BoatsEricson Yachts 38

Ericson Yachts 38

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1979–1987

A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance

Designed by Bruce King.

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

See her sail

The Ericson Yachts 38, 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 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

2.00 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.00
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 220
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 19.6
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Draws less than ~87% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2928 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Ericson Yachts 38, 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 38 is a Bruce King-designed masthead sloop built by Ericson Yachts from 1979 to 1987, featuring a fin keel with a spade rudder. It has an LOA of 11.5 meters, a beam of 3.7 meters, a draft of 1.5 meters, and displaces 6350 kg.17:35 The model offered multiple draft options, including a shoal draft of 1.5 meters and a deep keel of 1.98 meters, and a variant, the Ericson 38-200, introduced around 1986, shared the same hull but had a new deck, coach roof, and interior. Aboard *Christian Williams*, the Ericson 38 is sailed off the Southern California coast, including Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades, often single-handed.9:40 The owner manages slab reefing and jib adjustments in winds up to 17 knots, emphasizing consistent mechanical procedures for safety.4:58 Maintenance includes addressing a leaking PSS dripless shaft seal, replacing a worn Raymarine EV-100 wheel pilot belt after 10,000 miles, installing a galvanic isolator, and descaling the engine's heat exchanger with Barnacle Buster.9:48 The owner also uses a Sailrite LS1 machine for heavy canvas work, preferring it over a vintage Singer for multi-layer fabrics.7:23

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

Christian WilliamsChristian Williams documents the maintenance, repair, and solo sailing of his Ericson 381 while reflecting on a lifetime of offshore voyaging and boat ownership.

Seen 18 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Ericson Yachts 38 on video

Audiobook Released: "The long Voyage Home," an Autobiography with 20 Sailboats"Christian Williams details his transition from the *Washington Post* to Hollywood screenwriting in his new audiobook.Christian WilliamsUpdate: Sailing After the Palisades FireAfter the Palisades Fire, Christian Williams replaces lost canvas gear with a Sailrite LS1 and sails without a mainsail at 82.Christian WilliamsA Gale of Fire Turns our World to AshThe January 7, 2025 Pacific Palisades fire destroyed Christian Williams's home; his Ericson 38 survived.Christian Williams40 Sailing Books for Holiday GivingChristian Williams recommends 40 sailing books, from Nigel Calder's mechanical manual to Nordhoff and Hall's Bounty Trilogy.Christian WilliamsWhy We Sail--"Brilliant Repairs, Innovations -- and Slapjack, 2024"Repair a Beriant 23 winch by removing the spacer plate to improve line grip on the self-tailing jaws.Christian WilliamsChristian Williams Interview, UK SailsChristian Williams details solo Pacific crossings, sail selection, and the necessity of thorough offshore boat preparation.Christian WilliamsWhy We Sail--"Lessons of Spring, 2024"Christian Williams calibrates Genoa sheet leads and installs a custom V-berth step on his boat, *Thelonious*.Christian Williams24 Hours Offshore AloneA 38-foot sailboat uses a carbon fiber whisker pole to maintain a dead-downwind course toward Hawaiʻi.Christian WilliamsBattle for the Sole of Thelonious IIReplacing a cabin sole on an Ericsson sailboat requires precise templating to align teak and holly veneers.Christian WilliamsChristmas Books, 2023Christian Williams replaces the Teak and Holly sole of his boat while discussing his sailing-themed books.Christian WilliamsAre We Sinking yet? Ah, the Endless Summer--of Yacht MaintenanceReplacing a failed PSS shaft seal vent hose and ball valve prevents potential flooding in the bilge.Christian WilliamsAdvanced Cruising-Boat Sailing Techniques (Part 7, "Introduction to Sailing")A 38-foot sailboat provides the platform for demonstrating essential deck checks, reefing techniques, and safety management strategies.Christian Williams

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • FailedSunbrella

    The speaker noted that the Sunbrella fabric used for his canvas projects was not fire resistant enough to withstand the wildfire.

    aboard Christian Williamsseen January 20253:57

  • WorkingRaymarine

    The speaker praised the Raymarine autopilot for its performance in keeping the boat on course.

    aboard Christian Williamsseen July 202511:18

  • WorkingDyneema

    The speaker describes the main halyard as being made of unnecessarily heavy, unstretchy dyneema.

    aboard Christian Williamsseen August 20243:48

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Ericson Yachts 38 may be fitted out entirely differently.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
39.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.6
Displacement / length
220.3
Comfort ratio
24.2
Capsize screening
2.00
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1308
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1979–1987
Units built
126
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 38111.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn evolution of the Ericson 38, this 11.4-metre masthead sloop features a 1.98-metre draft and a fin-keel hull
Welcome to the New Age of Sail, Skipper!from Christian Williams
Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling
Sabre 38's Cored Hull - Excellent sailboat, or one to stay away from? - Lady K Sailing - ep 330from Lady K Sailing
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 3711.41 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile charter-proven hull from 1998 that served as the foundation for multiple Jeanneau model variations
She's a TEN at the most bikini photographed beach in the world!13:14from Sailing Doodles
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
RAYMARINE ELECTRONICS AND COMPANIONWAYfrom VOILIER ODIN
Gin Fizz 3711.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile Michel Joubert design offered in ketch or sloop rigs and multiple cockpit configurations.
Laura Dekker’s Life AFTER Sailing Solo Around the World | Step 4204:23from Sailing Uma
Beneteau Idylle 115011.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA shoal-draft cruiser with a 1.33-metre keel, designed by Jean Berret for comfortable coastal passage-making
Why I HATED Selling My Sailboat!!!1:35from Adventureman Dan

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Ericson Yachts 38-200A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop featuring a revised deck and interior layout built on the proven Ericson 38 hullEricson Yachts 381An evolution of the Ericson 38, this 11.4-metre masthead sloop features a 1.98-metre draft and a fin-keel hullEricson Yachts 39A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offered in multiple cabin and rig configurationsEricson Yachts 34-2A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop balancing performance and cruising comfort with a stiff, fin-keel hullEricson Yachts 32-200A 1988 masthead sloop with a 1.84-metre draft and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for coastal cruisingEricson 380A Bruce King-designed masthead sloop featuring a redesigned interior and hulls built by Pacific Seacraft

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