Pearson 323
Built 1976–1983 by Pearson Yachts
About the Pearson 323
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1976–1983
- Builder
- Pearson Yachts
- Designer
- William Shaw
- Length
- 32.25 ft
- Waterline
- 27.5 ft
- Beam
- 10 ft
- Draft
- 4.5 ft
- Displacement
- 12,800 lb
- Ballast
- 4,500 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 30 gal
- Water
- 70 gal
- Stern thruster
- none
Shoal fin keel with skeg-hung rudder; balsa-cored deck. Standard Atomic 4 gas engine (sailboatdata lists 30 hp) with a 2-cylinder Volvo Penta diesel optional, both through a Walter V-drive; boat walks to port in reverse. Many have since been repowered. Sources read do not state whether the hull is solid or cored.
Known problems for this model
-
V-drive makes packing gland hard to reach running gear
Both engine options drive through a Walter V-drive, which makes adjusting the stuffing box nut very awkward.goodoldboat.com
-
Aging steel fuel tank fuel
The original 30-gallon tank appears to be galvanized steel; on boats this old it should be checked for corrosion.goodoldboat.com
-
Balsa core delamination and leaking ports deck
Leaking portlights are common, and the balsa-cored deck delaminates around mounted hardware.goodoldboat.com
-
Chainplate and mast step corrosion rigging
Stainless chainplates and the mast step can suffer crevice corrosion; gelcoat cracks around deck-level chainplates are reported and warrant a survey.goodoldboat.com · sailnet.com
-
Blisters hull
Hull blistering is commonly found on these boats.goodoldboat.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Universal Atomic 4”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
-
Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (3)
Other Pearson models
- Pearson 26 1970–1983
- Pearson 30 1971–1981
- Pearson 34 1983–1986
- Pearson 35 1968–1982
- Pearson 365 1976–1982
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.