Ericson 38

About the Ericson 38

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

?–1987

Builder

Ericson Yachts

Designer

Bruce King

Length

37.67 ft

Waterline

30.5 ft

Beam

12 ft

Draft

4.93 ft

Displacement

14,000 lb

Ballast

5,500 lb

Hull / keel

fin keel

Rig

sloop

Propulsion

inboard

Water

varies by year

Water heater

AC + engine

Number built

126

Stern thruster

not fitted

Steering

pedestal cable

Sources disagree on first year, fuel tank — left blank rather than guessed.

Shoal keel (4.92 ft) listed as standard, with a 6.5 ft deep fin and 5 ft wing keel optional. The 38-200 (about 1986-1990, 120 built) shares hull, keel and rudder but has a new deck, coachroof, interior and recessed companionway; sailboatdata lists it at 15,500 lb/6,300 lb ballast, 55 gal fuel, 80 gal water. Hull stiffened by a Tri-Axial Force Grid liner. Pacific Seacraft bought the molds in 1990 and built it from 1991 as the Ericson 380 (Yanmar 38 hp). Owners' association reports no known systemic defects beyond normal wear. Practical Sailor describes the later Pacific Seacraft 380 hull as solid laminate with a Coremat layer; construction of original Ericson-built hulls not stated in sources read.

Engines fitted

• Universal M-40 — 32 hp, diesel, single standard
  Four-cylinder, freshwater-cooled; standard through the Ericson-built years (an owner of a 1984 boat confirms the factory 32 hp Universal).
  Sources: spinsheet.com · sailboatdata.com · ericsonyachts.org
• Volvo Penta 43 hp diesel (model not stated) — 43 hp, diesel, single standard
  First Pacific Seacraft-built boats (after the Ericson years).
  Sources: spinsheet.com
• Yanmar 38 hp diesel (model not stated) — 38 hp, diesel, single standard
  Replaced the Volvo in later Pacific Seacraft-built boats.
  Sources: spinsheet.com
• Universal M-50 — 44 hp, diesel, single factory option
  Reviewer saw at least one early boat with the larger M-50 and believes it was an option.
  Sources: spinsheet.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Known problems for this model

• Forged deck U-bolt chainplates rigging
  1980s Ericsons carry shroud loads through large stainless U-bolts at the deck; inspect them for stress cracks, and corrosion between the stainless and aluminum can make removal difficult.
  ericsonyachts.org · forums.sailboatowners.com
• Rotting wooden seacock backing blocks plumbing
  Ericson used wooden backing plates under through-hulls and seacocks that can rot over time; look for leaks around them.
  ericsonyachts.org
• Keel smile and keel rebedding hull
  A hairline crack at the hull-keel joint is commonly seen and some keels have been dropped and rebedded; check for weeping at keel bolts.
  ericsonyachts.org
• Galley sink leaking onto engine (aft-head layout) engine
  On aft-head 38-200 layouts the engine sits under the sink, and some owners report sink leaks dripping onto it.
  ericsonyachts.org
• Balsa-cored deck deck
  The deck is cored with 1/2 in balsa (per the Pacific Seacraft-built 380), so rebed leaking deck hardware and check for wet core.
  practical-sailor.com

Other Ericson models

• Ericson 27 1971–1978
• Ericson 30+ 1979–?
• Ericson 32-3 1985–?
• Ericson 35-2 1969–1982