William Shaw (yacht designer) explained

William Shaw
Birth Name:William Harold Shaw
Birth Date:9 June 1926
Birth Place:Providence, RI
Education:United States Merchant Marine Academy, 1947
Employer:Sparkman & Stephens, Pearson Yachts
Known For:Design of fiberglass sailing yachts. Cadet midshipman, US Navy, World War II; recalled to active duty, Korean War
Spouse:Elizabeth "Beth" Thomson Shaw
Parents:Myrtie Morris Shaw, Harold Victor Shaw
Awards:The Isaac B. Merriman Award from the Barrington Yacht Club, the United States Merchant Marine Professional Achievement Award, the Charles F. Chapman Award for the marine industry

William Shaw (June 9, 1926 – August 20, 2006)[1] was an American-born yacht designer known for his long tenure at Pearson Yachts as their Chief Naval Architect.[2] [3]

Biography

Shaw was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1926 and graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, NY in 1947. He went on to serve in the US Navy during the Korean War.

After completing his tenure in the Navy, Bill was able to pursue his dream of yacht design. He joined the renowned firm of Sparkman & Stephens Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (S&S) in October 1952 as a designer. In 1961, he became a manager of Products of Asia, and was the chief designer of the America's Cup defender Columbia.[4]

Shaw joined Pearson Yachts in 1964 as Chief Architect, eventually running the entire Pearson Yachts Division of Grumman. During his tenure, he and his team designed over 50 different sailboats and power boats.[5] He spoke in 1999 with Steve Mitchell for Good Old Boat regarding his time at Pearson:

Tom Hazelhurst remarked, "Under Bill's tutelage, they built damn good boats. I'm not saying that because I was their advertising man, but because I bought two of their boats. The boats just don't break."

Shaw died of complications of Alzheimer's disease on August 20, 2006.[6] Shaw has had a lasting impact on the sailing community. The thousands of boats still sailing, some over 50 years old, are a testament to his design expertise. During his tenure at Pearson Yachts he received numerous awards, and Pearson became a world-renowned leader in the boatbuilding industry for quality fiberglass cruising and racing sailboats.

Sailboat designs

Designs
NAME/TYPELength(ft/m)First Built
Shaw 2423.92' / 7.29m1957
Dolphin 2424.16' / 7.36m1959
Nutmeg 2424.50' / 7.47m1964
Hughes 2424.50' / 7.47m1966
Lark 2424.00' / 7.32m1966
Coaster 3030.00' / 9.14m1966
Wanderer 3030.25' / 9.22m1966
Pearson 2423.50' / 7.16m1967
Renegade 2727.17' / 8.28m1967
Pearson 2222.25' / 6.78m1968
Pearson 3535.00' / 10.67m1968
Grumman Flyer16.16' / 4.93m1968
Pearson 4342.75' / 13.03m1969
Pearson 30030.25' / 9.22m1969
Pearson 3332.92' / 10.03m1969
Pearson 2626.17' / 7.98m1970
Pearson 3939.25' / 11.96m1970
Pearson 3029.79' / 9.08m1971
Pearson 39039.00' / 11.89m1972
Pearson 3636.52' / 11.13m1972
Pearson 10M33.04' / 10.07m1973
Pearson 2828.00' / 8.53m1975
Pearson 41941.75' / 12.73m1975
Pearson 26 Weekender26.17' / 7.98m1975
Pearson 32332.25' / 9.83m1976
Pearson 365 Ketch36.42' / 11.10m1976
Pearson 36536.42' / 11.10m1976
Pearson 3131.00' / 9.45m1977
Pearson 26 One-Design26.17' / 7.98m1978
Pearson 36 Pilot House36.42' / 11.10m1978
Pearson 424 Cutter42.33' / 12.90m1978
Pearson 4039.92' / 12.17m1979
Pearson 2323.00' / 7.01m1979
Pearson 3231.75' / 9.68m1979
Pearson 53053.00' / 16.15m1981
Pearson 36 Cutter36.42' / 11.10m1981
Pearson 36736.42' / 11.10m1981
Pearson 424 Ketch42.33' / 12.90m1981
Flyer29.92' / 9.12m1981
Pearson 3736.92' / 11.25m1982
Pearson 42242.16' / 12.85m1982
Pearson 23C23.00' / 7.01m1983
Pearson 30330.29' / 9.23m1983
Pearson 3433.78' / 10.30m1983
Pearson 38538.25' / 11.66m1984
Pearson 38638.25' / 11.66m1984
Pearson 36-236.50' / 11.13m1985
Pearson 33-232.50' / 9.91m1985
Pearson 28-228.46' / 8.67m1985
Pearson 39-239.25' / 11.96m1986
Pearson 31-230.67' / 9.35m1987
Pearson 37-237.42' / 11.41m1988
Pearson 2726.92' / 8.21m1988
Pearson 34-234.50' / 10.52m1989
Pearson 3837.50' / 11.43m1989

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William Shaw. Fold3. May 8, 2020.
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1967/01/15/archives/pearson-fleet-adds-4-fiberglass-boats.html New York Times
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/23/archives/pearson-oak-from-acorn-company-borrowed-money-to-get-boat-here-in.html New York Times
  4. Web site: Bill Shaw. Dolphin24.org – A Website For Dolphin Owners and Others Interested in this Classic Design. 2012-03-17.
  5. Web site: William Shaw 1926–2006. 5 June 2017. McArthur. Bruce . sailboatdata.com. 2021 . https://archive.today/20210313154758/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/shaw-william. 13 March 2021. live.
  6. Web site: Pearson designer Shaw dies at age 80. Soundings. en-us. November 24, 2006.