32-3 Mast/Spar Height Info needed

[Phil Grow]

I have a 1990 Ericson 32-3, #763, only three more were built after it, although I read here was one hull (767) on the factory floor at auction time. I understand it was purchased and finished off by one of the employees.

I had a "bridge incident" this summer and need to know the actual height of my mast from the keel plate to the top of the cap so I can spec out a replacement. I can't seem find this number anywhere. I now have three pieces, somewhat mangled, which I have measured to 47 feet and maybe an additional 2 to 4 inches, so there is a bit of guess work involved. My boat came with very nice documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward, so it looks like they made running changes along the way but I doubt the mast changed. If anyone knows the actually measurement of the mast of a 32-3 on the ground I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
Phil Grow
"Tuuli"

 

[Loren Beach]

This is a fine question, but will be lost for searching purposes when appended to an earlier non related thread.
I hope the OP does not mind my creating a new title for it and relocating it.
Loren

 

[bgary]

Mine is 47'-1"

 

[nquigley]

I have a 1990 Ericson 32-3, #763, only three more were built after it, although I read here was one hull (767) on the factory floor at auction time. I understand it was purchased and finished off by one of the employees.

I had a "bridge incident" this summer and need to know the actual height of my mast from the keel plate to the top of the cap so I can spec out a replacement. I can't seem find this number anywhere. I now have three pieces, somewhat mangled, which I have measured to 47 feet and maybe an additional 2 to 4 inches, so there is a bit of guess work involved. My boat came with very nice documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward, so it looks like they made running changes along the way but I doubt the mast changed. If anyone knows the actually measurement of the mast of a 32-3 on the ground I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
Phil Grow
"Tuuli"

Very sorry to hear that!
Timely for me, because I am currently halfway between Knoxville, Tennessee and Mobile Bay via the Tennessee river and the Tombigbee waterway. The lowest bridge height at normal pool level along the 900-mile route is 52 feet. I have measured, and remeasured, the height of my mast head off the water. (which is different from the height above the keel), and I’m pretty convinced the height is 45 feet and 4 inches. Call it 46 feet for safety. I have a 2‘6“ whip antenna above the mast. I am saying that my combined aerial draft is ~48 feet, which should get me under the 52 foot bridges with a few feet to spate(?). But, so far, going under bridges that are at 60 feet ‘looks’ scarily close. I am about 4 days away from the first 52-foot bridge. I will be approaching it extremely extremely slowly, perhaps in reverse, which is a trick that I saw somewhere.

 

[bgary]

I’m pretty convinced the height is 45 feet and 4 inches. Call it 46 feet for safety. I have a 2‘6“ whip antenna above the mast. I am saying that my combined aerial draft is ~48 feet, which should get me under the 52 foot

Yup. Just for reference, I came up with 51 feet by measuring 46 feet from masthead to water, and adding 5 feet to cover antenna and some fudge-factor. Since my antenna really only extends about 2 feet above the top-plate of the masthead, I'm - theoretically - at the same 48 feet you have. But I like having that little extra in my math so I never find myself close to testing the theory

B

 

[nquigley]

Yup. Just for reference, I came up with 51 feet by measuring 46 feet from masthead to water, and adding 5 feet to cover antenna and some fudge-factor. Since my antenna really only extends about 2 feet above the top-plate of the masthead, I'm - theoretically - at the same 48 feet you have. But I like having that little extra in my math so I never find myself close to testing the theory

B

Agreed … but I’m about to start down the Tombigbee waterway tomorrow - the lowest bridges are at 52 ft vertical clearance - when the water is at ‘normal’ pool. I’m a bit nervous about the approaching hurricane, possibly dropping enough rain in the area to exceed the normal pool and consuming some of my 3-4 foot cushion. But, I can call the Lockmaster on each sequential step each morning to get the current pool level readings for his pool of water. It’s rather nerve-racking though.

 

[mordust]

How did you fair going under the 52 foot bridge/
Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks

 

[nquigley]

I got to Mobile AL safety on 11Nov - it’s on the hard at Turners Marina (I did a bottom job and they are replacing the cutlass bearing and installing new injectors while I’m home in TN for a few weeks). I’m heading back there on 01Nov to continue the adventure.

There were 5 bridges with a declared 52-foot clearance, and 4 more 52-point-something bridges along the way (all looked very close to my antenna, but all except one were probably at least 4’ above it). But, a Navionics user posted a warning in the app about one ‘52-ft’ bridge in AL - he had a 50’ masthead, the river was 6” above ‘normal pool’ level, but the bridge tore off his masthead light (projecting <~6” above top of mast), He went through very slowly and didn’t damage his mast. So, I was forewarned … sure enough, it was DEFINITELY no more than 3’ above my antenna, which I’ve carefully measured as being 47.5-48’ above the water. It was an old trestle-style railway bridge with a wide span - looking closely as I approached, and after clearing it, I thought it looked like it might be sagging a little in the middle … if sagging just 1 foot, that could account for these observations - definitely a pucker moment for me

 

[mordust]

Thanks

 

[kloebereng]

Agreed … but I’m about to start down the Tombigbee waterway tomorrow - the lowest bridges are at 52 ft vertical clearance - when the water is at ‘normal’ pool. I’m a bit nervous about the approaching hurricane, possibly dropping enough rain in the area to exceed the normal pool and consuming some of my 3-4 foot cushion. But, I can call the Lockmaster on each sequential step each morning to get the current pool level readings for his pool of water. It’s rather nerve-racking though.

heel, Heel, HEEL ! LOL

 

[BlueCanoe]

I have a 1990 Ericson 32-3, #763, only three more were built after it, although I read here was one hull (767) on the factory floor at auction time. I understand it was purchased and finished off by one of the employees.

I had a "bridge incident" this summer and need to know the actual height of my mast from the keel plate to the top of the cap so I can spec out a replacement. I can't seem find this number anywhere. I now have three pieces, somewhat mangled, which I have measured to 47 feet and maybe an additional 2 to 4 inches, so there is a bit of guess work involved. My boat came with very nice documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward, so it looks like they made running changes along the way but I doubt the mast changed. If anyone knows the actually measurement of the mast of a 32-3 on the ground I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
Phil Grow
"Tuuli"

I’m looking for the rigging specification you mention: “documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward” is this document available online somewhere ?

incidentally I’f I understand the serial number right I have hull number 901 “ERY32901G990”

 

[bgary]

incidentally I’f I understand the serial number right I have hull number 901 “ERY32901G990”

Mine is ERY32604, the 4th one built by Ericson. I don't think they built 300 of the 32-3... but could be wrong.

My guess - worth exactly zero bitcoins - is that in the 1990 timeframe your boat may have been the first built by Pacific Seacraft after Ericson went under and sold the molds, and PS may have decided to start their own hull-number sequence.

 

[BlueCanoe]

The hin decodes as being manufactured July 09 1990. It could be that the hull was finished by pacific seacraft after ericson folded. The hin could also just be wrong like maybe the 9 was supposed to be a 7 and they just went with it. I have seen boats with 13 digit hins or other randomness.

 

[Loren Beach]

I was not aware that the HIN showed the day of the month. AFAIK it shows the month and year that the hull was laid up. And, this may be different than the year first titled as a new boat, especially for boat finished out and delivered early in the year.

 

[BlueCanoe]

I was not aware that the HIN showed the day of the month. AFAIK it shows the month and year that the hull was laid up. And, this may be different than the year first titled as a new boat, especially for boat finished out and delivered early in the year.

I was just using one of those online decoders. This is the result:

Success! ERY32901G990 is of the standard HIN type called Current-Format HIN. If you are buying this boat/craft then you should get the Boat-Alert History for 29.99$ from this certified boat history report provider.

ERY = Ericson Yachts Inc (Out of Business)
32901 = Boat Serial Number
G9 = Manufactured July 9
90 = Model year 1990

HIN Decoder Details for ERY32901G990:​

Our HULL ID Decoder breaks down the Hull identification number into the following information:
The HIN or CIN you have entered meets the Current-Format HIN format. It might also be a type that contains the country code and thus the boat comes from USA or Other . The serial number of the HIN is 32901 and is set by the boat builder. This boat or vessel has a Certification Date of (9) and a Model Year of 1990 with month of build (July) based on the formatting of your hull_identification_number (HIN) .

The manufacturer identification code (MIC) of your craft identification number (CIN or HIN) is ERY. This MIC (ERY) stands for the company name Ericson Yachts Inc which is currently Out of Business. This boat manufacturer has other company names (ERY sometimes goes by these name(s) , , , or ). This could happen if the US Coast Guard reissued the MIC to a new company after one went out of business.

This company (Ericson Yachts Inc) is owned by Don Kohlmann and is located at 1931 Deere Ave in Irvine state of Ca. It manufactured this vessel and placed your HIN or CIN on the hull. This Boat maker is not owned by a parent company. Ericson Yachts Inc has started making boats, yachts or other watercraft as of 5/7/1976 and went out of business on (6/25/1990) in the following country: USA.

The Model Name is 32-200 for this Ericson Yachts Inc (ERY32901G990).

 

[BlueCanoe]

Actually your correct. The 9 is the year of certification. (1990) the last 90 is the year model. So it was made in July and certified in 1990 and its a 1990 model.

 

[BlueCanoe]

Anyways, does anyone know where I can find the standing rigging specifications? I am trying to assemble a parts list for the standing rigging

 

[Kenneth K]

Here are the rigging specs for an '85 32-3. This came right out of the owner's manual. I don't imagine there were many changes in the 1990 model that would have required different rigging, but you never know.


Note some irregularities--the backstay used a 7/16" turnbuckle with a 1/2" pin. No one "mixes" rigging sizes anymore, so, if replacing, you'll have to upsize to a 1/2" turnbuckle to match the 1/2" pin required by the backstay chainplate.

Also, if re-rigging, you won't be able to fit 3/8" shackles (intermediates, fwd. lowers, and aft lowers) around the 12mm u-bolts Ericson used for shroud chainplates. See more detail here: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/replaced-your-ss-standing-rigging-what-did-you-do.19750/

 

[BlueCanoe]

I think all my present shrouds and backstay are 9/32. Maybe some previous owner got a deal on a roll of it or something.

anyways the overall plan look correct from what I see on the mast. Thanks
This helps allot.

 

[Kenneth K]

I think all my present shrouds and backstay are 9/32. Maybe some previous owner got a deal on a roll of it or something.

anyways the overall plan look correct from what I see on the mast. Thanks
This helps allot.

Interesting. On my '85 32-3, only the forestay uses 9/32," everything else is smaller. I wouldn't know (you'd have to ask a professional rigger) if it's better or worse to have over-sized shrouds. The original engineers may have chosen smaller wire sizes to allow more stretch/give in certain areas of the mast.

Also, most mast-tuning guides recommend using a Loos gauge for setting shroud/stay tension at a certain % of it's breaking strength. So obviously, the shrouds with smaller diameters (7/32 and 1/4") will be set less tight than the larger ones. You'll have to compensate for that somehow if all your rigging is 9/32."