[1][5] The design was built by Pearson Yachts of Bristol, Rhode Island and later by Ensign Spars of Dunedin, Florida, both in the United States.

The Electra design was a commission by Pearson Yachts in 1959 to produce a Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) racer.

Pearson's dealers thought that customers would prefer a design with a bigger cockpit and less space below decks for use in one-design racing and day sailing.

Alberg designed the Ensign using the same hull, but with the mast moved 6 in (15 cm) forward, a larger mainsail and smaller fore-triangle.

[1] The resulting design was initially called the Electra Day Sailor and 219 examples were sold in 1962, the first year of production.

It has a fractional sloop rig, a spooned raked stem, a raised reverse transom, a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed long keel.

[4] The boat has a draft of 3.00 ft (0.91 m) with the standard long keel and is normally fitted with a small 3 to 5 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.

[4] In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "The Ensign is a daysailer-overnighter and one-design racing version of the Pearson Electra cruiser ...

With an optional toilet, cushions for the bunks, and perhaps air mattresses for extra sleeping space in the cockpit under a boom tent if desired, she can be made into a plain-jane but reasonably comfortable weekender.

But a funny thing tends to happen when sailors stop to take a closer look at this long lived one-design racer and family daysailer.