BoatsEricson Yachts 381

Ericson Yachts 381

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1982–1986

An evolution of the Ericson 38, this 11.4-meter masthead sloop features a 1.98-meter draft and a fin-keel hull

Designed by Bruce King.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Ericson Yachts 381, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Christian Williams

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

1.98 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.98
LightHeavy

227 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 227
EasygoingPowered-up

18.4 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.4
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Ericson Yachts 381, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Ericson Yachts 381 is a 1982–1986 masthead sloop designed by Bruce King, an updated version of the earlier Ericson 38. It measures 11.4 meters LOA with a 3.7-meter beam and a 2.0-meter draft, displacing 6531 kg. Aboard *Christian Williams*, an 82-year-old sailor recovering from a back injury used his Ericson 381 to test the physical limits of aging sailors, noting that its design allowed him to sail despite physical limitations that made sailing a smaller Laser painful.0:07 He observed that older sailors often face mental hurdles like forgetting dock lines or electronics, which he attributed to confidence rather than capability.3:32

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.4
Displacement / length
226.6
Comfort ratio
24.9
Capsize screening
1.98
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1308
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1982–1986
Units built
39
Designer
Bruce King
Builder
Ericson Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Ericson Yachts 3811.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Update: Sailing After the Palisades Firefrom Christian Williams
Oyster Marine 37 Heritage11.28 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a skeg-mounted rudder and conservative sail plan
Sailing North Sea Challenges – South from Shetland | Sailing Florence Ep. 22833:36from Sailing Florence
Tartan Marine 37211.34 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1988-1993 masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.08-meter fin keel and a spade rudder for performance-oriented cruising
Tartan Yachts and the Catalina Fallout: How One Brand Survivedfrom Practical Sailor
Hunter Marine 38011.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOffered with a deep 1.98m keel option, this high-volume cruiser features a spade rudder and a B&R rig
The Cheapest Modern Sailboats You Can Actually Live On3:18from Lady K Sailing
Hunter Marine 37611.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA spacious cruiser featuring a B&R rig and wing keel, sharing a proven hull design with the later 380 and 386 models
Hunter 376 - The Aegean Tragedy: What Really Happened in the Newport–Ensenada Race0:47from Practical Sailor
Etap 38i11.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997
FROM ANCHORAGE TO ANCHORAGE, IT'S DISCOVERY0:56from VOILIER ODIN

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Ericson Yachts 41A 12.6-meter masthead sloop from the late 1960s featuring a heavy displacement hull and a deep 1.8-meter fin keelEricson Yachts 38A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performanceEricson 380A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop featuring a redesigned interior and hulls built by Pacific SeacraftEricson Yachts 34-2A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop balancing performance and cruising comfort with a stiff, fin-keel hullEricson Yachts 38-200A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop featuring a revised deck and interior layout built on the proven Ericson 38 hullEricson Yachts 32-200A 1988 masthead sloop with a 1.84-meter draft and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for coastal cruising

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