The Pearson 365 Ketch
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Pearson 365 Ketch, a heavy displacement aft-cockpit cruiser, was designed by William Shaw and built in the USA by Pearson Yachts.

A Pearson 365 Ketch

Published Specification for the Pearson 365 Ketch

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 36'5" (11.1m)

Waterline Length: 30'0" (9.1m)

Beam: 11'5" (3.5m)

Draft: 4'6" (1.4m)

Rig Type: Ketch*

Displacement: 17,700lb (8,029kg)

Designer: William Shaw

Builder: Pearson Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1976

Year Last Built: 1982

* Also available as a sloop or cutter

Published Design Ratios for the Pearson 365 Ketch

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.5

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 41.2

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 293

4. Comfort Ratio: 33.4

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Pearson 365 Ketch

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

Download this eBook to make sure you buy wisely!

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 14.5 suggests that the Pearson 365 Ketch will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 41.2 means that the Pearson 365 Ketch will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 293, tells us the Pearson 365 Ketch is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 33.4 suggests that crew comfort of a Pearson 365 Ketch in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 indicates that a Pearson 365 Ketch would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

More about the Pearson 365...

The Pearson 365 is a classic aft-cockpit cruising sailboat designed by William Shaw* and built by Pearson Yachts between 1976 and 1982. It is a versatile and comfortable boat that can handle both shallow coastal waters and open sea passages.

Pearson 365 accommodation layout

The Pearson 365 is available as either a sloop, ketch or cutter all of which are wheel-steered. It's a popular choice among recreational sailors who appreciate its traditional lines, solid construction, spacious cockpit and walk-around decks.

Accommodation
The Pearson 365 has a roomy interior that can sleep up to six people in two separate cabins and the saloon. The forecabin has a V-berth with shelving along the hull sides and storage below, together with a a hanging locker on the starboard side. The aft cabin has a double berth with storage and a hanging locker. The saloon has a U-shaped dinette that converts to a double berth, a settee that can be used as a single berth, and a navigation station. The galley is located aft to port, close to the cockpit, and features a three-burner stove with oven, a double sink, a refrigerator and ample counter space and storage. The head is located forward to starboard, opposite the hanging locker, and has a marine toilet, a sink and a fully enclosed shower.

Hull and Deck
The Pearson 365 has a hand-laid fiberglass hull and deck. The hull has a shallow-draft fin keel with lead ballast that provides stability and maneuverability. The skeg-hung rudder pairs nicely with the keel for steering control. The deck has bulwarks that make wandering around more comfortable and safe. The mast is keel-stepped. The cockpit is 8 feet long and can accommodate up to six people.

*William Shaw, also known as Bill Shaw, was an American-born yacht designer who was the chief designer for Pearson Yachts, one of America's largest sailboat manufacturers for more than two decades . He was born in 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1947. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War and then joined the renowned firm of Sparkman & Stephens Naval Architects and Marine Engineers in 1952. He was also a co-founder of the MORC handicap rule in the mid-1950s.

He joined Pearson Yachts in 1964 and designed over 50 different sailboats and power boats, including the Pearson 35, the Pearson 10M, the Pearson 424 and the Pearson Flyer . He was also involved in the design of the America's Cup defender Columbia in 1961. He received numerous awards for his design expertise and his contribution to the sailing community.

He died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease on August 20, 2006.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.