| 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]
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.
| NAME/TYPE | Length(ft/m) | First Built | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw 24 | 23.92' / 7.29m | 1957 | |
| Dolphin 24 | 24.16' / 7.36m | 1959 | |
| Nutmeg 24 | 24.50' / 7.47m | 1964 | |
| Hughes 24 | 24.50' / 7.47m | 1966 | |
| Lark 24 | 24.00' / 7.32m | 1966 | |
| Coaster 30 | 30.00' / 9.14m | 1966 | |
| Wanderer 30 | 30.25' / 9.22m | 1966 | |
| Pearson 24 | 23.50' / 7.16m | 1967 | |
| Renegade 27 | 27.17' / 8.28m | 1967 | |
| Pearson 22 | 22.25' / 6.78m | 1968 | |
| Pearson 35 | 35.00' / 10.67m | 1968 | |
| Grumman Flyer | 16.16' / 4.93m | 1968 | |
| Pearson 43 | 42.75' / 13.03m | 1969 | |
| Pearson 300 | 30.25' / 9.22m | 1969 | |
| Pearson 33 | 32.92' / 10.03m | 1969 | |
| Pearson 26 | 26.17' / 7.98m | 1970 | |
| Pearson 39 | 39.25' / 11.96m | 1970 | |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' / 9.08m | 1971 | |
| Pearson 390 | 39.00' / 11.89m | 1972 | |
| Pearson 36 | 36.52' / 11.13m | 1972 | |
| Pearson 10M | 33.04' / 10.07m | 1973 | |
| Pearson 28 | 28.00' / 8.53m | 1975 | |
| Pearson 419 | 41.75' / 12.73m | 1975 | |
| Pearson 26 Weekender | 26.17' / 7.98m | 1975 | |
| Pearson 323 | 32.25' / 9.83m | 1976 | |
| Pearson 365 Ketch | 36.42' / 11.10m | 1976 | |
| Pearson 365 | 36.42' / 11.10m | 1976 | |
| Pearson 31 | 31.00' / 9.45m | 1977 | |
| Pearson 26 One-Design | 26.17' / 7.98m | 1978 | |
| Pearson 36 Pilot House | 36.42' / 11.10m | 1978 | |
| Pearson 424 Cutter | 42.33' / 12.90m | 1978 | |
| Pearson 40 | 39.92' / 12.17m | 1979 | |
| Pearson 23 | 23.00' / 7.01m | 1979 | |
| Pearson 32 | 31.75' / 9.68m | 1979 | |
| Pearson 530 | 53.00' / 16.15m | 1981 | |
| Pearson 36 Cutter | 36.42' / 11.10m | 1981 | |
| Pearson 367 | 36.42' / 11.10m | 1981 | |
| Pearson 424 Ketch | 42.33' / 12.90m | 1981 | |
| Flyer | 29.92' / 9.12m | 1981 | |
| Pearson 37 | 36.92' / 11.25m | 1982 | |
| Pearson 422 | 42.16' / 12.85m | 1982 | |
| Pearson 23C | 23.00' / 7.01m | 1983 | |
| Pearson 303 | 30.29' / 9.23m | 1983 | |
| Pearson 34 | 33.78' / 10.30m | 1983 | |
| Pearson 385 | 38.25' / 11.66m | 1984 | |
| Pearson 386 | 38.25' / 11.66m | 1984 | |
| Pearson 36-2 | 36.50' / 11.13m | 1985 | |
| Pearson 33-2 | 32.50' / 9.91m | 1985 | |
| Pearson 28-2 | 28.46' / 8.67m | 1985 | |
| Pearson 39-2 | 39.25' / 11.96m | 1986 | |
| Pearson 31-2 | 30.67' / 9.35m | 1987 | |
| Pearson 37-2 | 37.42' / 11.41m | 1988 | |
| Pearson 27 | 26.92' / 8.21m | 1988 | |
| Pearson 34-2 | 34.50' / 10.52m | 1989 | |
| Pearson 38 | 37.50' / 11.43m | 1989 |