Anyone familiar with the Ericson 32?

[Trecksail]

Most of what I've found seems to be good news. They seem to have been solidly built and pretty quick. They seem to have consistently won alot of races when they were new and are still winning some. All the owner feedback seems to say that they are comfortable, moderately roomy and effeciently designed. Any other thoughts?

[jehardiman]

Move the stanchions and lifelines, they get in the way of the winches. You'll need to move the jib tracks in and fit turning blocks to keep the sheets off the cockpit coaming. You might also want to check the mast bulkhead for compression damage and beef it up. Or so I've seen on the three or four I've sailed on.

[Trecksail]

Thanks for the tips. How did you like sailing on the 32? Were they comparitively quick? Would you think they would be roomy enough for some extended cruising, some singlehand, some with a couple of crew members? I'm not thinking major passagemaking as much as Bahamas, maybe island to island through the Carribean?

Thanks again and have a great day!

Joe

[jehardiman]

There were several different interior layouts as you may know (including keel steped masts in latter hulls), and I have known one person who lived aboard with his wife for a year or so and they could single/double hand it. IMHO, two is the maximum for liveaboard, with occassionally 2 more for a week or 4 more for racing (full racing crew is 5-8 depending on how windy and serious you are). They have made many offshore passages and are often singlehanded. Big thing is the bulkhead needs to closely looked at for flex and rot (both in the bulkhead and the surrounding cored hull) as it also supports the shrouds. Other than that, they have a tendency to round up if sailed on their ear and a "significant" weather helm/stall effect from the raked rudder shaft.

Edit to add. If it is speed you want there are other, more modern hulls, that would do just as well. The 32 is OK, but my choice would be different.

[Capt_Scott]

I have owned two of the E-32s and they are just fine. Both of mine were from the early to mid-70's. One with the original Atomic 4 and the other with an upgraded diesel.

I also owned a boat yard on the West Coast of Florida and worked on several.

I am unfamiliar with the compression problems of the mast but I guess it is possible. I have never moved a stantion on them as they are on molded pads. You could do this if you felt the need. The genoa tracks are on the gunnel and don't move well. Some folks add an inner track but this only works on a working jib and unless you are racing is not worth the trouble.

They handle light air well and if you are short handed they have a "sweet bottom" that will bury the rail if over powered but sail on just fine. At some point you reef - but it will not broach to weather unless you are way beyond the point that you should have reefed.

The only common problems come from neglect. There were no built in problems like some boats have. Watch out for poorly bedded beck hardware and soft spots in the deck. Look for corrosion. Make sure your bulkheads are firm where the chain plates attach. Then have fun!!

S.

[jehardiman]

Capt Scott.

Mast bulkhead compression is a big problem only in heavier conditions. In the SF Bay, racers would use the ratings advantage (time on distance) and 7 to 10 crew to keep the boat on her feet and powered up in the windy bay chop. This places a much larger compressive (and impact) load on the bulkhead and twist on the hull. I would not expect it in a boat cruised in south florida that was always reefed down when the heel became enough to spill the drinks.

Different coasts, different problems.