William Shaw (yacht designer)

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William Shaw
Born
William Harold Shaw

(1926-06-09)June 9, 1926
DiedAugust 20, 2006(2006-08-20) (aged 80)
EducationUnited States Merchant Marine Academy, 1947
Employer(s)Sparkman & Stephens, Pearson Yachts
Known forDesign of fiberglass sailing yachts. Cadet midshipman, US Navy, World War II; recalled to active duty, Korean War
SpouseElizabeth "Beth" Thomson Shaw
Parent(s)Myrtie Morris Shaw, Harold Victor Shaw
AwardsThe 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[edit]

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:

We put together a great team, and Grumman was great to work for. They were very supportive in getting us the best equipment and machinery. We had computers to help us cut out materials. They also expanded the Portsmouth facility later on so that we could build bigger boats.[6]

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."[6]

Shaw died of complications of Alzheimer's disease on August 20, 2006.[7] 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.[citation needed]

Sailboat designs[edit]

Designs[5]
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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "William Shaw". Fold3. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  2. ^ New York Times Jan 15, 1967
  3. ^ New York Times Jan 23, 1970
  4. ^ "Bill Shaw". Dolphin24.org – A Website For Dolphin Owners and Others Interested in this Classic Design. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  5. ^ a b McArthur, Bruce (2021). "William Shaw 1926–2006". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b Mitchell, Steve (December 1999). "Starting in a Garage, Cousins Clinton and Everett Pearson Initiated an Era in Yachting History". www.goodoldboat.com. Good Old Boat.
  7. ^ "Pearson designer Shaw dies at age 80". Soundings. November 24, 2006.

External links[edit]

  • "Bill Shaw". Dolphin24.org – A Website For Dolphin Owners and Others Interested in this Classic Design. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  • "Pearson 424 Owners". Pearson424.org – A Website For Pearson 424 Owners. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  • "Pearson Yachts Owners". pearsonyachts.org – A Portal For Pearson Owners. Retrieved 2019-01-07.