The 1982 Pearson 40, designed by William Shaw, is a true classic cruiser-racer of IOR heritage, but built heavy and strong for offshore runs. With over 50% ballast and a 129° stability angle, she’s quick and close-winded with the centerboard down, tracks confidently offshore, and still draws just 4’3” board-up for gunkholing (9’4” down for performance).
The flush deck provides a sleek, safe, uncluttered working platform underway and an expansive space for sail handling, dinghy stowage, or relaxing at anchor. Solid construction, internal lead ballast, and a keel-stepped mast make this a 40-footer that blends performance, versatility, and bluewater capability in a way few modern production boats do.
This one has benefited from a six-figure refit about a decade ago, plus meaningful recent upgrades:
NEW Precision Sails mainsail (2023) + spare 3-reef mainsail
NEW Raymarine EV-1 autopilot (2023)
NEW Highfield Classic 8’ dinghy (2023)
NEW 8hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboard (2023)
130% #1 Genoa (2019)
Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster & boom vang
800+ watts solar (rigid + flexible) with Victron smart controller
Fuel capacity (including jerry cans) gives her serious range flexibility, and with 90 gallons of water she’s well set up for extended cruising.
Currently in La Paz, Mexico (arguably one of the best cruising grounds in the Sea of Cortez), MarBella is proven, thoughtfully upgraded, and ready to go offshore tomorrow or spend the season exploring shallow anchorages most 40-footers can’t reach.
For more information or to book an inspection, contact Josh Hannigan:
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Dimensions
Builder: Pearson Yachts (USA)
Designer: William Shaw
LOA: 39.92 ft
LWL: 31.25 ft
Beam: 12.5 ft
Draft: 4.25 ft to 9.42 ft
Displacement: 29,000 lbs – Full Load
Bridge Clearance: 60 ft
Ballast: 12,200 lbs
Ballast Material: Lead
Keel: Full
Rudder: Spade (original)
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Freeboard: 5 ft
Dry Weight: 22,800 lbs
Propulsion
Engine: Westerbeke 40
Engine Power: 37
Engine Hours: 1560
Engine Type: Inboard
Engine Fuel: Diesel
Drive Type: V-Drive
Propeller: 2-blade, bronze
Max Speed: 7.0 k @ 2800 RPM
Cruising Speed: 5.5 k @ 2000 RPM
Gal/Hr (Max): 0.75
Range: 293 nm
Tanks
Fuel Tankage: 46 Gal in 1 stainless steel tank (45 Gal in 9 Jerry Cans) – Total Range: 660 nm
Water Tankage: 90 Gal total in 2 plastic tanks
Holding Tankage: 20 Gal in1 plastic tank
Accommodations
The interior finish of the P40 surpasses that of most Pearsons, offering an impressive amount of storage throughout.
Beginning: at the bow, there is a generously sized V-berth cabin featuring a small dressing seat and ample storage space. The head is situated aft to port, accompanied by a hanging locker and a bureau positioned opposite.
The saloon is equipped with a drop-leaf centerline table that seats six, as well as pilot berths fitted with built-in leeboards. Although these berths may be tempting to convert into additional storage, they are well suited as sea berths, elevated and out of the main traffic areas. The settees extend to provide comfortable twin berths.
The U-shaped galley, located to starboard, includes double stainless-steel sinks and a gimbaled stove with safety bar. Counter space is plentiful, complemented by functional fiddles and a spacious in-counter refrigerator. Surfaces are finished in Formica, and numerous lockers and shelving units offer practical food and utensil storage behind the stove and on the aft-facing side.
Opposite the galley, a large navigation station features a desk capable of accommodating a full-sized chart, with storage below and space for mounting instruments and repeaters on the partial bulkhead. A small quarterberth aft has been repurposed for storage.
The interior is attractively finished in mahogany and ash. The surprising 6-foot, 3-inch headroom, given the flush deck design, contributes to a sense of openness. Natural light and adequate ventilation are provided by several overhead hatches and sidelights, ensuring the space remains bright and comfortable.
Galley
Refrigerator / Freezer: Deep Isotherm Fridge with 12V freezer
Standing Rigging: In Excellent Condition from 2015
Lines Led Aft: Only headsail lines lead aft
Whisker Pole: Oscillating pole mounted on mast
Deck
The P40 is best known for its flush deck, following the design style of earlier models like the Ericson 39 and Tartan 41. Its deck is not only sleek and attractive but also practical for cruising, reducing obstructions and tripping hazards, making for safer conditions when going forward underway.
The boat stands out for its unique underbody: a nearly round, balsa-cored hull with a whale-shaped form, deep centerboard, and a rudder on a full skeg. Despite initial impressions, stability is excellent thanks to its heavy displacement (22,800 lbs) and significant lead ballast (over 50% ballast-to-displacement), giving it a positive stability angle of 129 degrees. A shallow board-up draft (4’3″) adds versatility for cruising in shallow waters. An air draft just under 60 feet supports 803 square feet of sail area – more than similar-sized rivals – and makes for a highly efficient upwind sailing profile.
Pearson used cored construction mainly as a stiffener, resulting in durable hulls and decks that rarely suffer from core or delamination issues, despite their age. The inward-flanged hull-deck joint is sturdy, and fiberglass work is solid throughout. Lead ballast fits internally within the keel cavity, and the centerboard trunk remains unobtrusive to the interior cabin living space by being kept inside the stub keel.
The IOR-influenced pinched stern creates a narrower cockpit, but it’s still well-suited for cruising, featuring comfortable seating, ample lockers, and good visibility from the forward-placed wheel. The flush deck simplifies moving forward, handling sails, storing the dinghy, or lounging. Strong stanchions, double lifelines, a mid-boom mainsheet traveler, and a robust, keel-stepped double-spreader spar round out the P40’s thoughtful design.
Anchors: Mantus M2 55-lbs, with 5/16 AAA 150-ft chain and 100-ft of 3 braided rode
Windlass: 1200 W
Bow Rollers: Mantus V2
Nav Lights: LED
Deck Lights: LED
Spreader Lights: LED
Lifelines: Yes
Gates: Yes
Ladders: Custom aft ladder (extends to 4-ft below waterline for easy access)
