For Gary

[Tim R.]

Hey Gary, you out there? I would like to know more about your Ericson experiences. All that I have read says the E34 is a boat that is easy to sail and very comfortable. Reviews seem to agree. I highly value your opinion, though, because we have both sailed the P28-1 and know that boat well. I have sucessfully raced mine. Catalinas, Hunters, Rangers, C&C, CSs all have trouble beating me. My biggest compitition are from a Tanzer 22(stripped for racing) and an E34. The E34 and I are both setup for cruising but I think he may be flying a 170%. Just a rumor though. I am the race committee chair this year so I may need to measure that sailTim R.

 

[Lizajan]

Tim, I am out here

Tim,I haven't had time lately to keep up with the computer. The strong point when racing a P28-1 is the rating. A phrf in the 190's is a big advantage. The Catalinas and hunters do not have a chance. We can usually beat most of them out right and if we don't we will get them on corrected time.We are real happy with the E32-3...fast and comfortable. It's not the first Ericson in the family. We had an E27 before the the P28-1. We felt like we really stepped up when we first got the P28-1 as it seemed so much larger the E27. The P28-1 put us on the bay when most boats wouldn't think about leaving port. As for shopping for Ericsons, in my opinion, you should take a look at an E32-3. It is so easy to make 6 knots with the jib alone. There are some differences in sailing...the P28-1 will tack with out loosing much speed as the E32-3 will not flip from one hull to another like the P28-1 will...but he overall speed is very inpressive. Again, we have not race the E32-3 yet...but will be giving her a test this spring. She is still somewhat new to us and I do not have the confidence I need to compete at this time. I am still collecting any and all tricks needed to be sucssefull. Like I said before, I feel like the E32-3 needs to be reefed a little sooner than the P28-1. Hull speed on the E32-3 is a little over 6.5 knots and that seems to be fairly easy to maintain, even when reefed...in winds 15 to 18 knots. We have a 110 jib on roller furling and I am begining to believe that there is way more sail to deal with than I ever delt with on the P28-1. The E32-3 will pass just about anything in winds in the 12 knot range...except for a few Jboats.Anyway, maybe we will spark some interest and I might come up with a few sailing tricks. There are a several Ericson owners that do porvide some great information.Whatever, keep us posted on you plans.Gary

 

[Tim R.]

Olson 34

I am now looking at an Olson 34 which was made by Ericson. It is a tiller steered boat that has a similar layout to the E34 and the 200 series boats. I am very excited about this boat. There were only 38 of them made(37 by Ericson). They have Ericson parts on them. I thought the Crown 34 was the only tiller steered cruising boat out there. Anyway, this Olson 34 has a phrf of 99 and I am told sails very well to that rating.Tim R.

 

[Lizajan]

Olson 34

Tim,The Olson 34 is a big step from the P28-1...it is fast and competitve. I do know of one that raced around here a few years back and if I remember right, it was very sucessful. The name on the boat was FIN. Not much help with the Olson 34.Gary

 

[Lizajan]

RE: back to the E-34

Tim,I understand the the tiller. I do miss the feel of tiller. As for the wheel, it is nice when motoring, but leaves a little on the table when sailing. I spent an afternoon watching my auto pilot steer and learned a bunch. The wheel has next to no feel and the auto pilot made next to no adjustment. I found that if I set the wheel to straight and adjust the sails to keep it there things seem to work better.As for the Olson 34...it was designed to race and was probably run hard and put away wet. It would be like looking at a 15 to 20 year old J-24. The Olson that I know of was owned buy an individual that has a few bucks and racing would be a competition somewhere between his abilities and his checkbook.Back to the E-34. I don't know anything about an E-34. It seems we have plenty of E32's and E35's. We have 20 boats on our dock and 3 are E32-3. I get most of my Ericson info from the owner of a "Little Bit O Sol." Check out www.ericsonyachts.org as there is an owner registry with many email address to direct owners. Good luck boat searching...check out the E32-3Gary

 

[Tim R.]

Thanks Gary

I know about the Ericsonyachts.org webpage. I have posted there a few times including an inquiry for an E34. It will present itself to me when the time is right. I was going to checkout a Catalina 27 to see why people love Catalinas so much when I came across my Pearson 28 for sale and what a great decision it was to buy her. I have looked at other Ericsons but the E34 really suits my needs. Great cabin layout and use of space. A good phrf rating and long LWL. And best of all, she is a very pretty boat. I think these things make her a unique combination of pleasing lines and modern design.It will take a lot of convincing to consider another.Tim R.