Ericson 38 - 2nd Time Around

Boat/US Magazine, May, 2002 by Jack Hornor

www.ericsonyachts.com

Being somewhat partial to boats of conservative proportions and design, the Ericson 38 is a model am particularly fond of. I'm not alone in this assessment because, as a testament to its popularity, the Ericson 38 remained in production for more than 20 years.

Introduced in 1980, the Ericson 38 was designed by the incomparable Bruce King whose talent for drawing beautiful boats of near perfect proportions ranks him with the likes of Herreshoff, Stevens, Rhodes and Tripp. The length overall is 37' 8", beam is 12' and displacement is 15,500 lbs. Originally the Ericson 38 was built with a low aspect 4' 11" fin keel as standard equipment. A highly tapered "competition" fin was offered as an option that drew 6'6". This was somewhat unusual in that shoal rather than deep draft was the standard equipment.

When Ericson became part of Pacific Seacraft in 1990, several design modifications took place and the original low aspect fin keel was replaced with the option of a wing or bulb keel configuration, both drawing 5' 3". Ericson 38s that have been measured under the IMS rule show a stability index of a 5' 3" draft model, nearly nine degrees greater than for the 4' 11" draft model. This suggests newer models should be noticeably stiffer than the older shoal draft versions and perhaps a better choice if your plans call for some extended offshore sailing.

For the most part, the hull of the Ericson 38 is constructed of a solid composite of fiberglass and resin although some core material is used in some flat sections above the waterline to add stiffness without excessive weight. The Ericson 38 utilizes an elaborate system of high strength fiberglass fabric and high-density foam to form a structural grid of transverse floors and longitudinal stringers. The grid is bonded to the hull throughout the bilge. Components such as keel, engine beds, mast step, structural bulkheads and rigging loads are all connected to the grid, resulting in a very rigid and strong structure.

The deck structure is a molded fiberglass composite with core throughout. There is a molded fiberglass toe rail eliminating the high maintenance and often-leaky teak toe rails found on many cruising boats of this size and quality. The hull and deck are mechanically fastened as well as bonded with fiberglass cloth and resin, forming a monocoque structure.

Older model Ericson 38s, usually before 1990, are likely to suffer from some degree of osmotic blistering of the bottoms unless remedial repairs have already been made. Other common flaws on 10 -year-old models include leaky ports, deck fittings and chain plates. Plastic through hull fittings should be carefully inspected for cracks at the flanges of the fittings.

The decks are well laid out and feature substantial deck hardware that is well secured with backing plates. There is an anchor locker forward and rigging shrouds are well inboard for easy passage fore and aft. There is a T-shaped cockpit with a 36" destroyer wheel and, while the cockpit area is suitably sized, the foot well is a bit cramped in order to provide space for the quarter berth cabin below.

There were several modifications of the accommodation plan of the Ericson 38 over the years although all featured a berth cabin forward and a main saloon with a U-shaped dinette to port and a settee to starboard. Early model boats featured the head forward of the main saloon along the port side which was later moved aft of the saloon along the starboard side. The starboard, aft galley was reconfigured and relocated to the port side on later models and the large port side quarter berth of early models was eventually reconfigured and made larger for a legitimate enclosed quarterberth cabin. No matter which layout, all are comfortable for long term cruising, and offer a break from the typical "yacht design 101" arrangement.

From its introduction until the time that Pacific Seacraft took over construction, the standard engine for the Ericson was the 4 cylinder, 32 hp, fresh water cooled Universal M-40 diesel. I have seen at least one of these early models with the larger 44 hp, M-50 Universal diesel installed and I would expect this was an optional installation. When Pacific Seacraft took over, their first models were equipped with the 43 hp Volvo engines which were later replaced with the 38 Yanmar engine. 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 very respectable. With a sail area-displacement ratio of slightly over 18 and a displacement-length ratio of about 240, she has enough power for decent performance in light air yet is not so overpowered as to be impossible or dangerous to sail with a short-handed crew. However, headsails are large and a good furling system and large self-tailing winches are a must. The narrow shroud base allows for eight degree sheeting angles and, with proper sails and trim, she should be able to sail to within 38 to 40 degrees of the apparent wind without difficulty.