The history of Pearson Yachts is a story of innovation, success, and decline in the sailboat industry. Here are some key points: Pearson Yachts was founded by cousins Everett and Clinton Pearson in 1956, who started building fibreglass dinghies in their garage in Seekonk, Massachusetts. They were among the first fibreglass sailboat manufacturers in the world; In 1959, they launched the Triton 28, a fibreglass auxiliary sailboat designed by Carl Alberg, at the New York Boat Show. The boat was a hit and they received 17 orders by the end of the show. They moved their production to Bristol, Rhode Island, and introduced more models, mostly designed by Alberg; In 1961, they sold a controlling interest to Grumman Allied Industries, a large aerospace and defence company. Bill Shaw became the chief designer when the Pearson cousins left the company in the 1960s. He created many successful boats for Pearson, such as the Pearson 40, the Pearson 424, and the Pearson 303; In the 1980s, Pearson faced financial difficulties and changed ownership several times. In 1991, they filed for bankruptcy and ceased production. The rights to the name were acquired by TPI Composites, which later became Pearson Marine Group.