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Eric 32
Designer: William Atkin  ·  Builder: Chute & Bixby (Usa)  ·  First built: 1924
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About the Eric 32

Designed by the legendary William Atkin in the 1920s, this rare gaff-rigged ketch represents classic American yacht design from sailing's golden age. With only four hulls built by Chute & Bixby between 1924 and 1926, the Eric 32 stands as an exclusive piece of maritime history. The boat's traditional long keel configuration and transom-hung rudder provide exceptional directional stability and sea-kindly motion, characteristics highly valued by cruising sailors. Her substantial 19,000-pound displacement and impressive comfort ratio of 41.75 indicate this is a vessel built for serious offshore passages rather than day sailing or racing. The gaff ketch rig offers excellent sail handling options and proven reliability in challenging conditions. Atkin's design philosophy emphasized seaworthiness over speed, evident in the Eric 32's conservative proportions and robust construction. The wooden hull requires dedicated maintenance but rewards owners with the warmth and character only traditional materials provide. Her capsize screening value of 1.65 suggests good initial stability for coastal and offshore cruising. This design would appeal most to sailors seeking an authentic vintage cruising experience, particularly those drawn to traditional seamanship and classic yacht aesthetics. The rarity factor makes any surviving Eric 32 a true collector's vessel.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.50 ft / 8.38 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 19,000.00 lb / 8,618 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 588.00 ft² / 54.63 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Gaff head Ketch
Construction Wood
Designer William Atkin
Builder Chute & Bixby (USA)
First Built 1924
Last Built 1926
Number Built 4
Related Sailboats ["Westsail 32" · "Kendall 32" · "Dreadnought 32" · "Downeaster 32" · "Gulf 32"]
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 13.26
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 407.86
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 41.75
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.65
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.03 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,080.87 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Downeaster 32, Dreadnought 32, Kendall 32

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Eric 32 ★
32.0 ft
Downeaster 32
32.0 ft
Dreadnought 32
32.0 ft
Kendall 32
32.0 ft
LWL
Eric 32 ★
27.5 ft
Downeaster 32
25.8 ft
Dreadnought 32
30.0 ft
Kendall 32
27.5 ft
Beam
Eric 32 ★
11.0 ft
Downeaster 32
11.0 ft
Dreadnought 32
10.0 ft
Kendall 32
11.0 ft
Displacement
Eric 32 ★
19 lbs
Downeaster 32
17 lbs
Dreadnought 32
19 lbs
Kendall 32
19 lbs
Ballast
Eric 32 ★
—
Downeaster 32
5 lbs
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
6 lbs
Sail Area
Eric 32 ★
588 sq ft
Downeaster 32
602 sq ft
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
705 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Eric 32 ★
13.3
Downeaster 32
14.6
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
15.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Eric 32 ★
—
Downeaster 32
32.4 %
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
33.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Eric 32 ★
41.8
Downeaster 32
38.9
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
42.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Eric 32 ★
1.65
Downeaster 32
1.71
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
1.64
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Eric 32 ★
407
Downeaster 32
440
Dreadnought 32
330
Kendall 32
418
Hull Speed
Eric 32 ★
7.0 kts
Downeaster 32
6.8 kts
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Eric 32 ★
—
Downeaster 32
0.8
Dreadnought 32
—
Kendall 32
1.0
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