Pearson 34-2

[bretag]

I am considering purchasing a Pearson 34-2 and initially planning a Carribean trip. I heard that these boats are balsa cored above and below the waterline. Is this true? My primary concern is whether offshore capability is compromised- An ocean crossing (To Europe & return) is also under consideration.
Bretag

[JimsCAL]

Not sure about core in the hull. Pearson was not big on use of hull core loke C&C was but hopefully someone with direct knowledge will reply. I would be OK with taking a boat like this to the Carribean, but not to Europe. This is a coastal cruiser after all.

[psk125]

Coring should not be a concern as far as offshore capability is concerned. The overall construction level, however, might be. Pearson 34-2's were not designed or built with major ocean crossings in mind.

[fred4936]

We have a 34-2 built in 1989. The hull is cored below the waterline, but not above. The deck is cored. Our plans are to go to the Bahamas and maybe Caribbean. Another member here that used to contribute quite a lot has the same boat and has sailed many miles in the Caribbean. I think we will both be fine! The boat sails very well, and is comfortable. We are happy with our choice. We will embark on the Great Loop next May, and will right right around Florida.

[Jim Cate]

We have a 34-2 built in 1989. The hull is cored below the waterline, but not above.

Are you sure about this? If true,goes against most design practice for cored hulls, where coring, if not throughout, is above the waterline rather than below.

Jim

[fred4936]

It is definitely not the norm from what I have seen, but is definitely built that way. You can see where the core ends near the waterline. I have to assume it was done that way to keep the bottom more rigid. I concur with others in that it was built as a coastal cruiser, and it does that well.

[rognvald]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Are you sure about this? If true,goes against most design practice for cored hulls, where coring, if not throughout, is above the waterline rather than below.

Jim

Hi, Jim,
I've owned my 1990 34-2 for 28 years. It is definitely cored below the waterline. The new design offered by Pearson in '89 was a departure from the old Pearson's: lighter, faster, taller rigs, and in their theory-- stronger than the heavier boats of the past. It is a beamier boat and structurally very well built.
We have happily sailed over 23K miles on our hull from benign coastal waters to serious offshore sailing. We can surf from 8-10 knots downwind and it hits 6-7 in moderate conditions upwind. I've had no issues with the coring and am presently redoing the bottom for our next adventure. I also looked at Ericson's during my search process in '95 and was turned off by the number that had blistered hulls . . . despite loving the design of the boat.
Rognvald

P.S. Offshore boat . . . that's an interesting term. R

[Jim Cate]

^^^^^^

Well, who am I to dispute with an owner about this? I would be curious to hear the designer's thoughts as to why the coring did not extend up the topsides. Those panels need stiffness too!

Our previous boat, a Palmer Johnson Standfast 36, was foam cored throughout the hull. Only places not cored were the last couple of inches at the sheer line where a flange turned inward to accept the deck and the area around the keel stub. Ironically, that area flexed when the boat sat on the hard on her keel and eventually developed some cracking there after ~30 years and ~80,000 miles (in our hands... unknown miles by previous owners). She was one of the first foam cored yachts built in the States and was (in the terms of a Kiwi builder we met in Auckland) "ludicrously overbuilt". Ans so she was... except in that one area!

Jim

[rognvald]

" I would be curious to hear the designer's thoughts as to why the coring did not extend up the topsides. Those panels need stiffness too!" Jim Cate

Hi, Jim,
That's an interesting question and I can only speculate since the Pearsons' are long dead. The coring goes from the keel stub to just below the bootstripe and then is 3/8" plus solid laminate to the toe rail. I am not an engineer, but I have read that in modern designs, 3/8" provides ample strength to weight ratio for a solid boat. Certainly, the boat was not advertised to be an "offshore cruiser" in its promotional materials, but many, like myself, have sailed offshore with no structural problems or flexing in big seas. Further, it is great in light air but needs a reef at around 16 to 18 windspeed for crew comfort but there is no diminishment of speed. And, because of its long waterline, 32 feet, it is very comfortable in larger seas and tracks well downwind. The key to this design is to know when to reef and we have added a triple reef to our main sail that combines well with a 100% reefable jib for strong air and a 130% for more benign conditons. We have been very happy with the boat for the last 28 years and it ticks all the boxes for our cruising.
Best, Rognvald