Pearson Wanderer 30

Description

The Pearson Wanderer 30 is a shoal-draft fiberglass cruiser-racer designed by William H. "Bill" Shaw for Pearson Yachts, produced from 1966 to 1971 as a versatile masthead sloop blending racing prowess with family cruising capabilities, featuring a keel-centerboard configuration for shallow-water access and balanced performance under CCA rules. With its generous beam, long waterline, and hand-laid solid fiberglass hull (no core), it emphasizes seaworthiness and interior volume, sleeping six in a practical layout powered by the reliable Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, and was priced around $15,000–$18,000 new—positioning it as an accessible "go-anywhere" 30-footer for coastal passages or club races. Designed in 1965 by Shaw—Pearson's in-house naval architect since 1964—the Wanderer debuted in 1966 amid the fiberglass revolution, drawing inspiration from Shaw's earlier Tartan 27 and Pearson models like the Coaster (full-keel variant) and Vanguard, with a focus on shoal draft for inlets while qualifying for major offshore races via its 30 ft LOA. Built exclusively at Pearson's Portsmouth, Rhode Island facility under Grumman Allied Industries, 177 units were hand-laid with thick, durable hulls (though minor variations in keel voids and fillers occurred due to manual processes), achieving immediate success with strong race results and owner acclaim. In 1970, updates refined the rig (higher aspect ratio for larger headsails without rating penalty) and interior for enhanced comfort; production ended in 1971 as Pearson shifted to fin-keel designs like the Pearson 30. A rare pilothouse variant (Wanderer 300) was produced ~1969–1970 in limited numbers (~100), but the standard model remains the focus of its enduring fleet.