Hi Dave and Donna-Marie,
What you can see in the pictures looks good. I do worry when they say it has a fresh diesel, then they don't show you a picture. I realize you can only show 4 on Craigslist though. Galley and head are not shown either.
She looks beautiful, but that's the downfall of the E35. They have such gorgeous lines, it's hard not to fall in love. I assume you are going to have a look in person. Feel the motor before he starts it and if it's warm think to yourself, hmmm, why did he feel the need to warm her up? A motor with that many hours oughta look pretty nice. Look in the bilge. Is it relatively fresh smelling and not too wet? ( they all have some water from the stuffing box, etc.) How original is interior and exterior? Has it been remuddled much? Pull the sails up right there in the slip if you are in a windward slip and give them a good going over, including the halyards and sheets. (sails are expensive) The list goes on. Just try remember there are around 600 other E35's out there, and you have an army of Ericson owners to help you look. I sure will.
I got my E35 8 months ago for $15,000. It was an unusual circumstance. The owner needed out fast and I just happened to be there. I was lucky. It has 15 hp Yanmar diesel which is an option they came with and is a little under-powered in my opinion, but it runs beautifully. ( I'll replace it someday, not yet though). And everything is in very original shape. She's mechanically very sound. Her sails and rigging are in very good shape. She needs some normal TLC (nothing structural) and there are some regular upgrades needed which I'm already well into.
Back to your boat, sorry, I get excited... For 23,000 in this economy, I'd expect to see a teak sole, pressure water, maybe hot and cold, a nice galley, and some extra's like that.
Hope I didn't prattle on too much. I assumed you might be buying your first boat, but even if not. I thought I'd mention the basics. It's easy to lose your head.
Good Luck,
Tim
