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Ericson 39 B
Designer: Bruce King  ·  Builder: Ericson Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Ericson 39 B

Designed by renowned naval architect Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts between 1975 and 1978, this 39-footer represents a classic example of mid-1970s American cruising yacht design. With only 20 hulls produced during its brief production run, the Ericson 39 B has become a relatively rare find in today's used boat market. King's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides excellent directional stability while maintaining good maneuverability under power. Her cutter rig offers versatility in sail handling, particularly valuable for shorthanded sailing or when facing challenging weather conditions. Built with solid fiberglass construction typical of the era, these boats were engineered for durability rather than lightweight performance. The substantial displacement of 19,000 pounds, with 50% ballast ratio, creates a stable, comfortable platform ideal for coastal cruising and capable of handling offshore passages. Her comfort ratio of 35.41 suggests a motion that favors seakindliness over speed, making extended voyages more pleasant for crew and guests alike. The Ericson 39 B appeals to sailors seeking a well-built, traditional cruising yacht with proven offshore capabilities and the craftsmanship standards that made Ericson Yachts a respected name in American boatbuilding.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.00 ft / 11.89 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 11.33 ft / 3.45 m
Max Draft 5.92 ft / 1.80 m
Displacement 19,000.00 lb / 8,618 kg
Ballast 9,500.00 lb / 4,309 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 720.00 ft² / 66.89 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Bruce King
Builder Ericson Yachts (USA)
First Built 1975
Last Built 1978
Number Built 20
Associations Ericson Yachts Information
Related Sailboats ["Ericson 39" · "Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147" · "Santana 39" · "Cavalier 39" · "Carter 39"]
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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
 114
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
 16.24
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
 314.15
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
 35.41
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
 1.7
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. 7.34 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
 1.59
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. 1,214.50 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. 16.25
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 50.00 ft / 15.24 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
SA Fore 412.50 ft² / 38.32 m²
SA Main 308.00 ft² / 28.61 m²
SA Total (100%) 720.50 ft² / 66.94 m²
Est. Forestay Length 52.65 ft / 16.05 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-108M
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 40
Fuel Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
Water Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
How It Compares

vs. Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147, Cavalier 39, Santana 39

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ericson 39 B ★
39.0 ft
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
39.0 ft
Cavalier 39
39.0 ft
Santana 39
39.0 ft
LWL
Ericson 39 B ★
30.0 ft
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
32.1 ft
Cavalier 39
29.5 ft
Santana 39
31.0 ft
Beam
Ericson 39 B ★
11.3 ft
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
12.0 ft
Cavalier 39
11.3 ft
Santana 39
11.7 ft
Displacement
Ericson 39 B ★
19 lbs
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
17 lbs
Cavalier 39
18 lbs
Santana 39
18 lbs
Ballast
Ericson 39 B ★
9 lbs
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
7 lbs
Cavalier 39
7 lbs
Santana 39
6 lbs
Sail Area
Ericson 39 B ★
720 sq ft
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
813 sq ft
Santana 39
686 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ericson 39 B ★
114 s/nm
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
126 s/nm
Santana 39
126 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ericson 39 B ★
16.2
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
18.5
Santana 39
16.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ericson 39 B ★
50.0 %
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
41.2 %
Cavalier 39
40.1 %
Santana 39
36.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ericson 39 B ★
35.4
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
35.2
Santana 39
31.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ericson 39 B ★
1.70
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
1.71
Santana 39
1.78
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ericson 39 B ★
314
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
229
Cavalier 39
325
Santana 39
269
Hull Speed
Ericson 39 B ★
7.3 kts
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
7.3 kts
Santana 39
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ericson 39 B ★
1.6
Cal 39 Mk Ii 1 147
—
Cavalier 39
—
Santana 39
1.9
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