Ericson 38-200 1990

[Christian Williams]

Here is a video record of typical E38 renovation

Renovation of a 1984 Ericson 38

Thelonious II" was surveyed in 'above average' condition. However, it took 18 months to prepare her for basic offshore sailing. Although Ericson boats were w...

www.youtube.com

For specific jobs see also

E381 - Table of Contents for Thelonious Blog

Thelonious II yacht blog Table of Contents Christian Williams

ericsonyachts.org

 

[southofvictor]

Here’s a thread where lower down I describe our recent rudder bearing replacement. We only replaced the lower. It’s a big job but manageable.

Cracks @ Rudder Post and Loose Strut

I can only assume that this cavity should have been fill with solid fiberglass especially since it is adjacent to the bottom rudder bearing. It appears this problem has been there since 1987 when the boat was built. I'm wondering how may other Ericsons have this manufacturing flaw if you want to...

ericsonyachts.org

The sole by the inboard aft corner of the galley cabinet is a spot that is known to move in the 38-200s with the engine under the companionway, but it’s not typical to see moisture there other than just galley countertop draining water down the cabinet so I’m not sure what’s going on there or around the shower sump. Most likely cosmetic and something you can live with until you risk stepping through the sole.

Cockpit shower is a nice addition!

 

[Northportsailor]

''Here’s a thread where lower down I describe our recent rudder bearing replacement. We only replaced the lower. It’s a big job but manageable.''
@southofvictor I do all I can fix on my boat within my knowledge.. the rudder bearings is above my pay grade even with all the detailed explanations of this community

 

[Drewm3i]

Loren beach & southofvictor THANK YOU so much for the detailed and thorough answer, this definitely puts my mind more at ease regarding this issue.
I am in the process of setting up an appointment with the boat agent to see the boat
Here is a link for the boat for sale
Take a look and let me know what you think

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1990-ericson-38-200-9522031/

I looked at this boat in person and it was a complete dump. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT buying this boat at any price. If it were free, I would have to think about it as it needs a full refit.

The rudder was very wobbly (I may even have a video somewhere--it was a joke and unlike any Ericson rudder I've ever seen). I recall blisters and a keel that had some separation. The floorboards were soft and rotten. The cabin was dirty and musty (mildew +oil) smelling. The cushions were all ripped and the interior was nothing like the pictures. The engine was out for rebuild/replacement, sitting haphazardly on the soft floor (and a rusty mess). There were stress cracks indicating water intrusion + freezing damage to the core all over the deck and bulwarks. All the equipment (including sails and rigging) looked due for replacement, despite the reported age.

The seller wasted hours of my time, and his price--then and now, in this boat market--is a COMPLETE joke! This boat has been up for sale for like two years already--and for damn good reason. I always call sellers to let them know one way or another, but after the fiasco that was this boat and the sketchy--nasty and dirty (Russian-owned, possibly operated as cover for illicit activities???)--marina that it was at on Staten Island, I did not: because people who try to screw other people--and who waste their time--DO NOT deserve such a courtesy.

Don't buy this boat or you will regret it.

 

[Drewm3i]

Wow, looks to be the "deal of the century" for $25k even if it does need a new main.

ABSOLUTELY NOT--see my post above.

 

[Loren Beach]

Nothing takes the place of an in-person report! Thank you.

 

[Drewm3i]

Some pics (not very good, but they're something):

Looking at them, I realize I forgot to mention the dozens of truly shoddy gelcoat repairs and unrepaired dings.

 

[Northportsailor]

I looked at this boat in person and it was a complete dump. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT buying this boat at any price. If it were free, I would have to think about it as it needs a full refit.

The rudder was very wobbly (I may even have a video somewhere--it was a joke and unlike any Ericson rudder I've ever seen). I recall blisters and a keel that had some separation. The floorboards were soft and rotten. The cabin was dirty and musty (mildew +oil) smelling. The cushions were all ripped and the interior was nothing like the pictures. The engine was out for rebuild/replacement, sitting haphazardly on the soft floor (and a rusty mess). There were stress cracks indicating water intrusion + freezing damage to the core all over the deck and bulwarks. All the equipment (including sails and rigging) looked due for replacement, despite the reported age.

The seller wasted hours of my time, and his price--then and now, in this boat market--is a COMPLETE joke! This boat has been up for sale for like two years already--and for damn good reason. I always call sellers to let them know one way or another, but after the fiasco that was this boat and the sketchy--nasty and dirty (Russian-owned, possibly operated as cover for illicit activities???)--marina that it was at on Staten Island, I did not: because people who try to screw other people--and who waste their time--DO NOT deserve such a courtesy.

Don't buy this boat or you will regret it.

Wow, I am quite shocked, I haven't seen the boat yet but after what @Drewm3i is describing i will have to think hard if I want to do so.
Thanks for the heads up @Drewm3i

 

[Loren Beach]

The boat might still worth taking on, but perhaps at a near-free price, and by someone with restoration experience and realistic expectations. Probably still worth a look, but with eyes wide open, and wallet shut tight. The brokerage photos might be older, as well.

 

[Drewm3i]

Videos of the wobbly rudder--I wasn't tugging very hard as it wasn't my boat, but still:

What a bad sailboat rudder bearing/rudder tube sounds like! #sailboat #ericson38 #spaderudder

This video demonstrates the "wobble" that signifies an out-of-spec sailboat spade rudder, that has a loose bearing and/or worn stock/rudder tube. Typically, ...

youtube.com

 

[Northportsailor]

@Drewm3i what year was that? When you saw the boat

 

[Drewm3i]

The boat might still worth taking on, but perhaps at a near-free price, and by someone with restoration experience and realistic expectations. Probably still worth a look, but with eyes wide open, and wallet shut tight. The photos might be older, as well.

They for sure are--I was aghast (and pissed off) when I got to the boat. There are many better boats out there--I know of a decent 1989 38-200 in Virginia (needs a refit) that could be had for ~17K with a (honest, kind and decent) seller, and another nice 34-2 in northern Mass that could be had for a similar price with another great seller @kath .

Really, you'd be better of taking the 34-2 I'm giving away in Annapolis for free (just to help the older owner who wants to see the boat have another chance at life).

To the OP: either way, most of the boats in this age and price range are going to need a major refit before I would trust them; and many like this one with a dubious ownership pedigree, I would probably never trust.

 

[Drewm3i]

@Drewm3i what year was that? When you saw the boat

May of 2025.

 

[southofvictor]

That’s one of the biggest challenges of online listings for anything - figuring out how the pics compare with today’s reality. Great to have firsthand info from someone who has seen it recently.

 

[Christian Williams]

The broker is moderately forthcoming about issues:

As of May 2025 a new transmission is being installed along with engine mounts, raw water exhaust tube, and the shaft coupling. The sale includes a 9' Achilles with a 3.5 HP Tohatsu. Boat also has dinghy davits and an engine hoist. Below deck there is refrigeration and AC! The interior requires some varnishing and the sole will require some attention. However she is ready to leave the dock. There is a lot of quality and upgrades aboard El Ganso. She is competitively priced at $34,900. A 2020 insurance survey is available for serious inquiries.

Price reduction is big.

Still, the sole job is 5-10K and new cushions (14 of them) represent similar cost. A wing keel is not a plus.

The market is stagnant, tending toward non-existent, here at least. Boats are being given away, slips are widely available. Lowballs can work for people who own machine shops and free storage.

 

[Dave G.]

I looked at this boat in person and it was a complete dump. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT buying this boat at any price.

Eye witness news ! So unless you are looking for the project of a lifetime, time to move on IMHO.

 

[nukey99]

Reading this thread, I feel lucky that we sold our 1983 35-3 in a week, for 29500. The boat was pretty clean and I'd fixed everything I could find, but there were still some soft spots on the deck and some elevated moisture reading on the sole. If we had kept the boat, I was going to redo the coring in the problem deck areas, I anticipated that it would take me a solid week.

 

[Drewm3i]

Yup, and one thing to add: most of the equipment (like the fridge and AC) consisted of shoddily-installed, aftermarket add-ons so I would not put any stock in them having value.

I also would not trust this seller, and for me, that matters a lot. I want to buy/acquire the boat of someone who demonstratively cares about their boat, which is hard to find but definitely not impossible.

 

[Drewm3i]

The market is stagnant, tending toward non-existent, here at least. Boats are being given away, slips are widely available. Lowballs can work for people who own machine shops and free storage.

To me, this is the key point--now is not the time to spend money on older boats unless one can afford to lose everything one puts in (and pay all increasing costs like slips, insurance, repair/maintenance, parts, etc.).

I'm not an old guy, but I've personally never seen anything like the current boat market: so many good (once great?) boats are being dumped for nothing in average to good shape. It's hard to express what I've been seeing on the ground this year along the East Coast: it's like if a boat isn't absolutely perfect, it is deemed worthless; it really seems like the pool of buyers is just really small these days due to economics and the aging-out of the sport by Baby Boomers.

A few near-mint boats (that I personally looked at) have moved at bargain bin prices (almost free), but the vast majority are just sitting on the market for years on end with little to no interest. It seems to be worst with monohull sailboats and sterndrive-powered powerboats,--my two preferences--both of which the market has deemed worthless in favor of catamarans (and so-called "monomarans") and center consoles with multiple outboards respectively.

I had an old surveyor in the Baltimore area straight up tell me that: "I've never seen it like this--they're crushing good boats left and right at all of the yards I have worked at for decades." I pressed and asked the age of the boats and he said they were crushing nearly everything--mostly monohull sailboats and older powerboats--80s and 90s variations included.

 

[Christian Williams]

The yachting sector has always endured downturns, based on recession, tax law, and social factors such as whether sailing is cool, elitist, or a healthy component of raising a family for those not divorced, broke or indicted. But this feels different. Sailing thrives inn optimistic world of personal progress, and the sense of a better future which makes paying slip fees less a chore than an investment in the future.

I feel, reflecting those around me, that we are in a moral recession. Uncertainty abounds, financial, but more importantly there is a sense of national confusion, surprise, and despair over the revelation that nobody seems to agree on anything, and that compromise is out of fashion and that what is in fashion is a brutal and crude thumb in your eye. Suspicion abounds. Hate makes itself known. Insult rules. Politics reflects all that, it doesn't cause it.

We never really knew what each other was thinking, and ignorance was bliss. Now we know, and it isn;t helpful.

On a smaller scale of recognition is the recent hallucination of Covid. It drove boat prices up because boats were a safe haven. Now they are again what they always were, a big commitment.

On the other hand this is not Vietnam, there is no draft, and old people remember worse times. It is always good when old people remember worse times.