ericson 30 sailboat review

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ERICSON 30+ 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 30+. Built by Ericson Yachts (USA) and designed by Bruce King, the boat was first built in 1979. It has a hull type of Fin w/spade rudder and LOA is 9.12. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.44. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on Diesel.

ERICSON 30+ 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 30+ 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 30+.

ERICSON 30+ was designed by Bruce King.

Who builds ERICSON 30+?

ERICSON 30+ is built by Ericson Yachts (USA).

When was ERICSON 30+ first built?

ERICSON 30+ was first built in 1979.

How long is ERICSON 30+?

ERICSON 30+ is 7.72 m in length.

What is mast height on ERICSON 30+?

ERICSON 30+ has a mast height of 11.73 m.

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• Sailboat Guide

Ericson 30+

Ericson 30+ is a 29 ′ 11 ″ / 9.1 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts starting in 1979.

• 2 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View
• 3 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View
• 4 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View
• 5 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View
• 6 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View
• 7 / 7 Ludington, MI, US 1984 Ericson 30+ $17,500 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Updated version of the ERICSON 30-2 (1977). Shoal Draft: 4.00’ / 1.22m

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• Sailboat Reviews

Both the 1969 and 1985 versions of this Southern California cruiser/racer were designed by Bruce King, and may represent good values, though the early model had a lot more problems.

“Ericson Yachts,” we wrote back in a 1986 review of the Ericson 27, “was somewhat of the archetypal production boatbuilder: trendy, performance oriented, colorfully advertised, and, for the most part, successful.”

The company was formed in 1964 by Don and Gene Kohlman, two San Francisco Bay area sailors who moved south to Irvine, California to set up shop. Their first boats were what Don called “an eclectic line,” meaning they grabbed what they could—a modified Carl Alberg design, a 26-footer by W.B. Crealock and a 32′ 5.5 Meter keel boat similar to the Columbia Sabre of that same time.

The first boats were introduced in 1965. In 1971, the CML Group bought Ericson Yachts and ran it until 1984 when Gene Kohlman bought it back. He and Don managed things until 1990, when they were forced to shut down. Pacific Seacraft bought the molds for the Ericson 34 and 38 and resumed production of these two models (the former as the Ericson 35 and the latter as the Ericson 380—see PS, January 15,1998) in 1991.

During this time Ericson built three 32s, the 1965 keel boat mentioned above, and in 1969, the Bruce King-designed CCA-type 32. That model stayed in production until 1978, with well over 500 built. In 1985, Bruce King designed a new 32, which lasted four years with more than 700 built. We’ll refer to King’s two designs as the ‘69 and ‘84. (Just to confuse matters, the PHRF Handicap book published by US Sailing lists a number of permutations, such as the 32-2 and 32-3 and 32-200, most of which refer to the type of keel and whether it had the optional tall rig.)

Ericson was indeed an “archetypal production builder,” competing with Pearson, Cal, Columbia, Islander and the like, all but Pearson being neighbors in Southern California. Greater Los Angeles, specifically Costa Mesa, was the epicenter of production fiberglass sailboat building during the late 1960s and 1970s. Costa “Mecca” evaporated faster than styrene, the result of stringent air pollution laws that made manufacturing too costly, and as a result of a downturn in sailboat sales, one of many in this cyclical business that every 10 years or less beheads those with their necks still stuck out. 1990, if you recall, was the year of the Gulf War against Iraq, and imposition of the luxury tax.

The Designs A close look at the ‘69 and ‘85 Ericson 32s makes for an interesting comparison. It would be fun to cut out sail plans of a bunch of 32s, designed every few years between 1965 and 2000, and stack them like cards. Flipping them quickly, one would see the overhangs come and go; keels break away from the rudders, get skinnier and deeper; and mast locations move back and forth along with aspect ratios.

The early Ericson 32 was influenced by the CCA (Cruising Club of America) rating rule, of which designer Robert Perry once wrote, “Like all good rating rules it was a development type rule and not a handicap type rule.” Among other traits, CCA-type boats tend to have long overhangs (because waterline length was penalized) and low aspect ratio sail plans with short masts and long booms. To emphasize the point, the ‘69 32’s E dimension (mainsail foot) is 13′ and the ‘85 32’s 11.5′; the P dimension (luff) increased from 31.5′ to 36′. Both have double-spreader masthead sloop rigs.

The ‘85 32 has a slightly longer waterline and retains some of the ‘69 model’s bustle just forward of the rudder—a trick to increase sailing length.

More noticeable are the changes King made to the underwater appendages. The ‘69 32 has a swept back rudder and keel, influenced probably by the latest thinking (then) in Twelve Meter design. On the ‘85 32, the appendages are vertical, with the trailing edge of the keel raked forward. In a Sailing magazine review of the very similar Ericson 35, Perry theorized this change “…may help to make the maximum thickness line more vertical and improve the general performance of the keel.” Nowadays, with so many designers concentrating ballast in bulbs at the bottom of very thin blades with narrow roots, you have almost the inverse of King’s mid-80’s V-shaped keels.

King increased all of the principal dimension in the ‘85 model. Beam jumped from 9′ 8″ to 10′ 10″. The ‘85 32 is a bigger boat all around, with more LOA, LWL, displacement, and sail area as well. But displacement/length (D/L) and sail area/displacement (SA/D) ratios didn’t change that much—284 to 253, and 16.9 to 17.3 respectively. The later model, with a lower D/L and more horsepower, will be the faster boat.

Both old and new 32s are attractive for their time.

Construction Ericson Yachts, like other production builders of its day, didn’t do anything fancy in laying up and finishing its boats. Yet they are regarded as adequately strong. Hulls are solid fiberglass. Decks are cored with end-grain balsa, and, at least in the case of the ‘85 32, plywood was inserted in place of balsa in “high stress areas.” This is fine for handling compression loads, but does not ease the worry about delamination. In our opinion, no plywood should ever be used on a boat without the end grain sealed with epoxy resin or suitable substitute. Few builders, however, have then or do this now.

With the ‘85 32, Ericson stiffened the hull with a complex inner liner called a Tri-axial Force Grid (TAFG). This molded fiberglass unit incorporates many interior structures previously made from plywood and solid wood, from the anchor locker forward, to the floors and stringers under the cabin sole, to the ice box and engine beds. It’s a much less costly way to build a boat than using individual pieces of wood. The TAFG is bonded to the hull before the deck goes on, and one hopes it is never jarred loose. Where many builders incorporate berth foundations in their liners, however, Ericson built these up from plywood, anchoring them in the TAFG.

The hull/deck joint of the ‘85 model is glassed over with four layers of 3-oz. mat and 7-1/2-oz. cloth.

A few owners of both boats noted oilcanning in the hull; this most often occurs in the large, unsupported areas forward above the V-berth. An owner of a 1987 model said, “Heavy seas caused hull to flex, popping off starboard shelf trim.” An owner of an 1973 model said, “Hull distorts in heavy weather.”

Others noted the not uncommon problem of thin glass where there are sharp turns in the mold. And quite a few owners of both models complained about gelcoat flaws. Rubber rubrails deteriorate over time but can be replaced…if you can locate a supplier of the molding.

On the ‘69 32s, several owners complained also about mast compression cracking the deck (there is no compression post for the deck-stepped mast; the ‘85 32 has a keel-stepped mast), rudder bearings, wooden hatch leaks, cracked lifeline stanchion welds, and chainplate leaks rotting the bulkheads to which they are attached.

Ballast on both models is lead, much preferable to iron. In the ‘69 32, it is encapsulated in the hull mold. In the later model, it is external, with keel bolts through the TAFG.

Interior finishing is California style with lots of teak veneer, carpeting (early model) and brightly themed cushions.

Hardware quality is generally good though some items, like winches, may have to be updated. Ericson used Barlows on the early boats, Barients on the later models. Both companies are out of business now. If upgrading, self-tailers would be a big improvement.

Accommodations The interior plans are workable and straightforward, with a V-berth forward, enclosed head and hanging locker just aft of it, dinette and settee amidships, corner galley to starboard with quarter berth (6′ 6″ in the ‘85 32) and nav table to port. Obviously, there’s more space all round in the later model.

Ventilation for the ‘85 32 includes deck hatches, a Dorade and several opening portlights in the forward cabin and head. In the saloon are two long and narrow fixed portlights—Ericson’s distinctive shape with forward and aft sides slanted. One owner complained that the hanging locker is too small, and that the starboard settee is “severely angled to bow end—narrow.”

The ‘69 32s did not have good ventilation. One owner said, “opening ports would improve ventilation.” (There are, however, two small opening ports.) “Another just called it, “terrible.” Others said the berths are too narrow and the head too small. But one exclaimed, “Interior layout excellent! Good compromise for a boat this size.”

Headroom in both models is 6′ 2″.

The ‘85 32 has a 32-gal. freshwater tank located amidships with an optional 20-gal. tank under the V-berth. Holding tank is 17y-gals.

Some like the ‘69 32’s T-shaped cockpit, some don’t. Water collects at the helm because the scuppers are forward but the boat trims stern down. And a number of owners criticized the cockpit lockers for not being adequately waterproofed.

The ‘85 32 has a bridge, which opens up room at the galley; the ‘69 32 does not.

Performance Owners report that the ‘69 32 is only an average performer. Given its hull shape, it heels quickly to 20° or so, then settles in. Several owners said the boat stops “tilting” at 30°. This is typical of CCA-type boats, in order to immerse the ends and increase sailing length. “It likes to heel but remains stable,” said the owner of a 1975 model. The boat’s relatively short rig is cited as a liability in light winds. Most rate upwind performance better than off the wind. “Only boat I’ve sailed that beats faster than it reaches,” said the owner of a 1974 model. He figures 6 knots in 12 knots of breeze, sailing upwind. But then the owner of a 1973 boat said, “Goes to weather fair; off wind very fast.” Go figure.

An owner in Virginia said no one could ever get his boat to point to his satisfaction, adding that it tacks through 110°.

The boat has no significant weather helm problems and balances pretty well. A number of owners said they’d been through gales of 40-60 knots and the boat acquitted itself well.

Auxiliary power for the ‘69 32 was first a 27-hp. Palmer M60 or Atomic 4 gas engine. But readers listed a number of other power plants, including a Volvo MDIIC, 12-hp. Farymann. Access is poor. One owner modified the access “hole” from the quarter berth. The ‘85 32 came with a 21-hp. 3-cylinder Universal diesel and 22-gal. aluminum fuel tank.

Not surprisingly, owners of the ‘85 32 are much more positive about their boats’ performance. A tall rig was available, which helps in light air regions, such as the Chesapeake Bay. Similarly, the deep keel model outperforms the shoal and wing keels. “Unbelievable upwind and light air ability,” said the owner of a 1986 model.

The first reef is taken somewhat early, around 18 knots. And the fin keel requires some attention to the helm. “Wanders upwind,” said the owner of a 1987 boat. “Big rudder, easy to steer,” said one who owns a 1984 model.

The best performing 32 is the 32-200, with PHRF ratings around 150 and up. Earlier models generally rate in the 160s and 170s, with the ‘69 32 slowest at around 198 seconds per mile.

Conclusion It is clear from owner comments that considerable improvements were made to the 1985 model, solving problems with leaks, mast compression, rudder, and other niggling items. It would certainly be our choice of the two.

The early 32 seems to have an inordinate number of construction shortcomings, not the least of which is the mast cracking the deck, and gate valves on through-hulls that should be replaced with positive action seacocks.

Owner Comments “Engine is almost impossible to work on. Must remove wall from lazarette to get to clutch. Changing oil almost impossible.” —owner of 1974 model in Plymouth, Michigan

“Aft lower shrouds should have been attached to chainplates bonded to hull or inner bulkhead. Stanchions have no lateral support, some not backed, some can’t be reached from inside. Bilge should be deeper. Preventer crimped original boom on an accidental gybe in heavy air/seas. Especially good light air performer with 150% genoa or drifter/MPS. Boat is sensitive to proper sail selection and set. Very comfortable cruising for two to four. Plenty of stowage. I highly recommend the boat for excellent overall quality and ability.” — owner of 1974 model in Virginia Beach, Virginia

“Rudder is a spade type. I once bent the shaft crashing off a steep wave in gale conditions. Boat sailed fairly under jury steering. Wood frames for main hatch and companionway leak, allowing water to get to balsa core. Needs compression post for serious offshore work.” —owner of a 1972 model in Foster City, California

“Great cockpit. Don’t particularly like recessed companionway. Makes for high and ineffective dodger.” —owner of a 1989 model in San Diego, California

“Great boat! Big deep anchor locker a pleasure. Lots of ventilation. Good nav station with AC and DC panels and access to batteries and engine. Deep sink.” —owner of a 1983 model in Southern California

“Extremely happy with my boat re: quality, performance and appearance. Excellent engine. Opted for shoal draft which restricts pointing ability though she turns easily.” —Owner of a 1987 model in Hilton Head, South Carolina

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

i owned a 1977 Ericson 35. Overall great boat for my family. We were coastal cruisers along the Texas Gulf coast. Tried racing a few times and found she did not point well, but was fast downwind. Could never stay with the J boats upwind! Lost her to Hurricane Harvey.

Articles on good old boats are always welcome and too few and far between. That said, using second-hand owner opinions as a base for performance and reviews is questionable as is evidenced by the contradictory statements. I read these articles expecting hands-on sailing experience and professional evaluations.

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Ericson 32-3

• By Richard Smith
• Updated: May 31, 2012

Bruce King’s considerable experience designing sailboats in the 30-foot range shows through in the sailing qualities, accommodations, and construction of the Ericson 32-3.

The 32-3 was introduced in 1985, and at least 69 were built, some of them at Pacific Seacraft after the demise of Ericson Yachts in 1990. It shares a family resemblance with other Ericson cruiser/racers designed by King and extended the company’s reputation for building attractive, practical boats with good sailing manners.

A keel-stepped, black, anodized mast, tapered at the top to reduce weight and windage, supports the double-spreader masthead rig. The 207-square-foot mainsail drives the boat well in both cruising and racing modes. The boat is well balanced and sails both on and off the wind smartly under headsail only, making it easy to singlehand, especially with roller furling.

The large cockpit has a curved helmsman’s perch, which compensates for varying degrees of heel, and comfortably angled seatbacks for the crew. A boarding ladder is built into the stern pulpit. Copious storage is to be had under the starboard seat and in a lazarette. Hardware is more than adequate and includes Lewmar deck hatches, an acrylic companionway sliding hatch, stainless-steel guard rails at the mast, and four 10-inch aluminum mooring cleats.

The construction of the Ericson 32-3 is robust. The hull is hand-laid fiberglass and polyester resin, and the deck is fiberglass cored with end-grain balsa. A one-piece structural inner liner of hand-laminated fiberglass incorporates floors and stringers, adding strength to the hull and distributing concentrated loads from the engine, mast, and standing rigging.

Below, the first impression is one of quality and refinement highlighted by expansive use of teak. The sole is teak and holly. The U-shaped galley is located to starboard of the companionway ladder. Opposite is a forward-facing nav table; its seat is the head of the quarter berth.

In the saloon, which has 6 feet 2 inches of headroom, a teak table surrounded by large wraparound seats folds down to form a double berth. A long settee to starboard makes it a very social space.

The V-berth in the forward cabin is as wide at the head as it is long—6 feet 6 inches—and contains lots of storage space under hatches and in drawers. The head is aft of this cabin to port and contains the toilet, a sink, storage, and a shower.

Removing the companionway ladder provides excellent access to the engine. Original equipment was a 21-horsepower Universal diesel, which delivers a cruising speed of a little over 6 knots while burning about half a gallon of fuel per hour. The boat is unusually quiet under power.

While the usual caveats apply regarding leaks around deck fittings, water penetrating the core material, and so forth, it’s difficult to fault this boat as cruiser or racer. One owner noted that the rudderstock stuffing box is difficult to service and that the original white paint coating the hull interior has an annoying tendency to flake off.

Having owned several Ericsons, I think the 32-3 meets or exceeds the highest standards of construction, predictable handling, and sensible layouts with which Ericson established its reputation. It ghosts along nicely in light breezes and, handled well and with prudent reefing, will stand up to heavy weather. It’s comfortable to live aboard, weatherly, and forgiving in a jam. Used boats are listed from $22,000 to $45,000.

Ericson 32-3 LOA 32′ 6″ (9.91 m.) LWL 25′ 10″ (7.87 m.) Beam 10′ 10″ (3.30 m.) Draft (standard) 6′ 0″ (1.83 m.) (shoal) 4′ 4″ (1.32 m.) Sail Area (100%) 497 sq. ft. (46.2 sq. m.) Ballast 4,200 lb. (1,905 kg.) Displacement 9,800 lb. (4,444 kg.) Ballast/D .43 D/L 254 SA/D 17.4 Water 33 gal. (125 l.) Fuel 22 gal. (83 l.) Engine 21-hp. Universal diesel Designer Bruce King

Richard Smith and his wife, Beth, sail their Ericson Cruising 31, Kuma , in the Pacific Northwest.

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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

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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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