Opinions on Ericson sailboats

[shemandr]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Well, good coastal cruiser and club racer was mention and you can also add circumnavigator.
Webb Child sailed an Ericson 37 Round the World in the mid 70's. (without an engine). I believe he had 3 knockdowns during the voyage but was able to continue.

According to his book he was bailing for his life South of the Australian coast. So... maybe not so much of a bluewater boat.

[Ericson38]

Originally Posted by lo2jones

I’m not a naval architect, just someone who has sailed on every Ericsson Model built after 1980…Even Rooster Cogburn! Good strong boats that don’t sail great. The one exception is the 1986 model E35. I sailed a Frers 41 back from Hawaii once, and the E35 1986 model compared favorably to it. In a puff, she heals over and accelerates!

We had an E30+, an '81 E38, and an '87 E38. Excellent sea boats for their size, and great quality. We overhauled a Schock 34 racer on the way to Catalina with our 81 model, pulling our 9 foot zodiac (no engine) behind us. Had a folding prop, but after 2 hours, were able to catch and pass it. They had tape drive sails and a red mast, out of San Pedro. Our PHRF was 114. I would say the 38 was tender, but sailed in a groove like no one's business, with a 6' 10" draft.

We formed the first Ericson Regatta at Catalina, with the assitance of Don and Gene Kholman. The E35 Mk III (came out in '83 I think), and was a shortened version of the E38 (1981).

The traxial force grid was deployed in all the models from early '80s to end of production.

We anchored in the late 90s next to an E39 at Santa Cruz Island, which happened to have Marty King on board. His boat and family. I said I had a great picture of his dad on an E30+ brochure, which we wanted very bad. In return, he sent all the line and deck plan drawings for E38. He told me a lot of things about his Dad (not so much about E's in general).