I'm a Tanzer 22 sailor who wants to take a big step up to a boat I can properly cruise and weekend on. There is a 35-3 up here on Lake Ontario for sale. It has the 5" draft. Looks like a very interesting boat. Before I make the schlep to go see it (about 3 hours away), what is the general consensus around this boat as a Great Lakes cruiser? Looking for a boat I can own for 10+ years and I like the fact that it's a shallow draft but not sure if that is a compromise in terms of sailing characteristics. How would it compare to a shoal keel CS36T? Thanks for any help
Good, Bad and Ugly of Ericson 35-3
- Thread starter markyf
- Start date
There is much good information in the posts by https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/members/treilley.1574/
Just do a site search on 'cordelia' to discover many of his threads. Tim did a marvelous "restoration" on his 35-3.
Just do a site search on 'cordelia' to discover many of his threads. Tim did a marvelous "restoration" on his 35-3.
Excellent... thank you
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
I've read that a shoal keel version of the same boat can't point as close to the wind as the longer keel version. But I doubt it's something you'd notice except racing boats equipped and loaded exactly the same.
bsangs
E35-3 - New Jersey
We have an ‘85 35-3 with the shoal keel and, honestly, it has pointed into the wind very well. Also, the previous owner claims to have never been able to get the rail in the water, even when he tried. Obviously I cannot compare it to the full keel version, but for our cruising purposes, it’s been a fantastic boat. (With the boat fully loaded, that draft gets a little deeper than 4”11‘ inches though. To be safe when plotting, I call it 5’6”.) Do you have a link you can share for the boat that’s being sold?
Thanks for sharing. Were these all factory keels or after market modified? Here is the boat: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1984-ericson-35-mkiii-9297327/
This looks like one of the better 35-3s on the market. The interior doesn't show the typical port light and dorade box leaks. It also looks like the pedestal has been replaced with an Edson which is a major job that's already been taken care of. The drawer faces and cabinet doors are in good condition too. Most of mine have chips and dings around the perimeter because the material is a little thin there. There's been some work done on the keel, either it was rebedded and/or the nuts were removed and the metal plate was installed. That's a good sign as well. I've heard of some Ericson's having stress cracks around the mast step due to over tightening the rig. I wouldn't be too concerned about it because this one doesn't look like one that's been raced hard, but it's worth a look. The other common problem on these is the anchor locker leaking, but this is probably the best looking vee birth I've seen on this model. Again, still worth a look to see if there's been any water intrusion at the forward bulkhead. An electric windlass is a big bonus too! This looks like a good reason to take a 3hr drive!
The shoal draft keel was a regular factory option. A very few of the deeper keels have later been shortened a foot and a split bulb attached, but the cost is significant. Just call the broker and ask for specifics.
Looks clean in the pix.
The keel profiles are shown in this site info:
sailboatdata.com
Looks clean in the pix.
The keel profiles are shown in this site info:
ERICSON 35-3 - sailboatdata
Different design from ERICSON 35-2. Shoal draft: 5.0′ Short rig: I: 43.0′ J: 15.8′ P: 36.7′ E: 12.0′
sailboatdata.com
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Great. Thanks for all the valuable info.
bsangs
E35-3 - New Jersey
Hopefully Christian Williams will chime in on that for you. I haven’t single handed yet, but he does on an Ericson larger than a 35-3. You can search for his always entertaining videos on YouTube as well. (My lady is the reason we bought a sailboat, so not much single-handing in my future.) Just realized that boat is in Kingston. My folks have a summer place in Cape Vincent, not far from there.
Yes know them well. Amazing videos. I have both of his books too. Was his 2nd Ericson a 38?
Vtonian
E38 - Vashon
I can't tell from the pics but my understanding is the 35 is factory rigged like the 38 and if so, I singlehand my 38 all the time (and learning as I go). I'd recommend learning how to reef and heave to, as well as testing/inspecting the rig before you go out in any perky days but once you trust the rig to operate and can do those basic easing maneuvers, you should be generally able to enjoy solo sailing as much as you can make time for.
Yeah I put single line reefing on my boat and it's been a joy... can go out in anything
All of the modern cruising rigs are easy to singlehand, and designed for it. I just mean a sloop with a roller furling foresail and winches.
The only complication comes with added sails--a traditional spinnaker, for instance, would be a handful. An asymmetrical spinnaker a minor complication.
Because slab reefing is simple and robust, the mainsail can be controlled in all conditions.
Cruising boats have auto steering now, from a $1300 wheel pilot up to bulletproof linear. Auto steering makes everything easy for the singlehander.
Ericsons are easy to sail alone, and I find little difference between the 32-3 and the 38-foot versions. But so are most such sailboats.
I doubt my opinion is controversial. The ease comes from a reliable diesel engine, GPS navigation, excellent weather forecasting, easy communication, a Towboat contract if something goes wrong, and a slip in a marina, which all seem more or less standard today.
(True, singlehanded cruising is more than just sailing. For me that would require an anchor windlass, which Ericsons don't have, and would mean a custom installation.)
The only complication comes with added sails--a traditional spinnaker, for instance, would be a handful. An asymmetrical spinnaker a minor complication.
Because slab reefing is simple and robust, the mainsail can be controlled in all conditions.
Cruising boats have auto steering now, from a $1300 wheel pilot up to bulletproof linear. Auto steering makes everything easy for the singlehander.
Ericsons are easy to sail alone, and I find little difference between the 32-3 and the 38-foot versions. But so are most such sailboats.
I doubt my opinion is controversial. The ease comes from a reliable diesel engine, GPS navigation, excellent weather forecasting, easy communication, a Towboat contract if something goes wrong, and a slip in a marina, which all seem more or less standard today.
(True, singlehanded cruising is more than just sailing. For me that would require an anchor windlass, which Ericsons don't have, and would mean a custom installation.)
Single Line Reefing is popular for smaller boats with smaller mainsails. Opinions vary as to whether it's generally a good idea on large boats. Keep in mind that it may not "scale up" easily. (However, this is an opinion from someone who has not installed it on any boats. I used slab reefing on my prior 20, our 26 footer, and on our Olson.)
Yeah I don't think you could do it on a 35 footer... maybe up to 30. If the load is too big would cause issues.
Thanks Christian... great to hear from you. Big fan of your videos and have both your books. I know with some boats things like placement of winches greatly affect how easy a boat is to single hand. Glad to hear the Ericsons suit that kind of sailing.