Thinking about this 1976 32-2, but I don't know what I don't know...

I'm selling my fishing boat and moving to a sailboat. My kids hate the noise and I suck at catching fish. I've sailed on my cousin's 25' boat multiple times, but I am certainly still a beginner, and this will be my first sailboat. I'm looking for something in the 27'-32' range, bigger is better for my family of four to be doing weekend trips, day sailing, and hopefully a little exploring into Canada (from my home port in Southern Puget Sound). I'd really like to keep my initial budget under $10k, ideally something in sailable condition, but needing a little work to make it nicer/easy upgrades. I am good with fiberglass and wood work (I've built multiple kayaks, canoes, etc), good with electrical, and can figure out most things pretty easily, but engine work is outside my specialty.

I found an ad on Craigslist that seems pretty much what I'm looking for; a 1976 E32-2. Here is the ad:

Of course it has to be in the most difficult place to go see a boat. Point Roberts is only accessible through Canada (closed boarders) or by boat. There is a ferry, but it only runs 4x a week at strange hours. It would cost a fortune to get an inspector out there to do any type of pre-purchase inspection.

The ad says most of what I know. I have exchanged a few emails with the owner to get a little more details. He says the motor has never given him issues, and had a recent tune up. He has sent me videos of the motor running (not starting) and video of coolant water moving. Last bottom paint was in '17, he dove it last year and it looked good.

I don't like the Atomic 4, but if it runs well, I can live with it a while, I'm sure. I really wish it had a roller furling, but I can add that later.

The soft spot on the deck has me worried probably less than it would most people. I'm good with fixing issues like this as long as it isn't huge. He said it is about the size of a basketball on the front deck. It was like that when he bought it, and hasn't got bigger. He says interior of the boat is dry. That for me isn't a difficult fix.

So, what do I need to be thinking about? My moorage doesn't require an inspection, and I won't be financing. I'd really like to be able to go look at it and make a decision myself. How stupid would that be? What are the known issues with these boats that I need to be worried about? Like I said, getting an inspector out there would be probably a big enough hassle that it would be easier at that point to be looking at other boats closer to home.

Other boats on my radar (this Ericson is my first pick)- there are two 30' Newports that look nice enough to be worth a look, a '72 Islander 30', and a Catalina 30. Researching this Ericson has lead me here, and I like that they aren't super common, but still common enough to have a strong following. Definitely something that seems ideal over something like a Catalina where there are 10 exactly the same as yours at every marina.

As I read back at what I wrote, it seems like ramblings of a new sailor that doesn't know what question he is asking. I guess that is what I am though. Hoping to get some good input from some experienced people, especially with this type of boat.

The owner clearly knows how hard it is for buyers to get to Port Roberts. Have the owner bring the boat to Blaine marina or Bellingham marina for a few days as guest moorage. That makes the boat a lot easier for you to access.

If you are looking for a surveyor, see if Steve Berg is available to do a marine survey. He’s based in Anacortes and will travel to Bellingham and perhaps Blaine. He surveyed our Ericson when we bought it and we are quite happy with his work.

She looks nice from the photos and it could be a good deal, but old boats have the potential for lots of issues. I agree a survey would probably be helpful and is likely required for insuring the boat. A visit first before hiring a surveyor is important. That should give you an idea of overall condition and you can decide if you want to pursue it further.

I suggest getting a copy of Don Casey's "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat." I would first look for stuff that could potentially sink or cause major damage to the boat if it fails or would be very costly to repair. Check that thru hull valves are operable and hoses are in good condition, check prop shaft seal. I think its an encapsulated keel so no need to worry about keel bolts and leaky keel seam. Look at the mast and rigging. Mast smooth and fair, no wrinkles, bulges or odd bends? Check very closely the swages and turnbuckles and chainplates. Any rust or cracks (using a loupe or magnifying glass is helpful). Check fuel system. Any gasoline smells or leaks? The cleanliness of the engine room compartment can sometimes inform how well cared for the engine is. Turn the prop shaft by hand (in nuetral), it should turn easily. Don't be afraid to dig around and look into the areas that are not easily accessible, that is where the problems often lie! Have the owner show you the various systems in operation, and ask them lots of questions. Their answers (or evasiveness) can be very informative.

Good luck with it.

Edit: I would also like to validate your instinctive reaction to the Ericson vs the Catalina.

Soft spots on the deck are easy to correct with injectafoam....been there, do a search on this forum. If the deck leak did not reach the interior, that is very good news and another question to ask the seller: where and if/when the source of the leak was corrected.

A replacement engine will cost as much as the boat...so if the engine checks out, that's a good thing.

Looks like it came from San Diego and the aloha mat maybe indicates a Pacific voyage in its history. Looks good from pictures; however, hands and eyes on are important for a talented Captain as you will be. Also the bottom if it's been over 3 years, may need a $2.5k redo. If/when was the last time the winches were serviced. When you are at the boat, ask for the winch handle and use it. Don't underestimate future expenses!!!

The best thing ever is owning a sailboat for you and your family to enjoy!

All great input, thanks all of you.

Good point about having him come to a reasonable place like Blaine. I'll see what he is willing to do.

Great breakdown of the main things to look for on the first look.

Injectafoam is an easier solution than what I was planning. Thanks for that!

I'm guessing $2.5k for a hull job is hiring a pro? I'm thinking I should be able to DIY that, right? Pay to haul it, dry store it for, what, a few weeks? Scrape and paint? I know the paint is $$$, but could a DIY job be a way to get a good result with less expense?

If you can find a place to haul it out that will let you work on the boat that is an excellent plan. However; DIY yards are few and far between especially for bottom paint due to environmental regulations.

Don't underestimate the yard storage fees for DIY. You may want to address all the other below the water line maintenance items like thru hulls, shaft seal, cutless bearing, rudder issues etc. during that time. Make a good list, and quadruple the time you expect to be out because it will take longer than you think, you will find other issues, and the "while you are in there" factor will add some days. Everything on a sailboat seems to be connected too, so a project on one system in the boat will inevitably require removal or replacement of another.

Some good information for DIY'ers here: https://marinehowto.com/

For the record, your budget is low for a 32 foot sailboat.

If you buy the first boat you look at, you'll never know whether it was a good choice. So, the usual recommendation is to take three months and look at 12 boats.

Well I cannot claim to be a seasoned sailor as of yet but a few points to share. Bigd is right, the knee bone is connected to the shin bone, etc. and to get the location of a DIY yard and then go there.
Being in seasonal territory, Emgee is hauled and stored each winter so never a question for access tho the clock is ticking towards launch day and you want to get things done. This spring I am stripping the bottom, prime coat, barrier coat and seasonal ablative, I may also replace or close off 2 thru hulls. My budget is in the 500.00 range so yea, 2.5k is somebody else doing it all.
So make a list, then set priorities, then consider budget, then reset priorities, then make a plan, then execute the plan, then GO SAILING!
And as Bigd also alluded to....Ericson's are really great yachts!!!

I didn't know yards didn't allow DIY. I guess it makes sense when you think about it for many reasons. Good link, too. I'll have to search around and find one that will allow. I'd think within the Gig Harbor/Tacoma area, I should be able to find a good one.

Christian, I'm aware of both counts. I didn't think a 32' boat was in my budget, until I saw a few that were. This one seems to be a nice boat that just happens to be in my budget. I just hope it doesn't have other issues I don't know about until I see it in person. I have seen that it is a good idea to see 12 boats first. That was the plan, and I have seen a few, but mostly in the 26' and 27' range. At the same point, I also don't want to see and miss out on a good boat just because I was on boat # 9 instead of having seen all 12 yet. I'm going to do my best to get around to see a few bigger boats before I see the Ericson.

Started working on the logistics. The ferry to Point Roberts leaves Bellingham at 6:30am and gets you there at 8:30am. I'm stuck in Point Roberts until the boat leaves at 5:30pm. It is about a 2.5 hour drive, so I leave my house before 4am and get home after 10pm. I sent him an email to see if he could meet me at Blaine or Bellingham. He replied saying that he would only deliver a sold boat, or bring it over if there was a non-refundable deposit.

That is frustrating. He won't take the boat 15 miles to save me hours upon hours. Makes me wonder, does he think I'll find something that will make me not want to buy it, making it a waste of his time to bring it over? I mean, I'm pretty serious if I'm going to go all the way up there to see it. Now, I'm worried about taking all day to get up there to find out that it isn't what he says it is, then be stuck there for another 8 hours, and still be gone from home for 16 hours with nothing to show for it.

Maybe I need to go look at other boats instead. Bummer.

Well, the seller's 30-mile round-trip by boat is a significant investment too - he's got a real chicken-and-egg problem on his hands showing that boat, doesn't he! Maybe suggest that he line up a few interested parties and bring the boat to Bellingham at the end of the month for a day of showing?

bigd14 said:

If you can find a place to haul it out that will let you work on the boat that is an excellent plan. However; DIY yards are few and far between especially for bottom paint due to environmental regulations.

Click to expand...

Hylebos down in Tacoma is still DIY, and was pretty good the last time I was in there....


//sse

I sent a few emails back and forth with him again. I told him I was planning on making an offer as long as the boat is as advertised, but he wasn't going to budge, and I'm not going to spend 9 hours there to see it. It just wasn't meant to be.

I did call on a 35' Ericson that is in Seattle. Talked to the owner that used it as a live-aboard while he was working downtown Seattle. He has since moved to Walla Walla: https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/d/seattle-ericson-sailboat/7303109857.html
For anyone that is interested, the work that is needed doesn't seem too daunting. Some electrical with the bilge pump (!!!!), manual bilge pump needs a new seal (or something), needs bottom paint, sails he said had a year left in them. Plumbing from head to holding tank is leaking and needs replaced. Said interior was great. Might be worth a look for someone that wants a possible good deal. Or a possible huge disaster.

After looking at a few more boats today (busy day, 3 boats seen), I ended up with a Cal 2-29. It is in really nice shape. Perhaps for my next boat I'll be able to find an Ericson to upgrade into once I outgrow this Cal. This seems like a great community, and I really like the boats.

Thanks everyone for the input!

And thanks, Sean, for the tip about Hylebos. Those prices aren't bad at all. I'm sure I'll end up there in a few years or so when I need to haul this one.

Do keep checking in here. Congrats on the new boat.

Congrats also on the new boat. The Cal 29 is a decent choice.
If you have questions, just ask. Systems are 'bout the same on most boats of a certain vintage.