering tiller · Edson
“TILLER, two-tone mahogany laminate with chrome-plated tiller strap & cap fittings” — owner's manual, pearsonyachts.org · “PEARSON-30 EMERGENCY TILLER INSTALLATION WITH OPTIONAL EDSON STEERER INSTALLATION” — owner's manual, pearsonyachts.org · “COVER RUDDER POST, Kydex, boats w/tiller ... COVER RUDDER POST, Edson Steerer, F/G” — owner's manual, pearsonyachts.orgA tiller was standard. The factory option was an Edson wheel steerer driving a quadrant on the rudder stock (shown in the Owner's Guide emergency-tiller drawing and parts list); the Edson brand applies to that option only.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on number built, fuel tank — left blank rather than guessed.
Solid glass hull, balsa-cored deck; hull-deck joint glassed and screwed under a vinyl rubrail. Early boats had Palmer gas engines, then Atomic 4, and late models a two-cylinder Universal diesel. Hull count disputed (see disputed). Replaced by the Pearson 303. Tender boat; spade rudder can slam hard over when backing.
Engines fitted
-
Palmer gas inboard (22 hp) — 22 hp, gas, single
standard
Early production boats.Sources: en.wikipedia.org · practical-sailor.com
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single
standard
The engine most P30s had for most of the run.Sources: en.wikipedia.org · practical-sailor.com · spinsheet.com
-
Universal two-cylinder diesel — diesel, single
standard
Late-model boats; about the same weight as the Atomic 4 and less punchy in a chop. Exact model/hp not given in sources read.Sources: practical-sailor.com · spinsheet.com · en.wikipedia.org
- Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas standard
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
The owner's guide mentions a generator only in a generic fueling-safety checklist; no generator is listed as standard or optional.
Manuals and brochures online
- Brochure Pearson 30 sales brochure (1979) — pearsonyachts.org
- Owner's manual Pearson 30 Owner's Guide and Protection Plan — pearsonyachts.org
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
-
Rudder bushing wear steering
The spade rudder stock turns in two Delrin bushings that wear and cause play; Practical Sailor found notable wear on about 30% of boats examined and treats them as routine replacement items.practical-sailor.com
-
Early aluminum rudder stocks steering
Roughly the first 200 boats had aluminum rudder stocks that corroded and broke; Pearson recalled and replaced them, but confirm an early boat has the stainless stock.practical-sailor.com
-
Genoa block pull-through deck
Owner-added coaming-mounted turning blocks without big backing plates have torn through the thin solid coamings.practical-sailor.com
-
Through-hulls bedded in silicone plumbing
Underwater fittings appear bedded with silicone and lack backing blocks; worth rebedding and reinforcing.practical-sailor.com
-
Encapsulated keel grounding damage hull
Lead ballast is encapsulated in the keel molding, so groundings can breach the glass and let water in; inspect the keel bottom.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
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Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
-
Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
-
Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
-
Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (8)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · pearsonyachts.org · dan.pfeiffer.net · en.wikipedia.org · spinsheet.com · pearsonyachts.org · pearsonyachts.org
Other Pearson models
- Pearson 26 1970–1983
- Pearson 323 1976–1983
- Pearson 34 1983–1986
- Pearson 35 1968–1982
- Pearson 365 1976–1982
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.