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• Sailboat Guide

Pearson Ensign

Pearson Ensign is a 22 ′ 6 ″ / 6.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Pearson Yachts between 1962 and 1982.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

In 1959 Carl Alberg was commissioned by Pearson Yachts to design a 22-foot cruiser suitable for racing in the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC). This was the ELECTRA, which had a masthead rig, a small, self-bailing cockpit, and a cabin with galley space, head and bunks. About 350 ELECTRAS were built over the next six years.

Pearson dealers surmised that prospective Electra buyers might prefer the boat with a larger cockpit and smaller cabin. They passed the information along to Pearson, who subsequently asked Alberg to design a day sailor, suitable for one-design racing, based on the ELECTRA hull.

Other changes made included moving the mast six inches s forward, increasing the area of the mainsail, and reducing the height of the fore triangle.

The ELECTRA DAY SAILOR, as it was first called, was an instant success: 219 were sold in the first year (1962). At this time, the first class racing was organized (Fleet #l, out of Larchmont, New York).

The next year saw 213 more boats built and nine more fleets formed - in Houston, Texas; Hingham, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Huntington and Port Washington, New York, Miami, Florida; Gibson Island, Maryland; and Falmouth, Maine. The last known builder (2003) was Ensign Spars Inc. of Dunedin, FL (USA).

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Ensign Classic

Carl Alberg's stable one-design and daysailer gets a second life

What is it about the Ensign? It seems almost every sailor has an Ensign story lurking in the closet. Built by Pearson and launched in the early 1960s, the Ensign was dubbed, "the little big boat," and indeed, sailing an Ensign has provided many skippers with their first "big boat" experience.

The Ensign, which was designed by Carl Alberg in 1962 and is a recent addition to the American Sailboat Hall of Fame, remained in production until 1983 with 1,776 boats built. The boat features long overhangs, a flat sheerline, low freeboard, slab-sided topsides and a cutaway full keel with an attached rudder. The boat's most distinctive feature is a long, deep cockpit with mahogany coaming boards and a short cuddycabin. Displacement is 3,000 pounds, including 1,200 pounds of lead ballast.

Although the Ensign class association remained active after the boat went out of production, if you wanted to own an Ensign your only option was to purchase a used boat; at least until 2000 when the Ensign went back into limited production thanks to the Ensign Spars Company of Dunedin, Florida. Founded in 1995 by Ensign sailor and enthusiast Zeke Durica, the company was originally just a part-time business that made replacement masts and booms. Soon, however, Durica was supplying a variety of parts, refurbishing old Ensigns and toying with notion of building new boats. After locating the original molds in a Texas field, he made the plunge. Today, Ensign Spars is the licensed builder of the new Ensign Classic.

Already building the fourth Classic, Durica is dedicated to creating a boat with more options than the original production model. But the Ensign Classic still conforms to strict one-design rules and can race against boats built in 1962. The Classics, which began with hull No. 2,000, are available on a semicustom basis. Durica's 2,300-square-foot shop is set up to build two or three boats at a time.

The details The Ensign Classic is laminated to the same rugged scantlings as the old boats, with a solid glass hull and cored deck. Positive flotation in the form of closed-cell foam is sealed in the lazarette, under the bunks and cabin sole, and behind the keel trunk. The ballast is internal, and the large rudder is fiberglass. The aluminum spar supports a fractional rig. The interior features a V-berth, with a porta-potty in between and room for a small table.

The finish work on the new boats is excellent. Needless to say, you won't be buying a new Ensign Classic for the accommodations, but the cabin does provide a place to rest your body after a day of sailing, and when coupled with a boom tent, the Ensign Classic can be a comfortable camper/cruiser.

The large cockpit is the heart of the boat, and the Ensign Classic is available with either a fiberglass or teak sole, while the coaming boards can be mahogany or teak. Sail controls are led aft to jammers on the cabintop. The headsail sheet winches are mounted on molded coamings with the genoa tracks outboard. The wooden laminated tiller is mounted on a small bridgedeck aft. The mainsheet is led aft, and a traveler is optional.

"We're not just another sport boat," joked Durica, and the Ensign doesn't have to be. Indeed, one of the reasons for the Ensign's enduring popularity is undoubtedly the fact that it is a safe, stable boat that lends confidence to new sailors but also continues to challenge racing veterans.

Under way The Ensign Classic, like the original, has an easy motion in a seaway with a reluctance to pound even when sailing hard on the wind. Off the wind, the performance is surprising, and the 375-square-foot chute turbocharges the boat. The Ensign is surprisingly nimble when close tacking around the buoys.

Although the Ensign can be raced under PHRF, it is more fun to race against other Ensigns, and the Ensign National Class Association sponsors a national championship regatta every year. In addition, there are 45 active fleets around the country with which to hone your racing skills during the rest of the year.

One feature that has changed since the original Ensign was launched in 1962 is the price. Early boats sold for $2,500, but Ensign Spars is offering the new Classic Ensigns at a base price of $27,500 with fiberglass cockpit seats and floors. When you add sails, safety gear and an outboard engine, you'll be up over $30,000. Still, few boats can offer more fun, pound for pound or dollar for dollar, than the new Classic Ensign.

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Cruising version of the Pearson Ensign

22' 3" 22' 6" 16' 9" 3' 0" 29' 9"

outboard 3 to 6 hp 40%

Carl Alberg Pearson Yachts 1960-1965 227 sq. ft. portable portable

Min./max. draft: Bridge clearance: Power: B/D ratio:

Designer: Builder:

Years produced: Sail area: Fuel tankage: Water tankage:

Approx. trailering wgt.: 4,600 lbs.

This early fiberglass Alberg design was introduced the year after the ground-breaking 29-foot Pearson Triton hit the ways in 1959, and was one of the very first small fiberglass cruising sailboats. In those days the marketers weren't always sure what the market would bear, so the Electra at first was sold as a basic two-berth overnighter, with extra-cost options that would make her a full-fledged cruiser (forward berths, galley, icebox, toilet, etc.). The Pearson Ensign 22 (page 191), a weekend version using the same hull but featuring a larger cockpit and smaller cabin, followed in 1962, and turned out to be much more popular than the Electra. Best features: The Electra, being a near clone of the Ensign, has many of the same stats, which make her relatively fast for her day (though definitely not faster relative to more recent designs). Some say she is better looking than many of the cruisers in her size range. Worst features: Compared to the Hunter 22, her comp other than the Ensign, she generally has less headroom. Her draft is deep enough for casual racing, but wouldn't stand up to many deeper-draft keelboats or shallower boats with centerboards (unless her extremely high PHRF rating could be brought to bear).

Continue reading here: Overnighter version of the Pearson Electra

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Readers' Questions

Can a pearson 22 ensign go in the water on a trailor or does it need a lift to get in the water?

A Pearson 22 Ensign can be launched from a trailer, but it would be beneficial to have a lift to help lower it into the water.

What type off hull is on my ensign cruiser?

The type of hull on an Ensign Cruiser is typically a deep V-hull. This type of hull is designed for improved stability and performance in rough water.

Where would i find the serial number on my peirson ensign sailboat?

The serial number should be located on the aft side of the boat on the starboard side. Look for a label, sticker or stamp engraved in the fiberglass. It may be on the transom or just forward of the transom. It may also be stamped in a bulkhead or on the hull bottom near the centerline. It should be in the range of 9-15 digits.

Ensign Class Association

Class contact information.

Click below

Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Keelboat

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Adult

Approximately how many class members do you have? 500

Photo Credit:Spectrum Photo/Gran Grenon

Photo Credit: Chris Kogut

Photo Credit: Spectrum Photo/Fran Grenon

About Ensign Class Association

The Ensign is the largest class of full keel sailboats in North America, with over 2000 boats manufactured since 1962. Designed by Carl Alberg, its sustained popularity is due to very solid and durable construction, and a design that lends itself equally and admirably to comfortable family cruising, enjoyable day sailing, and close, strategic, tactical racing. The Ensign Class is one of the strongest national organizations, with numerous local fleets from coast to coast.

As a family day sailor, the Ensign has a large, deep cockpit, with enough room to comfortably seat six to eight adults. Its full keel provides a secure, stable ride, and its three foot draft makes it perfect for the shallower waters of bays and lakes and for anchoring fairly close to a protected shore. The cabin space is more than adequate for keeping lots of gear dry and can shelter two in a storm.

As a day sailor, the Ensign is a really enjoyable performer. The helm has a nice feel on all points of sail, and the boat has a versatile head sail inventory, including a working jib, a blade, #2 and #1 genoas, and a spinnaker. Single-handing is easy and exhilarating with the main and blade combination, especially if one includes the optional cabin top winches. For even easier head sail handling, it can be equipped with a roller furler.

The Ensign is 22 and 1/2 feet long, weighs about 3,000 pounds, and is best raced with a crew of four. Favored by former dinghy sailors and cruisers alike, it has no life lines and therefore many dinghy techniques (hiking, roll tacking, etc) can be used effectively. Racing is very close, strategic and tactical, with older boats performing just as well as the newer ones. This year’s national champion was built in 1964, and last year’s champion was built in 1966… testimony to the solid construction and durable design of the boat. The Ensign Class Association promotes and develops one design racing under uniform class rules, and rigidly maintains the one design features of the Ensign. New Ensigns continue to be manufactured by Ensign Spars, Inc., in Marquette, Michigan, using the original molds purchased from Pearson Yachts.

Boats Produced: 2000

Class boat builder(s):

http://ensignspars.com/

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 2000

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Coastal waters from New England to Mid Atlantic states Gulf Coast Great Lakes Inland Lakes throughout the US

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  3 to 4 for racing. 2 for cruising.

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  not established

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   95.70

Boat Designed in  1962

Length (feet/inches): 22’6″

Beam: 7′

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 2800-3000 lbs

Draft: 3′

Mast Height: 32′

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