Ericson 35-2
Built 1969–1982 by Ericson Yachts
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About the Ericson 35-2
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1969–1982
- Builder
- Ericson Yachts
- Designer
- Bruce King
- Length
- 34.67 ft
- Waterline
- 25.83 ft
- Beam
- 10 ft
- Draft
- 4.92 ft
- Displacement
- 11,600 lb
- Ballast
- 5,000 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Water
- 25 gal
- Water heater
- factory option
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- varies by year
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel unknown
“The fuel capacity of 22.5 gallons” — review, practical-sailor.com · “Fuel 22 gal. (83 l.)” — review (1977 boat), cruisingworld.comSources differ slightly: Practical Sailor says 22.5 gal, Cruising World 22 and a spec database 23. All describe one tank of roughly 22–23 gal; no factory figure could be checked to pick one.
-
Water 25 gal
“The 25-gallon stainless steel water tank” — review, practical-sailor.com · “Water 25 gal. (95 l.)” — review, cruisingworld.comTwo magazines agree with our earlier figure, but there's no builder source.
-
Water heater factory option
“hot and cold water, a shower ... were either optional or not available, particularly on early models” — review, practical-sailor.com · “I bought a water heater ... a Kuma 6 gallon (DC with heat exchanger) ... even the small one will not fit” — owners' association, ericsonyachts.orgPractical Sailor says hot water was an option or unavailable, especially on early boats, and not all boats had pressure water. One owner of a mid-engine-layout boat on the EricsonYachts.org forum found no room to add a 6 gal Kuuma; that is one owner's add-on, not a factory size.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
No source mentions a thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
-
Steering varies by year
“You'll find both tiller and wheel steering on the 35-2 ... On wheel-steered models, the helmsman steers from the aft coc” — review, practical-sailor.com · “On my 1971 E35 I have a Edson system. The cable is two pieces of cable with chain in the middle. The chain is on a sproc” — owners' association (1971), ericsonyachts.orgBuilt with either a tiller or a wheel; no source says which was standard. Wheel boats steer from the aft cockpit with chain-and-wire pedestal steering to a quadrant; association-forum owners report Edson on a 1971 boat and say both Edson and Yacht Specialties pedestals were used on Ericsons (not enough to set a brand).
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on number built, fuel tank — left blank rather than guessed.
Atomic 4 was the only engine until 1973; various diesels (Westerbeke 4-91 most common, also Volvo, Yanmar, Universal, Westerbeke Pilot 20) offered until diesels became standard around 1978. Engine under the dinette on early boats (good access), under the companionway on two-settee layouts (poor access). Lead ballast inside a molded keel. Short-rig option. Spec conflicts are listed in disputed. Small water tank; owners add tanks. Practical Sailor and Cruising World both say about 600 were built; sailboatdata says 500.
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single
standard
Practical Sailor: until 1973 the Atomic 4 (30 hp) was the only engine offered; early boats had it under the dinette, later boats under the companionway.Sources: practical-sailor.com
-
Westerbeke 4-91 — 25 hp, diesel, single
factory option
After 1973 several diesels were offered; the 25 hp Westerbeke 4-91 was the most common choice.Sources: practical-sailor.com
-
Westerbeke Pilot 20 — diesel, single
factory option
Listed by Practical Sailor among the post-1973 diesel alternatives; hp not given.Sources: practical-sailor.com
-
Volvo Penta — diesel, single
factory option
Practical Sailor names Volvo among the diesel alternatives after 1973; model not given.Sources: practical-sailor.com
-
Yanmar — diesel, single
factory option
Practical Sailor names Yanmar among the diesel alternatives after 1973; model not given.Sources: practical-sailor.com
-
Universal — diesel, single
factory option
Practical Sailor names Universal diesels among the alternatives; model not given.Sources: practical-sailor.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Known problems for this model
-
Split-mold centerline seam hull
The solid hull was built in two halves joined along the centerline; check the outside centerline for cracks.practical-sailor.com
-
Chainplate leaks damaging main bulkhead rigging
Chainplates leak where they pass the deck, staining or delaminating the bulkhead, often hidden behind trim; proper rebedding means removing them.practical-sailor.com
-
Terneplate steel fuel tanks fuel
Older boats have terneplate steel tanks that rust through and pose a fire risk; replace if still original.practical-sailor.com
-
Steel water-jacketed exhaust exhaust
The original fabricated steel water-jacket exhaust develops pinholes that can let water into the engine; a modern waterlift is the recommended replacement.practical-sailor.com
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Gate valves on early boats plumbing
Early boats used gate valves on through-hulls, which should be replaced with real seacocks.practical-sailor.com
3 more
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Rotted plywood in winch islands deck
Poorly bedded winches can let water rot the plywood reinforcement in the molded winch islands.practical-sailor.com
-
Mismatched prop and small shaft with diesels running gear
Several boats are incorrectly propped; the stock 12x6 prop and 3/4 in shaft suit the Atomic 4 but are marginal for larger diesels.practical-sailor.com
-
Blistering hull
About 30% of surveyed owners reported at least some blisters, a couple badly.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
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Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
-
Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
-
Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (6)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · cruisingworld.com · practical-sailor.com · ericsonyachts.org · ericsonyachts.org
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Other Ericson models
- Ericson 27 1971–1978
- Ericson 30+ 1979–?
- Ericson 32-3 1985–?
- Ericson 38 ?–1987
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.