Selling points for Ericson's

[Stuart 28-2]

I have an Ericson sales brochure from years ago - the previous owner had it. I have the original manual as well. Obviously, all boat builders can talk about why their boats are a great choice, even if it just boils down to "great price". When I bought the boat I wasn't specifically looking for an Ericson and just wanted to buy a boat locally for the right price. I had been on the boat a year or two before it was put up for sale and just really liked it and thought if 'they ever put it up for sale I may try to buy it'. When I started looking I never found anything I was tempted to buy. After a few months of looking on and off I saw it listed for sale and didn't even know it was the same boat at first. Okay, so I "just liked it" but that doesn't mean others will. So, my question for other Ericson owners is: for someone looking for a '70's, '80's boat, what are the strong points of an Ericson over the others? (I'm aware of the TAFG)

 

[Loren Beach]

For us was the general quality of design and build. From past boats we owned, we knew we wanted a really solid hull-to-deck joint. Our Olson has a full overlap, thru-bolted joint, and the Ericson's are joined together inside with roving. In either case this produces a virtually leak proof and really solid monocoque construction. When you look at the leaks (and sometimes worse) problems with the cheaper "coffee can" joints on the less expensive boats, there is a real difference - especially after 20 or 30 years..

Also, while other builders did copy the TAFG method/engineering, EY was a builder that really did it right, i.e. did not cheap out on the strength or scantlings. I do not know about the 70's interiors, but in the 80's EY was tabbing interior bulkheads to hull and deck; this adds a lot of strength. In our boat, virtually "everything is tabbed to everything else."
And then, all that structure stuff aside, Bruce King had a truly legendary "eye" for graceful looks that stand the test of time and transcend fashion changes.
(We do love the form-follows-function look of our Olson, but it kinda lacks the artistry of the BK vessels. )

Aside: just yesterday I had occasion to create a 1.3" hole in the little flat molded "step" right in front of an aft bulkhead where I am leading the cabling to the new shore power charger. Even this interior flat FRP area (2' X 8") is cored with balsa, like all of the interior flat surfaces. Better news, only the interior and the deck has coring; like most all Ericson's our hull is solid layup.

Having been inside almost every part of our boat during the 10 month re-fit, we have been impressed with that care that went into its construction.

Admission: My opinions may certainly show some bias, but that bias has been earned and reinforced continuously since 1994.

Oh, and speaking of price, the broker that sold the boat to us also had sold it new, and in round numbers it sold for approx 90K, back in 1988 out the door. AFAIK the Ericson's of the era were even more expensive on a pound for pound basis.

 

[AK67]

It's all a relative and a subjective scale of course, but I like the Ericson's fit and finish, esp the headliner and liberal use of wood to limit the "plastic" feel. Cabin layout makes sense and the saloon feels larger than it is; headroom is generous. Sails well on all points. Predictable but also very maneuverable.