The Ericson 38 is a popular sailboat known for its excellent sailing performance and comfortable living space. Designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts in the 1970s and 1980s, the Ericson 38 was built to be fast, seaworthy, and spacious. Its sleek lines and wide beam give it a modern look, while its full keel design provides excellent stability and handling in rough seas.
With a length overall of 38 feet and a beam of 12 feet, the Ericson 38 offers ample space for a cruising sailboat. The interior layout is designed with comfort in mind, featuring a large salon, galley, and two private cabins. The salon includes a dining table and seating for six, while the galley is equipped with a stove, oven, refrigerator, and sink. The two private cabins each have a double berth, providing plenty of space for a small family or group of friends. Overall, the Ericson 38 is a popular choice for sailors looking for a comfortable and capable cruising sailboat.
LOA: 37.67 ft LWL: 30.50 ft Beam: 12.00 ft Draft: 6.50 ft Displacement: 14900.00 lbs Ballast: 6300.00 lbs Hull type: Fin w/spade rudder Hull construction: FG Rigging type: Masthead Sloop
Ericson 38 for sale in the last 12 months
Below you'll find the latest Ericson 38 listings for the last 12 months. We compare the listing price with boats listed in the past and the color coding indicates if the price is good (green = below the average listing price) or more on the expensive side (red = seller is asking more than the average listing price).
| Date | Year Country, State | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-25 | 1982 | USD 39900 | |
| 2024-03-28 | 1981 | USD 33000 | |
| 2024-02-06 | 1981 | USD 32000 | |
| 2023-09-20 | 1985 | USD 54700 |
Ericson 38 listing prices over time
Listing details.
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- Sailboat Guide
Ericson 38-200
Ericson 38-200 is a 37 ′ 7 ″ / 11.5 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts and Pacific Seacraft starting in 1986.
- 2 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 3 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 4 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 5 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 6 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 7 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 8 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 9 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 10 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 11 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 12 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 13 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 14 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 15 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 16 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 USD View
- 17 / 17 Brooklyn, NY, US 1990 Ericson 38-200 $48,900 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)
The ERICSON 38-200 shared the same hull, keel, rudder, with earlier versions (ERICSON 38x) but had a new deck and interior with a recessed companionway. Shoal draft: 4.92’ / 1.50m Wing keel: 5.00’ / 1.52m Thanks to Christian Williams of ericsonyachts.org for providing corrections.
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Best Ericson Sailboats: A Complete Guide
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-26"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-29"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-30"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-32"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-34"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-35"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-36c"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-e38"}}
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
{{boat-info="/boats/ericson-46"}}
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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Daniel Wade
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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DRAFT: Wing Keel = 5'/1.52m Optional Shoal Draft = 4.92'/1.5m Standard Deep keel= 6.5'/1.98m Optional The ERICSON 38-200 was introduced in 1986? which shared the same hull but with new deck, coach roof and interior.
The Ericson 38 is a 37.67ft masthead sloop designed by Bruce King and built in fiberglass by Ericson Yachts (USA) between 1979 and 1987. Ericson 38 detailed characteristics and performance ratios.
Ericson 38 is a 37′ 7″ / 11.5 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts between 1979 and 1987.
All these options provide plenty of horsepower for the 38's 15,500-lbs. displacement and should provide years of service if properly maintained. The Ericson 38 is clearly a cruising boat, but her performance is certainly very respectable. With a sail area-displacement ratio of slightly over 18 and a displacement-length ratio of about 240, she ...
The Ericson 38 is a popular sailboat known for its excellent sailing performance and comfortable living space. Designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts in the 1970s and 1980s, the Ericson 38 was built to be fast, seaworthy, and spacious. ... More specs at sailboatdata. Ericson 38 for sale in the last 12 months.
Find Ericson 38 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Ericson boats to choose from.
In 1984, Gene Kohlmann purchased the company back, producing Ericson 38, 381, and 38-200 iterations. Kohlmann ran the company until Pacific Seacraft bought the molds for the 38 (and 35s) in 1990, with which they built the first new 380 in 1991. There were a lot of renditions of the original 38-foot Ericson.
Ericson 38-200 is a 37′ 7″ / 11.5 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts and Pacific Seacraft starting in 1986.
Find Ericson 38 boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. Locate Ericson boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader!
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.
The ERICSON 38-200 shared the same hull, keel, rudder, with earlier versions (ERICSON 38x) but had a new deck and interior with a recessed companionway. Shoal draft: 4.92′ / 1.50m Wing keel: 5.00′ / 1.52m Thanks to Christian Williams of ericsonyachts.org for providing corrections.
Ericson preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Ericson used sailboats for sale by owner.
Updated version of ERICSON 38 (1980). Shallow draft: 4.92'/1.50m Thanks to Christian Williams for providing corrections and layout plan.
The Ericson 38 is a 37.67ft masthead sloop designed by Bruce King and built in fiberglass by Ericson Yachts (USA) between 1979 and 1987. 125 units have been built. The Ericson 38 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.
43' Hunter Legend 43 Sloop Diesel Aux Coastal Cruiser. 8/30 · CFB Marine San Diego. $69,900. hide. • •. Small 2 man sailboat, ready to sail. 8/30 · Carlsbad. $995. hide.
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 ...
Nauticat 37. Sailboat specifications. Last update: 2nd April 2020; Nauticat 37's main features. Nauticat 37's main dimensions, nauticat 37's rig and sails, nauticat 37's performan
Boat Care And Upgrades. Buying And Selling. Destinations. Pacific Seacraft 40: A Detailed Examination of the Beloved Cruiser. Overview of the pacific seacraft 40. The Pacific Seac
Hughes 38 Sailing. Hughes 38 Owners Group. Hughes 38 Who's Who. Ahoy mate! Im jon, the Commodore of Hughes 38 Owners group. i have always been fascinated with boats, especially
Called the ERICSON 35-2 by convention as an earlier but relatively rare ERICSON 35 footer (1967?) exists which is an entirely different design, this later version is one of the most successful boats built by Ericson.
Updated version of the Ericson 38 originally launched in 1980, including a completely redesigned interior. Pacific Seacraft purchased the molds when Ericson closed its doors in 1990. Draft-Wing or Bulb: 5.25ft / 1.6m Lead ballast-Wing or Bulb: 6,400 lbs / 2,903 kg.
Designed as IOR 1 ton. (IOR MkIII 27.5′)