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Ericson 37
Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Ericson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Ericson 37

Designed by renowned naval architect Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts from 1973 to 1975, this 37-footer represents a brief but notable chapter in Ericson's catalog. With only 50 hulls produced during its three-year run, the Ericson 37 stands as one of the builder's more exclusive offerings from the mid-1970s era. The boat's substantial 16,000-pound displacement and generous 8,000-pound ballast ratio create a stable, seaworthy platform well-suited for coastal cruising and offshore passages. Her fin keel with rudder-on-skeg configuration delivers a good balance of performance and directional stability, while the masthead sloop rig with 613 square feet of sail area provides adequate power without being overwhelming for a cruising couple. King's design philosophy emphasizes seaworthiness over pure speed, evident in the boat's comfortable 31.28 comfort ratio and conservative 1.8 capsize screening value. The hull's 7.15-knot theoretical hull speed and moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.5 suggest respectable performance for extended cruising rather than racing applications. Her fiberglass construction and robust scantlings have helped many examples survive nearly five decades, making them attractive options for sailors seeking a capable, traditional cruising sailboat with proven offshore credentials.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.42 ft / 11.41 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
Beam 11.33 ft / 3.45 m
Max Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 16,000.00 lb / 7,257 kg
Ballast 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 613.00 ft² / 56.95 m²
Headroom 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Ericson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1973
Last Built 1975
Number Built 50
Associations Ericson Yachts Information
Related Sailboats ["Tartan 38" · "Cc 38 2" · "Ericson 381" · "Nauticat 38" · "Island Trader 38"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
Medium Hull/Deck
The deck-to-hull joint on early Ericson models of this era uses an outward-turning flange bonded and through-bolted, but the toerail fasteners frequently allow water intrusion into the joint, leading to core saturation and delamination along the deck edge.
1973–1975 production
High Hull/Deck
Balsa core was used extensively in the deck construction; areas around chainplates, stanchion bases, and deck hardware are prone to water intrusion and soft spots from core rot. Probe all deck hardware mounting points carefully.
1973–1975 production
High Keel
The fin keel on this era Ericson uses mild steel keel bolts that are prone to corrosion and weeping rust stains in the bilge. The keel-to-hull joint should be inspected for stress cracking and any signs of movement, as working keels were reported on some hulls.
1973–1975 production
High Rigging
Chainplate backing plates on early Ericson 37s are bonded into the interior liner and can be difficult to inspect. Chainplate knees and backing structures are known to develop cracks in the fiberglass tabbing due to rig loads over time.
1973–1975 production
High Hull/Deck
The skeg supporting the rudder on early hulls was not always heavily glassed at its root junction with the hull, and stress cracking or partial delamination at the skeg-to-hull junction has been documented. This area warrants close inspection.
1973–1975 production
Medium Accommodations
The interior liner system used by Ericson in this period creates hidden voids between the liner and hull where moisture and debris can accumulate undetected, and the tabbing holding the liner can crack or detach, especially in the bilge and settee areas.
1973–1975 production
Medium Engine
Boats of this vintage were commonly fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. Many have had problematic fuel systems and aged exhaust components; verify whether the original engine remains or has been replaced with a diesel, as conversions are common and installation quality varies widely.
1973–1975 production

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 126
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
 15.5
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 50
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
 308.56
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
 31.28
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
 1.8
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. 7.15 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.57
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. 1,153.78 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.51
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.00 ft / 14.63 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.25 ft / 4.65 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.77 ft / 3.59 m
SA Fore 366.00 ft² / 34.00 m²
SA Main 247.17 ft² / 22.96 m²
SA Total (100%) 613.17 ft² / 56.97 m²
Est. Forestay Length 50.36 ft / 15.35 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 30
How It Compares

vs. Cc 38 2, Ericson 381, Nauticat 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ericson 37 ★
37.4 ft
Cc 38 2
37.6 ft
Ericson 381
37.5 ft
Nauticat 38
37.5 ft
LWL
Ericson 37 ★
28.5 ft
Cc 38 2
29.6 ft
Ericson 381
30.5 ft
Nauticat 38
30.3 ft
Beam
Ericson 37 ★
11.3 ft
Cc 38 2
12.0 ft
Ericson 381
12.0 ft
Nauticat 38
11.2 ft
Displacement
Ericson 37 ★
16 lbs
Cc 38 2
14 lbs
Ericson 381
14 lbs
Nauticat 38
24 lbs
Ballast
Ericson 37 ★
8 lbs
Cc 38 2
6 lbs
Ericson 381
6 lbs
Nauticat 38
5 lbs
Sail Area
Ericson 37 ★
613 sq ft
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
678 sq ft
Nauticat 38
712 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ericson 37 ★
126 s/nm
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
114 s/nm
Nauticat 38
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ericson 37 ★
15.5
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
18.4
Nauticat 38
13.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ericson 37 ★
50.0 %
Cc 38 2
46.3 %
Ericson 381
43.8 %
Nauticat 38
21.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ericson 37 ★
31.3
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
24.9
Nauticat 38
46.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ericson 37 ★
1.80
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
1.98
Nauticat 38
1.55
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ericson 37 ★
308
Cc 38 2
253
Ericson 381
226
Nauticat 38
387
Hull Speed
Ericson 37 ★
7.2 kts
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
7.4 kts
Nauticat 38
7.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ericson 37 ★
1.6
Cc 38 2
—
Ericson 381
2.6
Nauticat 38
0.9
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