Pearson 26 Production Time Line || Pyxis Home Page | Dan's Home Page ||

Pearson 26

The photo here shows the cockpit of a 1973 P26 (#671). This plan had a storage shelf for a fuel tank inside the port cockpit locker. Note the length of the engine well and that the two cockpit locker hatches are the same length. After 1975 (Hull #1000 according to Pearson drawing P-1690) the bulkhead at the front of the well (the traveler is located on top of it) was moved forward about 8 inches to enlarge the well. The older engine well may have trouble accommodating motors with larger power heads (e.g. Honda 9.9) when tilted up. The P26 in this photo has no stern rail and winches with old slot type handles.	1973
This photo shows the cockpit of a 1976 P26 (#1205). The cockpit of the P26 was modified from the original plan with the 1975 model. The fuel tank storage was moved from the port cockpit locker to a cubby hole type box at the aft end of the cockpit. To accommodate this box the starboard cockpit locker hatch was shortened. The engine well was also enlarged. This boat has teak coaming caps (a Pearson option) a double stern rail, and double lifelines. The OEM manual bilge pump can also be seen just ahead of the port locker.	1976
This photo shows the fuel tank cubby hole storage on the starboard side of the cockpit on a 1976 P26 (#1205). Click here for another photo showing the fuel locker and engine well... Click here for many more photos of a 1976 P26...	1976

Pearson 26 Layout

P26 Weekender and One Design

In 1975 Pearson introduced a variation on the P26 called the Weekender. It shared the hull and rig of the P26 but had a longer cockpit and shorter, un-stepped cabin house and was 200 lbs lighter. The weekender was made for '75 and '76. In 1978 Pearson re-named the Weekender the One Design and resumed production. The only difference seems to be two windows on the cabin side instead of the Weekender's one. The One Design also has the chainplates set about 4 inches more inboard then the standard P26 allthough I have seen One Designs with the same chainplate location as the standard P26.	P26 One Design
The cockpit of the Weekender and One Design is about 2 feet longer then the original P26. There is no cubby hole for fuel tank storage. Instead, there is a dedicated locker on the port side. This means there is only one cockpit locker. The engine well is the same as the standard P26 after 1975. This photo is 1981 P26OD #232. Note the lack of coaming boxes on this P26OD. The P26OD in the photos at the link listed below has coaming boxes at the forward end of the cockpit.	1981 P26OD Cockpit
The companionway of the Weekender and One Design is not off center as on the standard P26. There is no cut out at the front of the starboard cockpit seat. The 1/4 berths extend under the forward cockpit seats. This photo is 1981 P26OD #232.	1981 P26OD Cockpit
At least one P26 was fitted with an inboard engine. This OD (#232) has a primitive looking sail drive unit about 3 feet ahead of the rudder.	1981 P26OD Engine

P26 Weekender and One Design Layout

P26 OD Cabin

---

Variations

Head Most of the P26s were equipped with marine heads. Later models and the Weekender/One Designs had optional portable toilets. For the portable option Pearson added an extension to the floor area where the head mounts. The molded floor pan is extended out to the edge of the door, about 6 inches. The extension is a fiberglass unit that is screwed in place. The extension was added to accommodate the larger footprint of the portable toilet. Portable units are available today that have smaller footprints and will more easially fit the OEM space for the marine head.

---

Changes by the Years

1970
First P26 built in Portsmouth, RI. Pearson assigned an ID number to all models. This number is the first two digits of the

1974
3/11/74 - wiring change, hull 650& up (see drawing P-2049)
This note appears in a P26 document, I don't know what it refers to.

3/11/74 - wiring change, hull 650& up (see drawing P-2049)
This note appears in a P26 document, I don't know what it refers to.
6/19/74 - Note on Pearson drawing P-1680, "ENLARGED OUTBD WELL HULL 1000 & UP, REDUCED STBD SAIL LOCKER"

A rigging change at hull 650 is identified in a Pearson parts catalog dated 1979. The change was from open turnbuckles to closed Navtec turnbuckles. Theres more info on this below....

1975
Fuel tank shelf in port cockpit locker removed, cubby hole location for OMC 6 gallon tank added at aft end of cockpit on starboard side, starboard locker hatch shortened to accommodate.
Engine well enlarged, traveler mount location moved forward about 8 inches.
Reference made to old style lifelines on hulls 1-650 in Pearson Yachts Parts Catalog 1-1-75.

First Weekender model (P26W) listed in BUC. [1] Longer cockpit (about 9 feet) and shorter unstepped cabin house. Interior had two 1/4 berths (really midship), and a curtain separating the forward sections (head & V berth). Same hull and rig. The P26 Weekender model number was 55.

1976
Last P26 Weekender model (P26W) listed in BUC [1]

1977
P26s 1418-1504 built in League City, Texas. It was called the P26 Texas by Pearson. These boats say League City on the ID plate. [2][3]

1978
P26s 1506-1514 built in League City, Texas. [2][3]
One Design model introduced. This is the same as the previous Weekender with two cabin windows instead of the Weekender's one. The P26 Weekender model number was 60.

1979
P26s 1516-1546 (could be to 1596) built in League City, Texas. [2][3]

198?
Plexiglass doors added to enclose outboard shelves in main cabin.

1981
Last Standard P26, Number 1774. [2][3]

1982
Last Standard P26 listed in BUC [1]

1983
Last P26 One Design, Hull no. 262 [2]
Last P26 One Design listed in BUC [1]

Notes and Sources

RIGGING
OLD STYLE RIGGING HULLS 1-650
  4 TOGGLE, chrome-plated bronze, 3/8" 
  1 TOGGLE, chrome-plated bronze, 7/16" 
  4 TURNBUCKLE, chrome-plated bronze, 3/8"
  1 TURNBUCKLE, chrome-plated bronze, 7/16" 
  1 JIB STAY, 7/32" s/s wire, 32' long
  1 BACK STAY, s/s wire, upper leg 7/32", 
    lower legs 3/16" wire
  2 SHROUDS, UPPER, 3/16 s/s wire, 29' 9"
  2 SHROUDS, LOWER, 3/16 s/s wire, 15' 6"

NAVTEC TYPE CLOSED BODY HULL 650-1314
  4 TURNBUCKLE, s/s, 3/8" pin x 5/16" screw 
  1 TURNBUCKLE, s/s, 7/16" pin x 3/8" screw 
  1 JIB STAY, 7/32" s/s wire, 32' 4" long
  1 BACK STAY, s/s wire, upper leg 7/32", 
    lower legs 3/16" wire
  2 SHROUDS, UPPER, 3/16 s/s wire, 29' 9"
  2 SHROUDS, LOWER, 3/16 s/s wire, 15' 10"

NOTE: Hull #1315 and up , open body style 
      Navtec turnbuckles.

  HALYARD, MAIN, 32' of 3/8" braid and 
  37' of 1/8" s/s wire with shackle--wire 
  to rope splice

  HALYARD, JIB, 38' of 3/8" braid spliced 
  to 30' 3" of 1/8" s/s wire with shackle

  TOPPING LIFT, 1/8" wire and 7' of 1/4" 
  braided rope and 38' 6" of 1/8" s/s wire 
  with shackle

NOTE: All stays and shrouds are 1 x 19 
      wire; all halyards are 7 x 19 
      wire. 

RUDDER BUSHINGS
Rudder bushing change at hull #1417.

SPARS
Masthead, mast extrusion and mast step change at hull #1128. No info on what the change was.
Roller reefing handle change at hull #772. Up to 771 it's a #1200 RR, 772 and up it's a Nicro Fico #101.

HARDWARE
Genoa track change at hull #1078
New style gooseneck starts at hull #1520.