One of the things that has always concerned me when cruising is conserving battery power. In an effort to minimize those concerns, I have significantly increase battery capacity on my boat. Under the aft bunk on centerline there are several compartments. When I...

My primary reason for upgrading from a 1978 Pearson 31 to our 1985 Pearson 36-2 is that our family had simply outgrown the 31. With three growing boys and a desire to cruise the Great Lakes, the Pearson 36-2 was a good fit for us. However, there are certain...

One of the more tedious tasks that I have undertaken towards the refit of my Pearson 36-2 was replacement of the cap rail that sits over the hull to deck joint. The rail is made from PVC and is exposed and can be damaged around docks. I suspect mine was original and...

Prior to buying my Pearson 36-2, I had it professionally surveyed. The surveyor spent more than four hours going over every inch of the boat. He found evidence of moisture around nearly every piece of deck hardware, something that is not uncommon with older boats....

Another project that was completed during the first winter was a complete epoxy bottom job. When I purchased the Pearson 36-2, the bottom was coated with VC Tar and VC 17. The bottom coating was alligatored and checkered, but was not in terrible condition. However,...

Tom Wynne purchased a 1985 Pearson 36-2, hull #54, in the spring of 2013 and since has undertaken a fairly major refit of the boat and has used it fairly extensively on Lake Erie. Tom contacted myself about posting a series of project articles in hopes of assisting...