Thoughts on a Pearson 10M

[DrB]

Looking at a Pearson 10M Tall Rig (1979) as my first real sailboat. The broker that I am working with has one that just came on the market for just over $27K. Looks to be in decent shape from the photos. I haven't seen it in person. I was almost set on a P34 (1984), but the price was a little out of my range. (mid 30's) and would require a couple of self-tailing winches to make it easier to single hand. The 10M has them already.

I checked on the Pearsoninfo.net website for more details on the 10M, and it says it has headroom in 6'1-6' 2" range. I am a a little under 6" 6" and fit into the P34 (not much clearance), but it is listed as 6' 3".

I may be able to get the P34 for $32K ish, but it still requires the winch upgrade.

Aside for those details, anyone have a Pearson 10M or owned a 10M and since moved on. Likes, dislikes? Should I strongly consider (if I fit) or save my pennies for the P34.

I am also going to post on the Pearson email list, but that is like asking someone who owns a Pearson, do they like there Pearson.

DrB

[SailorMitch]

The best person to ask about a P-10M is Dan Pfeiffer, the father of the pearsoninfo.net website. He now owns a 10M that he is extensively overhauling. You can contact him through that site. Dan will spare no detail about the good and bad points of the 10M. In fact, his site has an extensive section of projects he has done on the boat with photos taken at every step. You can learn a lot about a boat's construction that way.

And yes, do post on the Pearson email list.

People argue all the time that current owners of any particular boat will only tell you the good stuff about that boat. That has not been my experience in the least, and others who have followed my advice have sent me emails thanking me because they found out both the good and the bad by talking to current owners. In my book, hearing from current owners is a lot better than asking for opinions on here from someone who may have been on a particular boat once 10-20 years ago, or knew someone who had one at the same marina sometime ago -- or at best may have seen one in a boatshow. YMMV of course.

Disclaimer -- I have owned a P-27 and now own a P-33-2. I have written a history of Pearson Yachts for Good Old Boat, and was commodore of the Pearson Sailing Association of the Chesapeake for 3 years.

[JimsCAL]

The 10M is a solid boat - essentially a larger version of the P26 and P30 of the 1970s. They are still competive club racers and make good cruising boats. My main concern would be the age - especially the engine if its original. Many came with an Atomic 4 which will probably need a complete rebuild or replacement with a diesel.

[paulk]

I think Practical Sailor has a generally positive review of the 10M. (I loaned my copy of their Used Boat Buyers Guide out, and haven't gotten it back yet. Won't make that mistake again.) That would be worth reading for details. The 10M has always appealed to me because they look good, and seem to be put together OK. The 1970's P36 is similar, and would offer more headroom and stowage space - if you can find one of those in your price range. The caveat on the engine is valid, though if it ain't broke...

[gordonr3]

I'm the third owner of a 10M that I purchased in 1991, and used - until recently - to cruise the Maine coast. It's very stable and offers performance similar to boats 3-7 feet longer. The original construction was probably overdesigned, with very thick hull sections and a heavy rig. There were some oversights - aluminum backing plates under the winches come to mind - but those I've found are easily corrected, with one exception. The mast step is set low in the bilge, so it's always wet. The step is iron (or steel) and the mast is aluminum, so corrosion is inevitable!

I agree with SailorMitch re Dan Pfeiffer's web site, with one caveat: I'm not sure how active Dan is today. I've contacted him because I'd like to list my boat - which I'm now selling - on his site, and received no response.

As a sailing boat, I found the 10M, which was my first sailboat, very satisfying. (I never considered upgrading to another or bigger boat.) With grandchildren and a new house on the Maine coast, I just haven't found the time to use it during the last four years.

[btrayfors]

In 1975 I chartered a Pearson 10M in St. Thomas for a 2-month trip through the Lesser Antilles with my young family. We sailed her in the Virgins, across the Anegada Passage to St. Martin, then down the chain of the Leewards as far as the Saints (Isles des Saintes) south of Guadeloupe. Then, back up through the Leewards, across the Anegada Passage, and back to St. Thomas. Wonderful trip, poking along and visiting every island in the chain.

The boat was "Joker", a red-hulled Pearson 10M which belonged to Dick Avery. She was well known in the islands, as she usually cleaned up on the racing circuit. She WAS fast, and a delight to sail. Once, beating up the channel in a breeze of wind under Mountain Point on Virgin Gorda with just our genoa and a cockpit awning up, we sailed by a professionally-crewed Gulfstar 50, much to the dismay of their crew!

I'd echo the earlier comments about the Pearson 10M...good boat, strongly built, fast for her size, seaworthy, with a few flaws like all boats.

Don't know about the price these days, but if you like her and feel the price is right, go for it!

Bill

[DrB]

The offer was accepted. I am now broke, and soon to be broker, but who cares, the goal is to have fun, right?

It goes into the water tomorrow!

DrB

[JimsCAL]

Congrats!! Good luck!!!

[sailingdog]

Congrats.. I hope you're making the offer subject to survey and sea trial.

[DrB]

The offer is contigent on the Survey and Sea Trial. Plan on keeping her in Marbleyhead Harbor in in Massachusetts. I am tickeled about the Tall Rig. Hopefully will help in the typically light air on the Massachusetts North Shore.

Thanks to all for their help and advice.

DrB