43 Motor Yacht

Pearson originally introduced this houseboat-style cruiser back in 1971, calling her the Portsmouth 43. Designed for inland and coastal waters, she was built on a flat-bottom, modified-V hull with hard chines, a flared bow, and very low freeboard at the transom. The Portsmouth 43 remained in production through 1976 when she was retired from the fleet only to reappear eight years later as the Pearson 43 Motor Yacht. The interior—arranged on a single level from the helm aft and featuring a hidden mini-cabin below the forward salon sole—was updated to include double berths in the staterooms and a brighter decor. In most regards, this is a houseboat interior and the large windows and low hull deadrise make the Pearson 43 unsuitable for any kind of rough-water exposure. Bridge overhangs shade the walkaround decks, and the extended flybridge is huge with room for a wet bar, sunbathers, and a dinghy. (Note that all but the latest models have a false stack on the bridge.) A hard-riding boat in any kind of chop, twin 350hp gas engines (with V-drives) will cruise at 15–16 knots. Several diesel options were optional.