ericson 26 2 sailboat review

Best Ericson Sailboats: A Complete Guide

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Sailboats that stand the test of time are often classics and loved by many sailors. One example is looking for the best Ericson sailboats, dating back to 1964.

Ericson had an up and down history but still managed to produce quality boats. So which ones were the best out of their lineup before their demise?

Out of the thousands of sailboats this company put together, there are a handful that stand out. The best Ericson sailboats consisted of the 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36C, E38, and 46 models. Each boat has a unique size and design, making them quite different from other brands at that time.

By 1999, the Ericson brand had been through enough over the years in terms of bankruptcy, ownership changes, and not keeping up with market demand by improving their boats. After poor sales that year, they decided to close shop for good, but still had plenty of produced sailboats to carry on the name.

According to experts in the sailing industry, Ericson sailboats were ahead of their time in the early 1970’s. They were a pioneer in the sailboat realm and built many classics that you can find for an affordable price today.

Table of contents

‍ Top 10 Ericson Sailboats

Through much debate, many sailors argue about which Ericson sailboat is the best. Many will claim a variety of factors influence trying to buy one today, such as price, condition, and size.

Depending on what suits your style of sailing and how you intend to use the boat will likely affect your decision on what is best. For Ericson, there are plenty of sizes and models to choose from.

1. Ericson 26

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The 26 model offered a good size for sailors having a small crew or operating shorthanded with a fractional sloop. This one is just shy of 26 feet long and has about a five-foot draft. These were designed perfectly for day sailing or light cruising.

Bruce King helped develop this one, which turned out to be a stiff and fairly fast boat. Since it has self-tailing winches, and furling headsails, and you can control the mainsheet from the cockpit, it is easy to operate.

2. Ericson 27

{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-27"}}

The Ericson 27 debuted in 1971 with a displacement of 6,600 pounds and plenty of stability in the masthead sloop. The boat is roughly 27 feet long and sits about four feet in the water.

Many love this design since it navigated through choppy waters and responded to wind changes well. In addition, it can also sleep five comfortably.

There is enough sailing area to handle just about any condition and it is great for coastal cruising. If you have difficulty finding a crew or only want to be by yourself, this one makes it easy to handle all alone.

3. Ericson 29

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Another masthead sloop rig type, the Ericson 29 is about 29 feet long with a draft of 4.33 feet. This one reached popularity among those that wanted to enjoy cruising and doing it at night.

There are sleeping accommodations for up to five people and plenty of room to move around. This design was similar to other popular models they produced, but not as easy to operate by yourself like the other shorter models.

4. Ericson 30

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The Ericson 30 has an appeal like no other model in their lineup. They tweaked this design for about 10 years, making it one of the longer models they have played with.

It is nearly 30 feet long, has a fractional sloop, and sits nearly six feet in the water. It offers plenty of room to sleep five people and live aboard.

This is a great size to live on and learn about your boat without being too overwhelmed if you are new to that lifestyle. This one has become popular with sailors wanting to try that out.

5. Ericson 32

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There were multiple designs of the Ericson 32 , with two of the most popular ones being designed by Bruce King in 1969 and 1985. The one in 1969 had a lot more problems, but they are both classics at 32 feet in length and a six-foot draft.

The later model was built for four years and they produced 700 of them. You will likely see many Ericson 32s with another number associated with it due to different features like the keel type or the optional tail rig.

Both the older and newer models of the 32s are attractive boats. If you are wanting the better of the two in terms of look, handle, and speed, you cannot go wrong with the latter model.

6. Ericson 34

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The 34 footer installment was a good design with high-quality construction. This masthead sloop was nearly 35 feet and just over six feet of draft.

Depending on the year these were built, the exterior did not change that much in comparison to the interior. Out of all the boats that Ericson produced, they were most proud of the molding structure they used on this one.

The deck used a balsa core and had a plywood backing under the deck fittings to offer extra support. With the fiberglass hull, it provided one of the sturdiest options without compromising performance.

7. Ericson 35

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The Ericson 35 was similar to the 34, with some slight differences. This one is nearly 36 feet and sits around 6.17 feet in the water.

This one was a good cruiser, with some models meant for casual sailing. It handled offshore sailing very well and had the classic look.

The interior made this boat easy to live on and accommodate over five people. Whether you are racing or living on it, this boat could do it all.

8. Ericson 36C

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The 36C was another beauty offered by Ericson, coming in at 36 feet and a five foot draft. This cutter rig is a great size, but you can still operate shorthanded if you do not have enough people on board.

This boat can do it all with coastal cruising, day sailing, and living full time on it. With its fiberglass hull, it is one of the lighter boats for its size. You could even race this if you wanted.

9. Ericson E38

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If you are looking for a larger Ericson boat, you cannot go wrong with the E38 . At nearly 38 feet long and 6.5 feet in the water, it offers the best of both worlds for living space and is easy to handle.

With the masthead sloop, you can expect top performance while cruising. This is another quality build that you can live aboard too.

10. Ericson 46

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The largest boat that Ericson put together was the 46 , coming in just shy of 46 feet and about a seven-foot draft. With another masthead sloop design, you can rest assured the performance will be there.

There were actually two versions, one that is a racer and one that is a cruiser. Over a three-year period, only 20 of these were built. Depending on which one you find, there will be slight adjustments to the performance package.

Why Erickson Boats Are Popular

A lot of nautical miles have been made on Ericson boats over the years and for a good reason. They were quality boats that had a classic look, easy to handle, and were affordable.

Back in 1965, these were primarily cruising sailboats that later adapted to a hybrid of a family-oriented cruiser. Other models specifically included fin keels, excellent bustle, and spade rudders for better performance.

You will definitely find better modern boats that have more luxury, speed, and performance compared to something that was built in the 60s to the 80s. But for the price and nostalgia, it is hard to pass up a classic like Ericson.

What to Look for in Used Ericson Boats

As with any used boat, you need to thoroughly inspect it before trying to purchase one. This means going over the sails, mast, deck, engines, and anything else that catches your eye.

Potential Cracking

There have been some reports of very early models having cracks in the deck or mast. It is hard to blame them, since many boat designs have come a long way from over 40 years of being in the water. While very few have those reports, it is worth having it inspected by a professional before buying one.

Be Happy to Walk Away

Before committing to one, make sure that you know all of the histories before buying one. This will help you tremendously before you fall in love with its beauty.

Walking away and thinking it over for a few days can greatly help your buying process. You never know how urgent a seller might be, so you might end up getting a better deal on the price if you do decide to buy it after walking away.

Why an Ericson Sailboat Could Work for You

Ericson sailboats were unique luxury yachts that were built for speed. In addition, they had enough luxury on the inside that you could spend days or live on them for a period of time.

You typically can find one for a good price, which is why they are popular compared to other boats. With similar comparisons to other top-of-the-line sailboats, they make for a competitive option.

Luxury and Price

For those that want to buy an Ericson, they are all about luxury and performance for a good price . Since most models are over 40 years old, they are reasonably priced.

Depending on the size and model, almost all of the Ericson sailboats can be found within any budget. If you have experience fixing up boats, an Ericson can be worth its weight in gold.

Living Space

Customers that typically want an Ericson enjoy the amount of living space that it offers. On top of that, it provides the speed of comparable racers or cruisers that you will find today.

If you want a boat that allows you to live on to your own standards or race as you like, Ericson boats are the way to go. They offer the perfect blend of performance and comfort.

Stiff Builds

Ericson sailboats were strongly built and have a stiff feel to them. If a stiff boat is something you are after, the Ericson models are a good fit.

This means they have a different feel when sailing. If you were to buy one, it might take some getting used to if you have only handled newer boats.

Since Ericson boats have limited builds for each year that they were produced, you likely will not see them that often. They offer a nostalgic and classic look that only a few boats provide.

This creates a sense of urgency when buying. It is important to proceed with caution and check out the boat properly before you decide to jump on one.

The Rise and Fall of Ericson

Ericson was founded in 1963 and had a few molds to base designs of boats on to get started. After about a year and a half of poor production, they filed for bankruptcy since they were not hitting the mark with customers on their designs.

They were purchased in 1965 by Mark Pitman and Del Walton, who also hired Bruce King to begin designing their lineups. King is responsible for many of the best boats offered by Ericson, who even fine tuned some of his own creations a few years later.

Later in 1968, Pacific American Industries bought out Ericson and continued to produce similar models. CML group later purchased the brand and operated from 1971 to 1984.

Pacific Seacraft later bought the molds for various models, like Ericson 34 and 38 to move on with production. The brand continued to move forward with the same old designs without many changes.

Since the brand never pushed to market its products and management was lazy in trying to think of what the market wanted, sales dipped in the late 1990s. They never went boating shows or much of anything to promote their lineup. This caused Ericson to shut down for good.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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ERICSON 26-2 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of ERICSON 26-2. Built by Ericson Yachts (USA) and designed by Bruce King, the boat was first built in 1972. It has a hull type of Fin w/spade rudder and LOA is 7.85. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.32. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Westerbeke, runs on Diesel.

ERICSON 26-2 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about ERICSON 26-2 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the ericson 26-2.

ERICSON 26-2 was designed by Bruce King.

Who builds ERICSON 26-2?

ERICSON 26-2 is built by Ericson Yachts (USA).

When was ERICSON 26-2 first built?

ERICSON 26-2 was first built in 1972.

How long is ERICSON 26-2?

ERICSON 26-2 is 6.68 m in length.

What is mast height on ERICSON 26-2?

ERICSON 26-2 has a mast height of 9.6 m.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

Ericson 26 2

The ericson 26 2 is a 25.75ft fractional sloop designed by bruce king and built in fiberglass by ericson yachts (usa) since 1972..

The Ericson 26 2 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat. The fuel capacity is originally very small. There is a very short water supply range.

Ericson 26 2 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Review of Ericson 26

Basic specs..

The Ericson 26 is equipped with a finn keel. A boat with a fin keel is more manoeuvrable but has less directional stability than a similar boat with a long keel.

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

The boat can enter even shallow marinas as the draft is just about 1.31 - 1.41 meter (4.30 - 4.60 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

An outboard motor is often used on this boat. In that case the boat will typically require a power of 4 - 5 hp, alternatively 88 - 106 lbs thrust if you prefer an electrical motor. Electric outboards are becoming popular for sailboat owners who want clean instant power with less noise and no exhaust fumes.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Ericson 26 is 1.89, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Ericson 26 is about 103 kg/cm, alternatively 578 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 103 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 578 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 18m 2 (193 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Ericson 26 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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Remarkably roomy for such a small boat, the 25 is well finishedand offers enough performance for racing.

Just a few years ago, the prospective buyer of a 25′ sailboat knew that some serious compromises awaited him. His 25-footer would probably have little more than sitting headroom, might have four shelves that could reasonably be called berths, and probably had a head stowed under the forward berth. The galley? With luck, a two-burner alcohol stove, maybe a sink, and a water tank holding ten gallons.

Auxiliary power? Usually a 6 hp outboard hanging off the stern or in a well in the lazarette.

With today’s economy, more and more people who once might have considered a 30-footer are downscaling their size expectations to something more realistic, perhaps a 25- or 27-footer. While they may downgrade their expectations in terms of the length of their boats, they have not downgraded their expectations in terms of the size boat they want. This is not the contradiction it may seem. The fact is that there are a number of boats less than 27′ in overall length that offer room and features akin to those offered in older 30′ boats.

For better or worse, economic reality has forced many of us to downsize our boat expectations in much the way we downsized our automobile expectations.

Then came a new generation of small cruising auxiliaries. The modern 25′ “family” sailboat has 6′ headroom, berths for a family of five—if privacy isn’t a high priority—enclosed head, and perhaps an inboard diesel engine. A regular miniature yacht.

The Ericson 25+ is a good example. The proof of the popularity of this concept shows in the numbers. Over 660 units were built in the first three years after the Ericson 25+ was introduced in late 1978.

Designer Bruce King had a long and successful relationship with Ericson Yachts, starting with the Ericson 23, 30, 32, and 41 of the late 1960s. He has not been exclusively an Ericson “house” designer—witness the magnificent Herreshoff-inspired 90′ ketch Whitehawk to his design—but the vast majority of Ericson boats came from his board.

Bruce King and Ericson found a formula not unlike that of Bill Shaw and Pearson: build a wide range of boats of similar type in two to three foot increments, develop customer loyalty, and watch the customers move up through the ranks. Keep the really popular models, such as the Pearson 35 or the Ericson 35, and bring out other models every few years to catch the latest trend. That formula worked whether you were on the East Coast or the West, and like Pearson, Ericson had the formula down pat.

With the exception of a few forays into the cruising market with the clipper-bowed Cruising 31 and the Cruising 38 (later to be called Independence), the Ericson formula produced a well finished cruiserracer with good sailing characteristics. The Ericson 25+ was part of this successful formula.

Construction

The hull of the Ericson 25+ is a solid hand layup. A molded fiberglass body pan is glassed to the inside of the hull, functioning as the base for much of the interior furniture and adding a certain amount of rigidity to the hull. The deck, cockpit, and cabin trunk molding is balsa cored, with plywood replacing the balsa in high stress areas such as under the deck-stepped mast and where deck hardware is mounted.

Exterior glasswork is of good quality, with little roving printthrough, Gelcoat work is good.

The hull-to-deck joint depends on a secondary chemical bond. Both the hull and deck have an external molded flange. Glass-reinforced polyester resin is used as a bedding compound between these flanges. The inside of this joint is then lapped with four layers of fiberglass mat and cloth. This joint is covered on the outside by a plastic extrusion with a soft plastic insert which functions as a rub rail. We prefer a mechanically fastened hull-to-deck joint, because the strength of secondary chemical bonds is very difficult to evaluate.

The deck of the 25+ has a remarkably solid feel thanks to its cored construction. Neither the deck, cockpit, nor cabin top had any of the sponginess frequently associated with small boats.

Deck hardware of the 25+ is well mounted. Stanchions, pulpits, cleats, and winches have adequate aluminum bearing plates. The tiller head is a substantial chrome-plated bronze casting, The transom is plywood cored, greatly adding to its rigidity.

The mast of the 25+ is a black, deck-stepped extrusion. The stainless steel mast step looks surprisingly fragile. Because the mast is designed to be owner-stepped if desired, the forward lower half of the base of the mast is cut away to allow the mast to pivot forward for lowering. We doubt if there are many owners who will step their own masts. The design of the mast step to facilitate raising and lowering has greatly reduced the bearing surface of the heel of the mast.

In contrast to the mast step, the shroud chainplates are of surprisingly heavy construction. The 25+ utilizes Navtec chainplates, shroud terminals, and turnbuckles. Chainplates are strongly tied to the hull.

All through hull fittings below the waterline have Zytel valves, a reinforced plastic. Most have double-clamped hoses, but the icebox drain hose has a single clamp. Although modern plastics are strong, we suggest that you carefully inventory through hull fittings, as they are a major culprit in many sinkings of otherwise undamaged boats. Plastic valves may be immune to electrolysis, but they cannot be forgotten any more than bronze seacocks can be ignored.

Handling Under Sail

Despite the chubbiness of the 25+, owners report that she is a fast boat under sail. There are a number of features that contribute to this speed, She has minimum wetted surface, despite a displacement that is average for her overall length, though fairly light for a waterline length of almost 22′.

The Ericson 25+, 28+, and 30+ all feature Bruce King’s trademark, the “delta” fin keel. King states that this keel form has very low induced drag, and the 25’s performance reinforces his belief. The optional shoal draft keel reduces draft a foot, reduces lateral plane, and no doubt reduces windward ability, Unless you are bound and determined to have a boat drawing under four feet, by all means get the deeper draft version.

The rig of the 25+ is a high aspect ratio 7/8 sloop rig. The mainsail hoist of 31.5′ is unusual for a 25′ boat. In light air, tall rigs are usually faster, and we would expect the boat’s best point of sail to be upwind in light air. Since a great deal of the sailing in the world seems to be upwind in light air, this approach to the rig is a rational one.

With the addition of a backstay adjuster—easy because of the split backstay—it is possible to induce a reasonable amount of mast bend to control sail shape. A full width mainsheet traveler mounted on the cockpit bridgedeck greatly enhances mainsail control.

Shroud chainplates are set well inboard, allowing narrow headsail sheeting angles. The genoa track is also located inboard, almost against the cabin side.

There is no main boom topping lift, We think this is pretty indefensible on a cruising boat, and despite the additional windage, a topping lift is greatly to be desired on a racing boat. Without a topping lift, reefing becomes a real exercise in agility. Dropping the mainsail is greatly complicated, especially when cruising shorthanded. Should the main halyard break when sailing close hauled, the main boom could brain anyone sitting on the leeward side of the cockpit.

Two-speed Barient headsail sheet winches were standard in later boats. There is room on the cockpit coamings both for the addition of secondary winches for spinnaker handling and the replacement of the standard winches with larger ones. A single halyard winch is mounted on the mast, There is no main halyard winch. We would choose the optional aftleading halyards to facilitate shorthanded cruising.

The 25+ should sail with almost any other production cruiser-racer of her size. Her wide beam and deep draft should offset the additional heeling moment of the tall rig. Like all wide modern boats she should be sailed on her feet. Get the crew weight out on the weather rail in a breeze, and she should carry sail well.

Handling Under Power

There were probably more power options for the 25+ than any similar-sized boat on the market. They included: outboard power, OMC gas saildrive, Volvo diesel saildrive, and Yanmar diesel inboard.

The 25+ is small enough to be driven fairly well by a 10-hp outboard. There was about a $3,500 difference in equipping the boat with an outboard engine versus the diesel inboard. The choice depended largely on how the boat was to be used. Few boats of this size are used for long-distance cruising. For daysailing and racing, an outboard engine is more than adequate.

If extended coastal cruising is to be the boat’s primary activity, then one of the inboard options should be considered. Frankly, we have little love for saildrive installations. If you really want an inboard engine, the Yanmar single cylinder inboard diesel is the real choice. No matter which engine is in the boat, it is equipped with a 20-gallon aluminum fuel tank.

With a one-cylinder diesel engine, given a fourknot cruising speed and fuel consumption of about 1/4 gallon per hour, the range under power is almost 350 miles—a truly astounding range for a 25′ boat, That’s probably more range under power than the average boat is likely to need for an entire season.

Deck Layout

With shroud chainplates set well inboard, and a reasonably narrow cabin trunk, working on the deck of the 25+ is fairly easy. There is adequate room between the shrouds and the lifelines to walk outboard of the shrouds with ease.

There is a small foredeck anchor well, adequate for the stowage of a single Danforth and rode. There are no bow chocks, but there are two cleats located forward at the outboard edge of the deck.

Molded-in nonskid of a color contrasting to the primary deck color was standard on the Ericson. This relieves eyestrain in bright sunlight and reduces the basically austere external appearance of the boat.

The cockpit of the 25+ is comfortable. Coamings are angled outward rather than being vertical, allowing a more natural sitting posture. As in most tiller-steered boats, the sweep of the tiller occupies a large percentage of the cockpit volume. In port, the tiller swings up and out of the way, providing un-crowded seating for up to six adults.

A single cockpit scupper 1—1/ 2″ in diameter is recessed in a well at the back of the cockpit. The well allows water to drain on either tack. A stainless steel strainer over the scupper reduces its effective area by over 50%. Since the drain size is large enough to pass on through almost any debris that is likely to be found in the cockpit, we would remove the strainer for sailing. A single 1-1/2″ diameter scupper has more cross sectional area than two 1″ drains, and is less likely to clog.

There are two cockpit lockers. The starboard cockpit locker is a shallow pan suitable for storing small items such as winch handles and sail ties. At its after corner is a deeper bin which could make a handy icebox for cold drinks. The port locker is a large, deep affair which unfortunately suffers from the common failing of not being adequately separated from the under-cockpit area, A snap-in Dacron bag would convert this locker to reasonable sail stowage.

The companionway uses thick, well-made solid teak dropboards with proper step joints to prevent spray from working below, Unfortunately, the very strong taper to the companionway slides allows them to be removed by lifting less than an inch. For sailing in rough water, a positive means of securing these slides—a sliding bolt, for example—must be installed.

It is gratifying to see a real bridgedeck in a boat this size. Except for the strong taper to the companionway sides, this is one of the best designed cockpits we have seen in a small boat.

The amount of interior volume in the 25+ is truly remarkable. The boat easily has the headroom and elbow room of most older 30-footers.

The forepeak contains the usual V-berth with a filler to form a nominal double. We truly mean nominal. Two normal-sized people simply do not fit in the forward berth of the Ericson 25+. Consider it a large single instead, or a double for two children. Water and holding tanks occupy the space under the berth.

The 25+ has a genuine enclosed, standup head, an almost unheard of luxury in a boat this size. The head has an opening port for ventilation. There are two small lockers in the head, but both are largely occupied by plumbing hoses.

Opposite the head is a small hanging locker. This locker is fully lined with teak plywood, a nice finishing touch.

It is in the main cabin that the 25+ really shines. Headroom is an honest 6′. Two comfortable settee berths seat 6 in comfort, A fold-down drop-leaf table is big enough to serve 4, and is one of the sturdier tables of this type that we have seen.

The main cabin of the 25+ is well finished with a combination of off-white fiberglass and teak. This is a very successful decorating job, without so much teak as to turn the interior into a cave but with enough to give a well finished appearance. A ceiling of teak strips became standard later on in the production run, and the cabin trunk sides are veneered in teak. A teak and holly cabin sole came standard, with two access hatches to the bilge.

There is a real bilge, unusual in a boat of this size. The strainer for the cockpit-mounted Whale Gusher pump is accessible through a cabin sole hatch.

Under the settee on each side of the cabin there are storage bins. These make use of molded polyethylene drop-in liners, a most practical solution which recognizes the reality that under-seat storage is rarely, if ever, completely dry. An optional extension to the starboard settee converts it to a double berth, but at the expense of easy access to the storage bins underneath.

The galley is surprisingly complete for a 25′ boat. There is a well-insulated icebox of five cubic foot capacity. The insulation is exposed in the port cockpit locker, and will be vulnerable to damage from items stowed there. It could easily be sealed off with either plywood or fiberglass to protect it. The icebox lid is an uninsulated molding advertised as a removable serving tray. If it is used as a serving tray, then the icebox is uncovered, allowing the ice to melt. Whoever thought up that bright idea should go back to the drawing board or look around for some common sense.

For some reason, icebox lids are one of the poorest design features of most sailboats, It’s quite remarkable on boats with otherwise thoughtful design and construction to see poor icebox design. Perhaps there is collusion between the Union of Icebox Designers and the Association of Manufacturers of Ice to maximize the consumption of ice aboard sailboats.

There are storage lockers both above and below the icebox-stove counter. The stove is a recessed Kenyon two-burner alcohol unit with a cutting block cover, These stoves have the fuel fill located between the two burners, and we feel they are a poor choice for use aboard a boat. The burners must be absolutely cool before the fuel tank is filled to eliminate the possibility of explosion or fire.

It is not necessary to step on the galley counter when coming down the companionway. This is a real plus. Footprints on the counters have never appealed to us.

A human-sized quarterberth is a welcome feature. With adequate headroom over, it eliminates the coffinlike aura of so many small-boat quarterberths, and is without a doubt the roomiest, most comfortable berth on the boat.

With an outboard engine, the room under the cockpit that would normally house an inboard is given over to storage. The tiny one-cylinder Yanmar diesel would easily shoehorn into the same space.

Without a doubt, the interior of the Ericson 25+ is a real accomplishment, It is well finished, generally well designed, and remarkably roomy for a boat of this overall length. There is some miniaturization of components, such as the galley sink, head sink, and hanging locker. Nonetheless, she’s a big little boat, and would be truly comfortable for extended coastal cruising for a couple. That is something that can rarely be said for a 25′ boat.

Conclusions

Ericson came very close to achieving their goals in the 25+. She is about as much boat as can be crammed into this overall length.

An interesting option is an E-Z Loader trailer. With a beam of over 9′ and a weight of 5,000 pounds, the 25+ is no trailer sailer. It takes a large, powerful car or truck to tow a boat of this size, and the beam could present legal problems in some states. The trailer would be most useful for taking the boat home for winter storage, rather than frequent over-the-road transport.

Workmanship and finish detail are generally of good stock boat quality. Exposed joiner work is good. Fillet bonding varies from good to only fair, with glasswork generally good.

The Ericson 25+ is a good small cruiser for a young family, and offers enough sailing performance to be a reasonable choice for club racing.

Unlike many small cruiser-racers which concentrate on interior volume and forsake sailing ability, the 25+ really will sail. This means that the new sailor will not quickly outgrow her as he or she learns what makes a boat go fast. With good hardware such as Barient and Navtec and a fairly high degree of finish detail, it is easy to see why the boat fetches the prices it does.

For those used to less-expensive 25-footers, the cost will be a shock. It helps a little to think of her as a 28-footer with the stern cut off.

With an inboard diesel, a good light air rig, and lots of interior volume, she’s a good little cruising boat for a couple. A maximum boat for minimum length, she’s a modern solution to skyrocketing costs of sailing. At maximum price for her length when new, she’s not an example of “more for less,” but then, there’s no free lunch in the sailboat market. That’s for sure.

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Ericson 32 Capabilities

• Thread starter Mike Smothers
• Start date May 27, 2020
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Mike Smothers

I was just gifted an Ericson 32 from a great friend who is having some health issues. My question for everyone (having little to no knowledge of sailing) is, what are the capabilities of my new boat. I would love to hear if anyone has cruised this boat, lived aboard, or even made a major passage in an Ericson 32. I’m starting from scratch so any information would help. Thanks! - Mike  

Christian Williams

Ericson 32 - Practical Sailor

You'll find very excellent and specific information on this boat (and on all things Ericson) on the ericsonyachts.org site.  

Sorry for not specifying it is a 1973 Ericson 32  

JK_Boston_Catalina310

It's not the boat, it's the crew. Most boats can withstand more than the crew. With any used boat the condition she is kept in is more important than the stickers on the side. Use this forum to learn how to maintain the boat. Read about heavy weather sailing and take the boat out in good conditions and practice.  

The keel shape of the early Ericsons was kind of a blend of a fin keel and a full keel. It looks like they just cut away the aft section of a full keel. The result some have said is that it doesn't get the ballast down low and it isn't a foil. So two of the important criteria for a keel weren't met. The PS article says something similar in the 9th paragraph. On the other hand some of the comments praise the boats upwind performance. One even saying it sails faster upwind the downwind. Is that praise? I'm not sure. Webb Chiles made an ocean passage in a production Ericson 37 - a major understatement. He sailed around the world passing the 3 great capes. The boat was falling apart by Australia but he completed the voyage. He was way overtaxing the boat. It wasn't built for that. You don't want a boat to oil can far from shore. It's a coastal cruiser at heart.  

shemandr said: Webb Chiles made an ocean passage in a production Ericson 37 - a major understatement. He sailed around the world passing the 3 great capes. The boat was falling apart by Australia but he completed the voyage. He was way overtaxing the boat. It wasn't built for that. You don't want a boat to oil can far from shore. It's a coastal cruiser at heart. Click to expand

Look for his interview in Small Craft Advisor issue 122. It's very revealing. Interesting man.  

Stu Jackson

Alan Gomes said: ericsonyachts.org site Click to expand

rgranger said: Here are some calculations related to your boat View attachment 179866 And here is what they mean... View attachment 179867 So your boat is reasonably canvased and should perform well under sail... i.e. faster than some boat in the 32 range...but her S# is less than 2 so that says just the opposite... YMMV. Her ballast ratio is above 40 so stiff (stiff is good). Displacement to length ratio is high so also good. Comfort ratio puts her in the coastal cruiser range... which means you could cross an ocean but you would be less comfortable than in some other boats. Her capsize screening ratio is below 2 so a relatively safe boat in harsh conditions. All in all, I'd say you have a safe heavy cruiser that will sail as well as the next boat. Enjoy Click to expand

Thank you guys for all the info! This helps a lot.  

Mike Smothers said: Excuse my very amateur questions but, do you think the S# is under two because of the atomic 4 engine? It’s a gas engine which tells me it wouldn’t have as much power as a diesel motor. Click to expand

JK_Boston_Catalina310 said: It's not the boat, it's the crew. Most boats can withstand more than the crew. Click to expand

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Thoughts on the Ericson 28

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So I'm looking at an Ericson 28 that's available through a private party. It's fairly cheap, (under $7,000) but that can be a good thing or a bad thing. My current boat is a 22' swing keel. I'm looking for an upgrade that can last for a few years before we go bigger. I'm having a hard time getting any good information on them. This is the 28, not the + version. My usage is going to be just cruising, no racing. My future plans are along the Washington and Oregon coast, and then to Hawaii and Alaska. It will be myself and my gal. We'll spend a fair amount of time overnighting on it and hopefully a week or two aboard before we take it for a longer trip. I've really had my eye on an Islander 28 (Perry), but they're about twice the price. So what's the verdict? Is the Ericson 28 a decent boat for my goals? Any specific things I should look out for that are known problem areas on it? I'm already taking a copy of the boat inspection trip tips with me before I go look at it.  

My first keelboat, “Island Magic” was a 28 Islander. The Ericson 28 and Tartan 27, were the other two I looked at. Very comparable the Ericksons are well made and spacious for the size. All three sail adequately. As stated it is a good boat to learn on and begin a cruising experience. I would consider it coastal however all three are underpowered for the currents in the areas you mentioned . Good luck. Buy the one in the best shape.  

Well, I went and looked at it. It's an Ericson 28+, not the standard 28, so it's fractional. But it doesn't have a backstay adjustment, which is odd. One of the things I've heard is that it's a slow boat, and as chef said, underpowered. It's really wide inside! I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. There's about 5 feet of space between the settee cushions. It feels huge inside. That's a good thing for the most part, but what about underway in rough water? Pros: Within the last year, new bottom paint, zincs, water and fuel tanks, prop, cutlass bearing. Deck seems solid everywhere and in really good shape. There's just about no crazing of the gelcoat anywhere. I didn't take a moisture meter, so I'm just checking the boat out prior to spending any money getting a moisture meter or a survey. All the hardware was supposedly rebedded recently. Mainsail seems really crisp. The interior has all the headliner and hull liner pulled off, so at least I could see all the wood and glass. I couldn't see any places where there had been any leaks. The bilge had about an inch of water in it. Cons: The headliner has been taken out, and the liner along the hull. He said the head will back up a bit, but not overflow. I'm not sure what that means?? Anyone familiar with that? There's only two sails, the main and a 150% furling genoa. Nothing setup for a spinnaker. Barient winches. So parts will be hard to find. Cushions need to be redone. The batteries were pretty well drained as his wife had accidentally turned off the charger, so he couldn't get the motor to start. He said it has been repowered, but he didn't know much about it. He said the motor runs really well. From crawling under it, the motor seemed clean. No grease or oil around it, no oil or slime in the bilge. It's freshwater cooled. I looked at the rudder post, and couldn't see anything wrong with it, but I didn't check it thoroughly. I forgot to check the keelbolts, I did look in the bilge, but I didn't see any bolts and didn't think to look for them. Obviously this is just a preliminary checkup, I'll need to go through it more thoroughly and take it out on the water if I decide it's worth pursuing. Thoughts?  

so far, so good. If the winches turn, then not much to worry about. Barient's are pretty much bulletproof. You can clean and oil them. Backstay adjustment wasn't a standard thing on boats of that type and year. The toilet probably just needs a joker valve or maybe a rebuild kit. Boat toilets are always a touchy thing - you just learn to deal with them and they don't really break the bank.  

Thanks for the info. I'm leaning a little more towards getting it. Here's all the pictures I have. One of the slightly concerning things is that they moved the main traveler up over the companionway. This puts the sheets pretty far out of reach, and I'm not sure how strong that bracket is. It seems like a lot of leverage working on it in a blow. Am I being paranoid?  

Attachments

More pics. Also, they weren't able to get that B&G Network quad to turn on. Not sure if that's fixable, or how expensive it is going to be to replace. He said all the transducers were replaced this within the last year or two.  

And the last pictures.  

I'm pretty sure that it has encapsulated ballast - I've never seen an Ericson that didn't. They don't have keel bolts. Price seems average at best to me, at least around here in SoCal that would be slightly high in that condition.  

Lazerbrains said: I'm pretty sure that it has encapsulated ballast - I've never seen an Ericson that didn't. They don't have keel bolts. Click to expand...

Personally, I like mid boom sheeting. On my previous boat, I had mainsheets to the stern, and had maybe an irrational fear of having a sheet line get wrapped around my neck. If it wasn't original, I would look into it more.  

It's not original, which is where my concern is from. In the pictures of the cockpit you can see an empty slot where the mainsheet traveler track used to be right in front of the companionway. So it was previously somewhat of a midboom, but they moved it a little further to the mast. I can actually understand moving it. I'm just concerned about that frame they made to hold the traveler. With it being an upside down U it seems like there would be a lot of leverage on the two attachment points on the end if there were some big winds.  

Chainplates both above and below deck What do the backing plates look like under the traveler. Mines on the coach roof but not as elevated. Garhauer makes an elevated system though Lifelines are all sagging. Interior doesn’t look well cared for in terms of upkeep of the teak/ cherry. Not a hard thing to do so how does the other maintainence look...bilge? Is this keel stepped or deck stepped. If keel step could explain water. If not how is there water in the bilge.  

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985/ericson-28-3511184/ https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/ericson-28-3600387/ https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1988/ericson-28-3528258/ Not seeking mast in cabin, so where is the water coming from. Why is the liner out You may have some elbow grease needed for this boat  

Deck stepped mast. Definitely cheaper than other Ericson 28s I can find out there. But that doesn't mean it's a good deal. I'm wondering about the water ingress too. According to the seller, the previous owner had been a smoker and the seller is allergic to cigarette smoke, so they've been tearing stuff out trying to get rid of the smell. I'm not afraid of some work, but my time does have value. I don't want to put thousands of dollars in time on something and end up having been better off buying a finished boat.  

I would want to find out how the water got in. I sent you a few Eriksons 28+. At least one was coach top main travelor  

It looks like the two that had coach top (I didn't know that's what that was called) travelers are 1988s. I think those are Ericson 28-2 models. This one I'm looking at is an '84 28+. The '85 you linked also has a cockpit mounted traveler. They did say that the previous owner had swapped the traveler and had the mounting bracket fabricated out of stainless. If it's done right that's not a problem, I'm just not sure if it was done right. I actually like the 28-2s better, they have wood slat hull liners, and a wood cabin sole. They're also nearly 3x the price of this. My gut is saying to pass on this boat, save up more, spend this season trailering my current boat up to the Puget Sound to get more experience and then next season buy something that needs less work and is closer to what I want. My list of "want" boats is pretty long, but more like: Perry designed Islanders Sabres (especially a 28) Canadian Sailcraft (30?) Caliber 33 Various C&C designs, Tartans And of course I wouldn't kick a Norseman 447, Morris, or Spirit Yacht out of my berth if it were gifted to me. Although the upkeep would be more than my whole boat right now...  

Sounds like you arent pushing yourself off that ledge just yet Look around more Trust your gut Learn more  

Well I emailed them and told them I'm going to pass on it. They seem like nice folks, I wish them luck selling it. I gave them a few tips to make their ad look better. I think I'm going to stick with my boat this season, set aside more pennies, and watch for a bigger boat that I feel better about for next season. If I could just find a CS 36 freshly outfitted for bluewater for $8,000...  

All you would have to do is add a zero to your $8,000 and Voila you would be there. I mean how hard could it be to simply add a zero to sometning ? Zero is basically nothing right?  

After looking at the photos and considering that the electronics might not be working right, I think you made a wise decision to pass on this one. Just to give a little perspective on TLC - you want a seller that's been doing the TLC and minimize the effort and TLC you need to put in. 3 years ago I sold a 1975 O'Day 27 for what I paid for it 10 years earlier. It was in your price range. I thought I did well to sell it at that price, and several buyers were tripping over each other to buy it as soon as it hit Craigslist. (Maybe I priced it too low). Not only did I keep up with regular maintenance, I did thousands of dollars in upgrades over the years (replaced the engine with a near new outboard with remote control, new mainsail, pressurized water system, re-doing through-hulls, new running rigging, re-upholstery.....expensive! - new stereo, VHF etc, etc). But those dollars spent were part of the enjoyment of the boat and represented sunk costs, so to speak. Sure, you might not easily find a seller that's transferring a boat in better than average condition, but they are out there. Of course, too many sellers think they have a gold bar - and buyers want to think they steal the boat at an auction price. Somewhere in that delta is where a deal can be made, particularly if you let the seller know that you are going to care for their baby. The closer you get to summer, the more it makes sense to have a 'sail away' vessel rather than a project boat. Keep looking and come back for here for opinions (if you can stand them!). And, good luck.  

Thanks. That's pretty close to my thoughts actually. I'd much, much rather buy something that someone is using or very recently used and maintained it. The list of things to do piles up so fast, and if someone is using their boat they are much more likely to fix things. I'm really hoping to find a boat that someone put their heart and soul into, got it ready for a big trip, and then had an unexpected life change and they need to sell the boat. A new job across the country or something like that.  

I recently sold my Islander 28 for almost what i bought it for 18 years ago. I maintained it, and upgraded it over the years. People say it's hard to sell a boat. I sold mine in about a week with several offers, maybe priced too low $9800.00, but I know it went to a good family who is keeping her in the same shape I did.  

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• Sailboat Guide

Ericson Yachts

Ericson Yachts was founded by a number of former employees of Columbia Yachts. With a few exceptions, the Ericson line was a collaboration with designer Bruce King. Though many Ericson models sold extremely well, the company had a turbulent history financially from the beginning with numerous changes in ownership. In 1968 the company became a subsidiary of Pacific American Industries and a new plant was built in Santa Ana , CA. By 1990, the Ericson brand had been acquired by Pacific Seacraft, which continued to build some of the later models until 1999, when it was retired. Original Address: 1931 Deere Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92705 USA MIC: ELY

Associations

• One Ton Class
• Carl Alberg/Bruce King
• Carl Schumacher
• George Olson
• Ron Holland
• William Crealock

41 sailboats built by Ericson Yachts

Ericson 25+

Ericson 35-2

Ericson 32-2.

Ericson 23-2

Ericson 26 (Crealock)

Ericson 23-1.

Ericson 28+

Ericson 31 Independence

Ericson 36C

Ericson 30-2

Ericson 35-1, ericson olson 34.

Ericson 32 (Scorpion)

Ericson 39 B

Ericson 31 Independence (Cutter)

Ericson 28-2

Ericson 38-200

Ericson 26-2

Ericson 34T

Ericson olson 911 s.

Ericson 32-3

Ericson 35-3

Ericson 381

Ericson 32-200

Ericson 34-2

Ericson 30+

Ericson 30-1

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