Oh please Oh please [Find Boat of my Dreams]

[Barbixy]

That is a very handy pole for grabbing on to when traversing the length of the boat when underway. It’s standard.

It may be difficult to find a boat that has had the standing rigging done recently. Unless a silly owner (like me) spends lots of time and money fixing up a boat then decides to buy a bigger boat, it’s pretty rare to find a boat that has even new-ish rigging.

The photos of this boat look pretty good, but the photos almost always look better than what you find in person. Give yourself time to get to know the boat. It took me three visits to my prospective boat to get a feel for what I was getting into before I decided to buy it. The first visit was an overview, mostly just overall impressions to see if the layout appealed to me (it did) and what obvious major problems I might find (none). So I kept it in mind and went and looked at some other boats to see if anything else appealed to me more. With one exception, the other boats sucked, so the 34-2 was the prime contender. Then I went back and spent a good chunk of an afternoon diving into stuff and found a bunch of what I would consider medium issues (leaking portlights and hatches, aging equipment, rotting canvas, worn cushions, yes, older standing rigging, and on and on). I took a ton of photos of things that I wanted to follow up on and then a whole ‘nother ton of general overview shots. Finally, after a week looking through the photos and researching the issues I found during the first two visits, I went back a third time and looked into the remaining things I wanted to follow up about, and then put an offer on the boat right after that.

Even with a very well executed refit in 2011 I found a ton of things that need to be replaced or repaired which I am slowly working through. It’s a process.

It was Filkee on here who said that the purchase price of a boat is just the ante! You have to really enjoy working on and spending money on the boat.

E32-200 - First Year Costs

Neither boasting nor weeping. Merely an accounting, mostly for my own notes. Hoping the admiral won’t ever find it. I had guessed at the outset my expenditures would be 50% of the purchase price and with the attached to the boat stuff, I am...

ericsonyachts.org

Hi,
Did you go forward without a survey? Haul out inspection? Sea trial? I'm doing my first look this morning at a prospective purchase.
Thanks

 

[Barbixy]

Ok. Went and spent 90 min this morning with the "captain owner" and the broker and asked 40 questions. Looked at everything on my written list etc. Please feel free to chime in with any and all input which will be greatly appreciated.
To address Kenneth K's observations from the photo of the motor, it is the original Yanmar diesel motor, model number GM 30F.
Re: the rusty motor mount(s) - seller told me at one point a hose broke and covered the motor in salt water. He had it professionally washed, and that's why some of the pulley wheels look new etc. Also, the questionable wire splicing is from the same problem. No temperature or oil pressure sensor. Only a tach. Seemed to have gotten along without those things all these years but??
The paper towel on the heat exchanger hose is something called a weeping leak detector.
He mentioned no glow plugs but there's some other way to turn the motor off - not with the key. Stuffing box looked new.

Mostly everything looked pretty good. It's apparent this boat has been well loved but I got the impression the owner has not done much or used the boat in the last two years, as one forum member mentioned he was "aging out" of the boat at 75 years old, as he had a stroke and not as nimble anymore. Told me last haul out and bottom paint was done two years ago. Bilge was bone dry. Batteries are two years old and looked good. Boat does not smell. I saw no mold anywhere and looked in all the cabinets with a flashlight. Sole was all intact and no soft spots. It needs refinishing in spots though. There is a Danforth anchor, but no windlass. Sails have hardly any use and were replaced 3 years ago. Seller said "the main is a bear to handle because it is not broken in yet." It has a really nice quality almost new brass barometer and clock. When you knock on the bulkheads they feel really solid. It has a propane stove and oven that looks like it hasn't gotten much use and a propane alarm and sensor at floor level. Does it also need a sensor in the bilge? There are two type 1 life jackets and the man overboard bag, and last but not least is the dinghy which is new and very high quality. He's got a small Evinrude motor which he says was completely rebuilt and gone over.

My impressions of the downsides are as follows:
1.Standing rigging is original! Broker told me I can have a rigging survey done and maybe nothing is wrong with any of it and might not need replacing, seller said it was "fine."
2. Some of the sheets and lines are fraying - seller said he would replace before the sale.
3. Some of the windows on the starboard side have leaked badly and the acrylic "glass" is crazed badly on all of them on both starboard and port side. Very minor evidence of leaks on the port side. Seller said these windows are still available new.
5. Electronics are really, really old, he's got radar, depth, knotmeter, compass etc and LORAN! This was used before GPS, so it may be original. No AIS. Everything is original. Seller said "everything works."
6. The cockpit standing behind the wheel felt kind of cramped. Like not much room to stand in there, don't know if this is bad or good for stability or?
7. I don't like the sink! Not sure what it would cost to have the nice teak appointed counter and stainless sinks made and installed, and what skilled craftsperson would do that?

I'm going forward with the full survey - above water line - haul out and sea trial.
Seller said "don't tell the broker but you really don't need one." To qualify his opinion, he has some kind of master seaman credential, was in the Navy and has been on boats since 14 years old. He used to do charters and had had the captains license for many years.

I'M already thinking replace standing rigging as a critical safety issue, and maybe electronics piece by piece over time. I wanna put a motor temp and pressure gauge in at some point IF I buy it.

Haul out and survey was quoted at $20 a foot for the survey and $18 a foot for the haul out.

 

[Barbixy]

Here you can see the leak evidence and damage. If you enlarge the one with the acrylic "glass" you can see the crazing, but it looks much worse in person.

 

[Drewm3i]

Ok. Went and spent 90 min this morning with the "captain owner" and the broker and asked 40 questions. Looked at everything on my written list etc. Please feel free to chime in with any and all input which will be greatly appreciated.
To address Kenneth K's observations from the photo of the motor, it is the original Yanmar diesel motor, model number GM 30F.
Re: the rusty motor mount(s) - seller told me at one point a hose broke and covered the motor in salt water. He had it professionally washed, and that's why some of the pulley wheels look new etc. Also, the questionable wire splicing is from the same problem. No temperature or oil pressure sensor. Only a tach. Seemed to have gotten along without those things all these years but??
The paper towel on the heat exchanger hose is something called a weeping leak detector.
He mentioned no glow plugs but there's some other way to turn the motor off - not with the key. Stuffing box looked new.

Mostly everything looked pretty good. It's apparent this boat has been well loved but I got the impression the owner has not done much or used the boat in the last two years, as one forum member mentioned he was "aging out" of the boat at 75 years old, as he had a stroke and not as nimble anymore. Told me last haul out and bottom paint was done two years ago. Bilge was bone dry. Batteries are two years old and looked good. Boat does not smell. I saw no mold anywhere and looked in all the cabinets with a flashlight. Sole was all intact and no soft spots. It needs refinishing in spots though. There is a Danforth anchor, but no windlass. Sails have hardly any use and were replaced 3 years ago. Seller said "the main is a bear to handle because it is not broken in yet." It has a really nice quality almost new brass barometer and clock. When you knock on the bulkheads they feel really solid. It has a propane stove and oven that looks like it hasn't gotten much use and a propane alarm and sensor at floor level. Does it also need a sensor in the bilge? There are two type 1 life jackets and the man overboard bag, and last but not least is the dinghy which is new and very high quality. He's got a small Evinrude motor which he says was completely rebuilt and gone over.

My impressions of the downsides are as follows:
1.Standing rigging is original! Broker told me I can have a rigging survey done and maybe nothing is wrong with any of it and might not need replacing, seller said it was "fine."
2. Some of the sheets and lines are fraying - seller said he would replace before the sale.
3. Some of the windows on the starboard side have leaked badly and the acrylic "glass" is crazed badly on all of them on both starboard and port side. Very minor evidence of leaks on the port side. Seller said these windows are still available new.
5. Electronics are really, really old, he's got radar, depth, knotmeter, compass etc and LORAN! This was used before GPS, so it may be original. No AIS. Everything is original. Seller said "everything works."
6. The cockpit standing behind the wheel felt kind of cramped. Like not much room to stand in there, don't know if this is bad or good for stability or?
7. I don't like the sink! Not sure what it would cost to have the nice teak appointed counter and stainless sinks made and installed, and what skilled craftsperson would do that?

I'm going forward with the full survey - above water line - haul out and sea trial.
Seller said "don't tell the broker but you really don't need one." To qualify his opinion, he has some kind of master seaman credential, was in the Navy and has been on boats since 14 years old. He used to do charters and had had the captains license for many years.

I'M already thinking replace standing rigging as a critical safety issue, and maybe electronics piece by piece over time. I wanna put a motor temp and pressure gauge in at some point IF I buy it.

Haul out and survey was quoted at $20 a foot for the survey and $18 a foot for the haul out.

Looks pretty good overall--the water damage is nothing to worry about. Both the broker and seller seem decent and pretty straightforward. I would second their observations about the rigging (good for nearby use with a proper inspection) unless you plan on heading offshore soon.

$20/foot for a survey these days is pretty cheap so I'd do my diligence on that surveyor. The going rate seems to be more like $25-$35 for a competent one and some charge hourly.

 

[Barbixy]

Ok. Went and spent 90 min this morning with the "captain owner" and the broker

Looks pretty good overall--the water damage is nothing to worry about. Both the broker and seller seem decent and pretty straightforward. I would second their observations about the rigging (good for nearby use with a proper inspection) unless you plan on heading offshore soon.

$20/foot for a survey these days is pretty cheap so I'd do my diligence on that surveyor. The going rate seems to be more like $25-$35 for a competent one and some charge hourly.

Thank you Drew,
I will be only be doing day sailing and coastal cruising, harbor hopping and taking trips to Catalina which is 22 miles from Dana Point and maybe closer from Long Beach. Channel Islands is another story, much further out, but they're wonderful, very primitive and pristine last time I checked. No ocean crossings. Not yet anyway. My dream was to get a slip in Ko'olina marina on Oahu eventually, and have already lined up a job there, BUT that may never happen. I'm getting on in years so there's that. If it ever got that far at that point I could do the standing rigging then.
Not that I want to pay more, but I'll run your comments past the broker, (32 years in DP) and see what he says. He represented the surveyor he's recommending as "very thorough" so there's that.

 

[Drewm3i]

Thank you Drew,
I will be only be doing day sailing and coastal cruising, harbor hopping and taking trips to Catalina which is 22 miles from Dana Point and maybe closer from Long Beach. Channel Islands is another story, much further out, but they're wonderful, very primitive and pristine last time I checked. No ocean crossings. Not yet anyway. My dream was to get a slip in Ko'olina marina on Oahu eventually, and have already lined up a job there, BUT that may never happen. I'm getting on in years so there's that. If it ever got that far at that point I could do the standing rigging then.
Not that I want to pay more, but I'll run your comments past the broker, (32 years in DP) and see what he says. He represented the surveyor he's recommending as "very thorough" so there's that.

All sounds good. A good rigging inspection and replacement of any suspect fittings, fasteners, chainplates, etc. would go a long way to keeping things upright without total replacement if it is not in the time/monetary budget.

Also, I would somewhat skeptical of any surveyor recommended by a selling broker as there is an inherent conflict of interest--it could be completely fine or he could be "broker friendly," as in unlikely to present anything to disrupt a sale, as they say. I am a former mechanic, now surveyor in the Annapolis area so have been getting some guidance and feedback from some very senior (and one retired) surveyors who have been doing it a long time FWIW.

It does sound like this is a good boat overall though (depending on price of course.

 

[Barbixy]

All sounds good. A good rigging inspection and replacement of any suspect fittings, fasteners, chainplates, etc. would go a long way to keeping things upright without total replacement if it is not in the time/monetary budget.

Also, I would somewhat skeptical of any surveyor recommended by a selling broker as there is an inherent conflict of interest--it could be completely fine or he could be "broker friendly," as in unlikely to present anything to disrupt a sale, as they say. I am a former mechanic, now surveyor in the Annapolis area so have been getting some guidance and feedback from some very senior (and one retired) surveyors who have been doing it a long time FWIW.

It does sound like this is a good boat overall though (depending on price of course.

He's asking $52k, which I think is a lot for a boat with few refits, and everything is old. Windows leak running rigging is old etc.

 

[bigd14]

Everything you have mentioned is normal for a nearly 40 year old boat. 3 year old sails are a huge bonus! I just spent the day replacing 4 of the old leaking portlights with the latest model Lewmars. Don’t bother trying to refurbish the original ones. Defender had the best price when I bought mine. They’re size 1s. https://defender.com/en_us/lewmar-standard-rectangular-size-1-opening-portlight

Definitely get a haul out and survey no matter what the seller and broker say.

I would just budget for new standing rigging, I doubt a professional rigger is going to tell you that 40 year old wire is fine. Too much liability.

 

[Barbixy]

Everything you have mentioned is normal for a nearly 40 year old boat. 3 year old sails are a huge bonus! I just spent the day replacing 4 of the old leaking portlights with the latest model Lewmars. Don’t bother trying to refurbish the original ones. Defender had the best price when I bought mine. They’re size 1s. https://defender.com/en_us/lewmar-standard-rectangular-size-1-opening-portlight

Definitely get a haul out and survey no matter what the seller and broker say.

I would just budget for new standing rigging, I doubt a professional rigger is going to tell you that 40 year old wire is fine. Too much liability.

View attachment 54686

Thank you. It's 36 years old to be exact, a 1990. But yea, everything on it is old.When you installed those new windows the leaking stops correct? The reason I'm asking is because on my Catalina 30 it leaked around the windows. This boat has two asymmetrical windows and three rectangular windows on each side. So I've determined the asymmetrical windows are size 1 but not sure about the rectangulars. Do these look like yours?

 

[Drewm3i]

He's asking $52k, which I think is a lot for a boat with few refits, and everything is old. Windows leak running rigging is old etc.

I think that's a bit steep in this boat market. I would probably estimate fair market value--based on everything you've posted--to be around 35K for that boat as-is. If you are interested in the E-34-2, there's a nice one in Newburyport, Massachusetts that I've looked at that could be had for sub-20K IMO (and maybe sub-15K TBH).

 

[Barbixy]

The plot thickens. I just found these two 38s in San Diego.

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1983-ericson-381-10043786/

and

1986 Ericson 381 Sloop for sale - YachtWorld

Find more information and images about the boat and contact the seller or search more boats for sale on YachtWorld.

www.yachtworld.com

 

[Barbixy]

I think that's a bit steep in this boat market. I would probably estimate fair market value--based on everything you've posted--to be around 35K for that boat as-is. If you are interested in the E-34-2, there's a nice one in Newburyport, Massachusetts that I've looked at that could be had for sub-20K IMO (and maybe sub-15K TBH).

Thank you Drew. MA is too far from me to consider, since I'm in Cali. There are a lot more Ericsons in the e.coast and Texas than in CA.

 

[bigd14]

The ones I replaced today were the smaller opening ports- 4 of them forward of the trapezoidal deadlights and 3 aft. If the deadlights are leaking those can be fixed easily and inexpensively but replacements are very expensive (custom). Many threads about sealing those up here on the Ericson site.
I would be surprised if you didn’t have a bunch of these common jobs in pretty much any boat, any brand and (almost) any price.

And yes, same boat!

And to actually answer your question- yes, replacing the portlights and resealing the deadlights should stop the leaks. However, there are other things that can also leak sitting above the portlights- seahood, hatches, traveler, clutches, turning blocks, etc. Those are all in my list for rebedding this summer. Again, almost every sailboat ever made needs this job done at some point.

 

[Barbixy]

The ones I replaced today were the smaller opening ports- 4 of them forward of the trapezoidal deadlights and 3 aft. If the deadlights are leaking those can be fixed easily and inexpensively but replacements are very expensive (custom). Many threads about sealing those up here on the Ericson site.
I would be surprised if you didn’t have a bunch of these common jobs in pretty much any boat, any brand and (almost) any price.

And yes, same boat!

And to actually answer your question- yes, replacing the portlights and resealing the deadlights should stop the leaks. However, there are other things that can also leak sitting above the portlights- seahood, hatches, traveler, clutches, turning blocks, etc. Those are all in my list for rebedding this summer. Again, almost every sailboat ever made needs this job done at some point.

Thank you for the info.

 

[mjsouleman]

Hello everyone,

Well...I may have found the boat of my dreams! Don't want to get my hopes up, but they already are
It was listed only one day ago, so I'm hoping I'm not a day too late. =[] That happened with the last one I found.
I was looking for a 38 or 38-200, and this one is a 1990 E-34. A little small for blue water but the upsides are lower slip rent and easier to singlehand than a 38.
It's represented as a one-owner boat, listed as "captain owned" with many new upgrades and while I have not yet seen it in person (waiting for a call back - left message for the broker) it appears to be in beautiful condition. When I speak with the broker, I will list everything I learn and find out in the EYo 'for sale/buying' forum and welcome any input and or suggestions. Hope everyone is having a great day, sun's out!

Please, Please, Please learn about the sailboat market before you do anything...

2025 is emerging as a challenging"buyer's market" for selling a used sailboat, characterized by oversupply, falling prices, and long wait times. Driven by aging owners (boomers) exiting the market, rising maintenance costs, and fading post-pandemic demand, the market is facing significant pressure.

• Market Trends: Listings are piling up while prices are cracking in many segments, with some experts describing the situation as a "collapse" of the used market.
• Buyer Behavior: Buyers are in control, exercising patience, and demanding better deals.
• Segment Performance: Older, smaller boats are losing value faster as maintenance costs become prohibitive for new buyers, notes this Reddit post.
• Timing: While spring is traditionally best, 2025 is seeing a generally "soft" market, notes NMMA data. Based on market trends entering

2026, selling a sailboat is challenging due to a collapsing used market, high ownership costs, and asaturated supply of boats from sellers exiting the market. It is a buyer's market characterized by price drops and reduced demand, making it a difficult time for sellers to achieve high returns

In summary, 2026 is characterized as a "nightmare" or "disaster" scenario for sellers hoping to get high returns, with the market favoring buyers seeking deals

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Hi Barb,

These are great starter threads for the intricacies of portlight maintenance.
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/replacing-fixed-windows-research-master-thread.9603/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/thread...main-large-windows-ports-master-thread.13578/

Christian has created a list of Master Threads which you will find to be a valuable resource. These are things which typically will need to be addressed on our Ericsons, if they haven't been already.

Master Threads (Recurring Topics)

Master Thread in a title identifies a full discussion of a popular topic. Posting to a Master Thread keeps topical information together. Autopilot Installation (Electric) https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/38-200-below-deck-linear-drive-installation-autopilot-master-thread.12103/ Bilge Pump...

ericsonyachts.org

This also forms a great checklist for any pre-purchase inspections.

If you lose track of the link, you can always find it in his signature line.

Unfortunately for this seller, I agree the price is high. In 2021 we purchased our 35-3 in much the same condition as this 34-2 (but with no dinghy, old sails, and a spongy sole) for $19.5K. That was the New England market, fwiw. We installed new standing and running rigging, all new electronics, a new sole, and new sails, in addition to a lot of other work. Tens of thousands of dollars and many hours spent. Your purchase amount will be just the price of admission. "In-app purchases" will certainly follow.

I'm trying to make sense of the owner's "sails haven't been broken in" statement. By the time they're supple enough to stow easily, they've begun to lose performance.

Good luck,
Jeff

 

[Barbixy]

Please, Please, Please learn about the sailboat market before you do anything...

2025 is emerging as a challenging"buyer's market" for selling a used sailboat, characterized by oversupply, falling prices, and long wait times. Driven by aging owners (boomers) exiting the market, rising maintenance costs, and fading post-pandemic demand, the market is facing significant pressure.

• Market Trends: Listings are piling up while prices are cracking in many segments, with some experts describing the situation as a "collapse" of the used market.
• Buyer Behavior: Buyers are in control, exercising patience, and demanding better deals.
• Segment Performance: Older, smaller boats are losing value faster as maintenance costs become prohibitive for new buyers, notes this Reddit post.
• Timing: While spring is traditionally best, 2025 is seeing a generally "soft" market, notes NMMA data. Based on market trends entering

2026, selling a sailboat is challenging due to a collapsing used market, high ownership costs, and asaturated supply of boats from sellers exiting the market. It is a buyer's market characterized by price drops and reduced demand, making it a difficult time for sellers to achieve high returns

In summary, 2026 is characterized as a "nightmare" or "disaster" scenario for sellers hoping to get high returns, with the market favoring buyers seeking deals

Thank you so much MJ. Another member alerted me to this early on and I greatly appreciate the reminder. I found two 38s in San Diego I'm looking at this morning. After sleeping on it, I think the 34 I looked at yesterday is going to require too much investment and too much work to return it to nice condition with modern electronics. Replacing all those port lights could run $2500 just by themselves. New electronics more than that. Cushions are original and not in that gray of condition, survey $1500, and there are just the knowns without the unknowns - who knows what will come up when it's hauled out. And I don't want to live with that plastic sink haha so there's that.
Thank you for your comments - you're spot on.

 

[Loren Beach]

I am probably "preaching to the choir" but there is often another 'elephant in the room' when considering a used boat. Power or Sail, similar problem.
That's "Deferred Maintenance". I realize that statistically a low % of used boats are fully maintained, but I know that some are. Over the years I have personally known two of fellow YC members that always kept their sailboat UP-to-date. When they sold them they did get more return than most sellers, and more important got immediate buyers. Eager buyers.

Most used boats on the market have some significant or major dollars that were saved (i.e. banked and unspent) over the years by their owners. Then the owners want to sell and receive the money that they have already banked. Unrealistic and crazy and Illogical.

Waaaay back when we were shopping for our first real racer-cruiser "big boat", moving up from our trailer sailer Ranger 20, a surveyor friend told me how to assess the price and value of a used sailboat. Since so many were in need of major maintenance/upgrades, his advice was to assess the prospective purchase's immediate maintenance needs, assign a fair price to each item on that list, and then figure out the true offer price of that particular boat after all the work was done.
Subtract the price of what would actually be a turn-key specimen and then offer that purchase price to the seller. Not rudely, but firmly. Be prepared to write the check.

I soon found out that doing this would lead to "negative" offers where the seller would need to pay me XXX number of dollars to take their boat!
Oddly, most brokers were quite sympathetic to our plan, and many admitted that it was quite difficult to list really clean boats. (!)

So when we found a pristine boat that honestly was "Turn Key", we bought it! The first owners had kept it super clean, and while the instruments were minimal, this had the advantage of us not having to repair or replace old parts. I recall that when we lifted an access board in the cabin sole and saw a clean and shiny bilge we were just SO impressed. A decade later we sold that boat quickly for a good price, too. It helped that we had been looking for a high quality boat, and after looking at HInterhoeller, CS Yachts, and Yamaha, knew to avoid low-end production boats; I had raced on a number of boats from the mass-market segment, and was aware of their design and build shortcomings.

The market now is different, but that might make it easier to buy a high-end boat worthy of restoration. I know the value of the older low-end boats is very very low. I note that, from reading the ads, high quality and better-designed boat have had their asking prices depressed down with the low-end stuff, which is helpful to a buyer looking for a good boat. I would call this a sort of "Gresham's Law" of boat valuation.

As for us, last time around, we always knew we wanted to own something really strong and fast, and keep it for at least a decade like we kept our previous Niagara 26. Having bought the EY-built Olson in 1994, we figure we have amortised out pretty much every $ we have put into it. But then, we Would say that!

Moreover, we have several friends that take two (or more) cruises per year for two weeks to a month, per. In a few years their "fun" expenditures add up to more $ than most sailboats! They end up with a flash drive full of pictures; big whoop.

Random philosophy bits dispensed, two cents, and not even worth every penny!

 

[Kenneth K]

Hi Barbixy,

Sounds like you're moving on from this boat, which I think is likely a good call at this asking price--$52K is way steep for for a 34-35 ft Ericson unless it's in exemplary condition.

Just for your enhanced boat general knowledge:

it is the original Yanmar diesel motor, model number GM 30F.

That's a quality motor, at least when kept well maintained.

Re: the rusty motor mount(s) - seller told me at one point a hose broke and covered the motor in salt water. He had it professionally washed, and that's why some of the pulley wheels look new etc.

The first part of that story I'll buy--I can think of several hoses that would cause a saltwater leak in the engine compartment. The rest of the story doesn't, ahem, hold water. There are no "professional engine washers." Even if you hired a trained mechanic, the best he could do is what any novice would do--rinse the engine with low pressure clean water from a pump sprayer. After rinsing the motor, you'd run it to heat it up and burn off the moisture. External parts that don't get hot (like the motor mounts) would have to be dried with a heatgun, heater, or blow-dryer. After everything's dry, you'd coat all the bare metals with oil, grease, Lanocote, or Fluid Film--that would prevent rusting. If this is the same owner that knew about the saltwater leak, he was pretty negligent to not lubricate/coat the engine parts after rinsing them, especially after seeing visible rust start to form.

Also, the questionable wire splicing is from the same problem.

This makes no sense at all. If the crappy splices WERE NOT there prior to the saltwater leak, there would be absolutely no reason to add them afterward. if the crappy splices WERE there prior to the leak, all the more reason to replace them (and the twice-cut wire) with quality, heat-shrink-wrapped (waterproof) splices. If the two problems (rusty motor mounts and poorly spliced wires) are related, perhaps it was the diaphragm pump hose that came loose and covered the engine in saltwater.

No temperature or oil pressure sensor. Only a tach. Seemed to have gotten along without those things all these years but??

Oil pressure: The standard Ericson set up was to have a low-pressure sender on the engine (about $30) send a signal to a small red lamp (about $10) on the engine panel when the oil pressure is low. The little red light is hard to see, so many owners add a piezo buzzer (about $5) to the circuit to call out our attention when the light comes on.

Temperature: The standard Ericson set up was to have temp sender (about $30) installed in or near the thermostat housing to send a signal to a temperature gauge (about $40) at the engine panel.

If you burn up a diesel due to over-temp or no oil, it's up to a $30K repair (20K engine & 10K labor). So, it just doesn't add up to me, in any way, that an "experienced sea captain" risks $30K over $150 in easily replaced, rudimentary engine parts.

The paper towel on the heat exchanger hose is something called a weeping leak detector.

This sounds like a sarcastic or condescending response to me (maybe the "experienced sea captain" was getting tired of the novice prospective buyer questioning his work). I see a half-dozen other water seals & hose connections in that photo, but only one "weeping leak detector." What
is it about this one connection that requires special monitoring, and why wouldn't he answer you about it?

He mentioned no glow plugs but there's some other way to turn the motor off - not with the key. Stuffing box looked new.

Every originally installed diesel I know of in an Ericson used glow plugs. They're just used for starting the engine. Once a diesel is started, it "self-ignites" under the heat generated by high compression (no spark or glow plugs are used to keep the engine running). There is a mechanical cable that cuts off fuel when pulled--this is how a diesel is stopped. Since a Yanmar GM 30F almost certainly had glow plugs originally installed, it would be very neglectful not to keep them operable. It would likely render the engine un-startable, at least in cool temperatures.

Once a diesel is running, you can typically turn off the key at the engine panel with no effect. As long as the diesel keeps getting air and fuel, it keeps running. Turning the key off only disables electrical power, so you only lose engine instruments & lights, warnings lights & buzzers, and the fuel pump. On some engines, loss of the fuel pump eventually (could be several minutes) results in the engine starving itself of fuel. On other engines, it may not.

 

[Captain Pete]

Having bought two Ericsons in the last 2 years, I fear the seller of the 34-2 is in for a rude market awakening. I think the 38's you now are targeting seem more realistically priced.

They all come with needs no matter how they appear or survey, but as Ericsons they are well built, sail beautifully, are comfortable, and have mostly good quality kit so I think one can do worse to get one that ticks most boxes and keep improving it while sailing it.

My 35-3 had the same yanmar engine. It did not have glow plugs, nor did another boat I use to own with the 3HM35F engine. The 30 was showing its age and did need 3/4+ throttle and some patience to start so probably could have benefited by glow plugs. It also was known to have a sneaky leak at that spot where the raw water hose connected to the heat exchanger no matter how tight you thought the hose clamp was. I found it to be a much smoother engine than the Universal on my 32-3.

Good luck with your search - that is part of the fun!