Cutter Ericson 31 Independence Buyer's Guide
The Ericson 31 Independence is a Bruce King-designed offshore cruiser launched in 1977, built as a heavy-displacement double-ender rather than one of the performance-first models from the same builder's range. For a shopper on the brokerage market, the appeal is sea-kindly motion and a structurally simple underbody, but the known weak points are specific and worth a careful look before commitment.
Layouts on the Used Market
Below, the Independence feels larger than its 31' length suggests, primarily due to the 10'6" beam. The traditional layout places a V-berth forward, followed by a head and hanging locker, with a main saloon containing a settee and a pilot berth. The galley is usually U-shaped and near the companionway. Above, the cockpit is deep and secure, protected by a large bridge deck designed to keep water out of the cabin. Most boats were rigged as cutters, though a few sloop variants exist, and the rig choice does not change the accommodation plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Tankage on these boats is modest—typically around 50 gallons of water and 20 gallons of fuel. The transom-hung rudder keeps all components visible and accessible, which lends itself to owner-performed maintenance rather than yard-only work. Many older units still have original Universal engines, so a diesel swap is a frequent owner consideration rather than a factory-standard change. No item is recorded as commonly fitted or often seen beyond the as-designed specification, so equipment should be judged boat by boat.
What to Inspect
The transom gudgeon mounting points on the stern post should be inspected for stress cracks, since the rudder hardware is fully exposed at the transom. Deck delamination is a known risk in the balsa core around the bowsprit and the mast step, and rotting structural plywood where the chainplates attach is a critical issue that demands close survey. The original Universal engines found in many older units are not a defect but a useful age marker for planned maintenance.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The used market for this model is centred in Guatemala. For a buyer, the checklist is short and structural: confirm the stern-post gudgeon mounts are free of stress cracks, sound the deck around the bowsprit and mast step for balsa-core delamination, and verify the chainplate plywood is not rotting. If those hold, the Independence is a straightforward, sea-worthy cruiser with an accessible rudder and a genuine offshore pedigree.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cutter Ericson 31 Independence. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 35,000 | — |
Where they're listed
Cutter Ericson 31 Independence listings appear across 1 country. Guatemala has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | $ 35,000 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 31 | 34.33' | $ 39,900 | 39 | 12 |
| Rustler 31 | 31.42' | $ 17,521 | 15 | 3 |
| Ericson 36 C | 36' | $ 36,500 | 12 | 4 |
| Ericson Ericson 31 IndependenceYou are here | — | $ 35,000 | 1 | 0 |