Any Ericson 32-200 Owners Out There
- Thread starter Horace74
- Start date
Hi Horace. Welcome!
I think your best first step is to go on board this model, and also its sister ship, the 32-3, to compare the quite different interiors, within the same hull form. If you tell us where you're located, locals on this forum might be able to point you to boats you might be able to look at after contacting the owner> I'm assuming there are none currently advertised for sale within a reasonable drive from your location(?) Good luck!
I think your best first step is to go on board this model, and also its sister ship, the 32-3, to compare the quite different interiors, within the same hull form. If you tell us where you're located, locals on this forum might be able to point you to boats you might be able to look at after contacting the owner> I'm assuming there are none currently advertised for sale within a reasonable drive from your location(?) Good luck!
You might scan this blog for typical upgrades and some performance videos. The 32-3 and the 32-200 have essentially the same hull and sail plan, although the interior layouts are quite different.
ericsonyachts.org
E381 - Table of Contents for Thelonious Blog
http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/entry.php?469-Table-of-Contents-for-Theloni Newer Posts here. Thelonious II--Revised Cabin Table; New Upholstery Thelonious II--One-Piece Hatch Board; more Line Bags Thelonious II--Yacht...
Chris Mc.
Member III
I know you have asked about the 32-2, but I have a 32-3 at Herrington Harbor North (Tracy’s Landing MD) that is presently on the hard and will splash the last week of March. Until then, I only get to the boat every two weeks for a status check.
The Ericson 32-200 is the finest sailboat that anyone has ever made at any time in any place. This is a widely-accepted truth.
I had a roast beef sandwich for lunch on mine today.
My blog here on this site: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/blog/32-200-projects-sure-shot.11600/
I had a roast beef sandwich for lunch on mine today.
My blog here on this site: https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/blog/32-200-projects-sure-shot.11600/
frosero7744
Member II
Tom. ahahaa!!! finest boat ever for sure.
I love the blog!!! The upgrades seem a bit daunting though. What would you estimate the cost of AC would be?
As to 34 vs 32, I would study the interior layouts of both boats on Sailboatdata.com. Some of the size increase results in the feeling of a bigger cabin, but in functionality, I think one obtains more closets and a larger nav station. You won't get another cabin or a meaningfully different layout. People like both boats. My 32 is just small enough that I can still shove it around in my berth by myself. I sail singlehanded and I don't see any need for something larger.
As to adding AC I am the wrong guy to ask - I haven't even made my hot water heater work yet. I suspect the cost would be on a par with adding AC to any 30-35 year old boat. I think you would only run it off shore power, correct? Will you be living aboard? Just want cool air for cocktails at the dock? Here is one recent article about AC.
Air Conditioning for Sailboats - Practical Sailor
Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.
www.practical-sailor.com
If you buy any 30-year-old sailboat you will be investing time and money in bringing it up to snuff.
Having gone from 32 to 38, my impression is that the major gain is stability all around. The boat doesn't rock when you step aboard. It is kindlier in a seaway.
The "bigger" element is real but subtle. No world-changing factors. Most guests who knew the old boat had to be told the new boat was new. To them it looked exactly the same.
The 32 was more fun to sail. More dinghy-like. The 38 is more compatible with bouncy seas. And the increased deck space means 8 people can go day sailing without burden.
The reality is that Ericsons aren't about accomodations. That's easy to find. I chartered a Hunter 37 for a weekend years ago and it had a real owners cabin and was vast below. An old Catalina 36 is bigger below than my boat.
The "bigger" element is real but subtle. No world-changing factors. Most guests who knew the old boat had to be told the new boat was new. To them it looked exactly the same.
The 32 was more fun to sail. More dinghy-like. The 38 is more compatible with bouncy seas. And the increased deck space means 8 people can go day sailing without burden.
The reality is that Ericsons aren't about accomodations. That's easy to find. I chartered a Hunter 37 for a weekend years ago and it had a real owners cabin and was vast below. An old Catalina 36 is bigger below than my boat.
Given that you seem to have a preference for an interior with an aft head, you might find yourself looking at the Ericson 32-200, the E-34-2, and the Olson 34.
From that viewpoint, it gets to how much interior you need for headroom and bunk length. Do you want a dedicated nav desk, or can that surface be a stand-up area with other storage or a freezer beneath?
I have crewed a delivery on an E-32-3 (same hull & rig as the -200 version), and buddy boated for a week with an E-34-2. All are fast and strong boats, but until you spend a little time aboard you will not know how the choices and priorities shake out.
From a handling point, IMHO all are equal for sailing and docking.... i.e. the displacements are not too different.
Here is a thread with the unvarnished truth about berth length, i.e. actual numbers.
Actual Berth Size (Master Thread)
http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?t=7522 This current thread is getting into assessing the "sleeping accommodations" on the Ericson 38 series, and I thought it would be useful to transition to a fresh thread with some comparative stats on the various Ericsons. This topic...
The owners here have always been candid and factual when asked about their model, and that's a huge assist when you are shopping,
Sidebar: concerning aft cabin interiors ---- before we found the O-34, we spent some time on an O'Day 322, and a Juneau 32. Both had aft cabin interiors, and both seemed cramped. The Ericson 32-200, we almost bought first, was acceptable, but still seemed kind of tight. My being 6'2" is a factor, also.
OTOH, the E-34 and the O-34 are a good fit for me. That's one reason we have stayed with the Olson, since buying it in 1994.
Happy shopping, and keep asking questions.
I would also put a post in the Regional Ericson board for Mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake - we have a bunch of owners down there...
Pacific Spirit Marine
Junior Member
Just recently purchased a 32-200. Love it so far, she sails like a house on fire (we have the tall rig), but my main complaint is space. I have a universal M3-20B inboard engine and I find access to the basics like engine oil dipstick and stuffing box are a pain and require a significant amount of gymnastics for any maintenance tasks. My boat is also lacking some of the bells and whistles such as hot water tank, bus heater and refrigeration, but I've been having a hard time finding locations for installs without sacrificing some major storage space (which is already at a premium). We will do just fine, as we mostly just cruise the pacific northwest. But if you were interested in any longer trips, I'd likely bite the bullet and go for something a bit larger.
Welcome aboard Pacific Spirit! Will be awesome to get your insights on electrical issues if you feel like contributing down the road.
(Here's Fraser's company web site: https://www.pacificspiritmarine.com/ for those wondering what I mean.)
Ericson didn't make it simple with naming conventions at the popular 32' length:
The hull-stepped E32 made in the seventies is sometimes called the E32-2, or E 32 Mk II.
Then the keel-stepped E32-3 was made in large numbers 1985-1988.
The E32-200 is mostly the same hull as the 32-3 but made from 1988-1990.
There are a few E32-333's made by Pacific Seacraft, after Ericson formally shuttered.
Of course, there is also a fractional rig E33, which is actually shorter than the E32's, LOA, (with a smidge longer waterline) so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(Here's Fraser's company web site: https://www.pacificspiritmarine.com/ for those wondering what I mean.)
Ericson didn't make it simple with naming conventions at the popular 32' length:
The hull-stepped E32 made in the seventies is sometimes called the E32-2, or E 32 Mk II.
Then the keel-stepped E32-3 was made in large numbers 1985-1988.
The E32-200 is mostly the same hull as the 32-3 but made from 1988-1990.
There are a few E32-333's made by Pacific Seacraft, after Ericson formally shuttered.
Of course, there is also a fractional rig E33, which is actually shorter than the E32's, LOA, (with a smidge longer waterline) so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Pacific Spirit Marine
Junior Member
Yeah she's a 1974 deck stepped tabernackle tall rig... say that fast a few times... haha
Welcome. You live in Paradise! I made the drive from Seattle to Lund to look at an Ericsson 32 back in 2016. I made both ferries in time to spend the night in Powell River before viewing the boat the next day. If I ever make that drive again, I'm gonna spend 4 or 5 days on the SS Coast.
Pacific Spirit Marine
Junior Member
Thanks! This area is pretty unreal for the proximity, whether it be salt water or fresh water with Desolation Sound and the Broughtons at our doorstep. When this whole ordeal blows over, sail on up and I'll point you to some nice spots to explore!
Thanks for the info. We are working stiffs so no long trips in the foreseeable future. We mostly day sail with some weekend trips and overnight anchoring. Storage space is not as important to us right now as sleeping space and an enclosed head lol!